Welcome to The Microchip PIC32 Design Challenge

The objective of this full-year, four-phase Design Challenge is to foster a social community where contestants can build, test, and display their designs, based on the PIC32 Starter Kit, to the community. A set of three judges, as well their Community Member peers, will vote to see who survives each phase. Winners receive great prizes along the way! The contestant that makes it through the four phases and is voted the 2008 PIC32 Design Challenge's Ultimate Embedded Designer will win a high-end home theatre system (or cash equivalent) worth over $8,000!

Registered Community Members can rate each design, according to the design value criteria, as well as vote for their favorite design. Registered members are eligible for weekly prizes based on their participation and activity within the community. Click here to see complete details for prizes and contest rules and regulations.

Total value of prizes to community members and contestants exceeds $200,000!

Once you sign up as a community member, you can change to a contestant by simply filling in your personal myPIC32 page! Contestants that do not make it to the next stage, are automatically considered members and can rate and vote for contestant and qualify for weekly member prizes.

Contestants that do not make it to the next stage are automatically considered members. They can rate and vote for contestants and qualify for weekly member prizes.

Sign Up as a Community Member Now!

Challenge Overview

The Design Challenge is organized into four phases: Paper Design, Hardware Design, Software Design, and Final Prototype. Each phase has new requirements for contestants, and the judges and community members will determine the winners of each phase. Winners of each phase earn prizes that help them succeed in the next phase, like free tools and hardware!

Only 128 Will Survive PHASE 1: THE PAPER DESIGN

In Phase 1, contestants develop the concept of their design, including abstract, title, and block diagram. There is no requirement to purchase any hardware or software to survive the Paper Design phase.

Registered community members can become contestants by going to their personal myPIC32 page, completing all the required elements of the Paper Design phase, and surviving this first phase. Design elements can be made visible to the community throughout the design challenge, and the community can vote for and rate designs.

At 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time on July 15, 2008, all entries are frozen and our panel of judges will determine up to 128 top designs to make it to the next phase based on the rating criteria. After this date, no new contestants can enter the challenge. On July 25, 2008, these survivors will be notified and awarded a prize package valued at over $200, including a PIC32 Starter Kit (DM320001) , PIC32 I/O Expansion Board, Prototyping Board (AC164126), webcam, and a collection of analog and other Microchip components. Just in time to start the next phase…

Only 32 Will Survive PHASE 2: THE HARDWARE DESIGN

Beginning on July 27, 2008, the 128 remaining contestants will implement their hardware based on the Starter Kit Bundle. The goal of this phase is to get the hardware in prototype form with accompanying bill-of-materials and schematics as well as some rudimentary software that proves the design is basically alive. Contestants choose which elements of their designs are visible to the community. They can keep their design as private as they want, but they won't get a lot of community interest in the design if the community can't see it until the last moment before the judging! Contestants are encouraged to post as much design information as possible, including web video.

Community members will have far more influence as the competition moves forward. Beyond voting on and rating designs, in this phase community members can begin to offer suggestions and help with the contestants' designs as well as post blog and forum entries.

At 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time on October 13, 2008, all entries are frozen and our panel of judges along with the community vote to determine the top 32 designs to make it to the next phase. On October 29, 2008, the 32 survivors will be announced at the Embedded Systems Conference (Boston), and these survivors will be notified and awarded their next prize level: a full MPLAB® C32 C Compiler, MPLAB Real Ice, MPLAB Real Ice Trace Kit valued at over $1,700…. Just in time for the next phase…

Only 8 Will Survive PHASE 3: THE SOFTWARE DESIGN

Kicking off on October 30, 2008, the 32 remaining contestants will implement their software. The goal of this phase is primarily to get the software to 90%+ functionality while fixing any hardware issues and adding minor hardware enhancements.

On January 26, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern StandardTime, contest entries are frozen and the official judging period begins. Our panel of judges and the community will determine the final 8 designs. These 8 contestants will be notified on February 16, 2009.

Only 1 Will Survive PHASE 4: THE FINAL PROTOTYPE

The final phase begins on February 16, 2009, where the remaining 8 contestants will have an additional few months to polish their current design and source code with on-going input/help from the community and suggestions from the 3 judges and other experts.

Starting March 16 -23, 2009, community members will finalize their votes, and the top 5 designers will be flown to the Embedded Systems Conference 2009 in Silicon Valley. Voting will continue for the Top 5 until March 30, 2009. The judges will cast their votes live on April 1. The judges' and community votes will be combined, the final winners will be announced live at the event, and prizes will be awarded.

The 2008 PIC32 Design Challenge's Ultimate Embedded Designer will win a fantastic home theatre system, including a 57" 1080p LCD TV and Bose® Lifestyle V20 System worth over $8000! Second and third place winners will also receive great prize. See prize and contest rules and regulations for complete details!