Designing Tomorrow: PCBWay’s 7th Design Contest
As an electronics hobbyist, it’s inspiring to see how the PCBWay Design Contest continues to encourage participants to dive into open-source innovation. This contest has become a thriving platform where makers, tinkerers, and enthusiasts can unleash their creativity while inspiring the broader electronics community.
Last year, PCBWay expanded the contest by adding a mechanical design category, and it’s exciting to see it return again this year. For those of us who enjoy combining electronics with mechanical systems, this is the ideal opportunity to explore fresh ideas and create even more impactful projects.
What makes this year’s contest particularly thrilling is the introduction of a special STM32 theme. For anyone familiar with the power and versatility of STM32 microcontrollers, this is a unique chance to shine. Projects incorporating STM32 not only stand to gain recognition but also have the opportunity to earn additional rewards! Whether you’re an experienced STM32 developer or just beginning your journey, this theme presents endless possibilities for innovative designs.
So, if you’re passionate about creating electronic or mechanical designs, or eager to dive into STM32 development, this year’s PCBWay Design Contest is the perfect stage to showcase your talents and join the global community of makers.
Theme
Electronic Project
Electronic design is a vast and ever-evolving field that encompasses a broad spectrum of technologies and applications. It starts with the fundamentals of simple circuits, laying the groundwork for more intricate designs. As projects progress, they often integrate microcontroller units (MCUs) and explore the Internet of Things (IoT), where devices are interconnected in smart, integrated systems.
The field also includes embedded systems, which combine hardware and software to perform specific tasks efficiently. Power electronics plays a vital role in managing and converting electrical energy, while analog and digital electronics work together to process signals and data in various formats. Audio electronics, another important area, focuses on the reproduction and manipulation of sound, crucial to both consumer gadgets and professional equipment.
IoT stands at the intersection of these technologies, enabling intelligent device interactions, making electronic design a dynamic and exciting discipline. If you’re passionate about creating electronic or mechanical designs, or you’re exploring STM32 development, this year’s PCBWay Design Contest offers the perfect opportunity to showcase your talents and connect with a global community of innovators!
Mechanical Project
Mechanical design, product design, and 3D design cover a wide range of disciplines that are essential in developing various devices and structures. These fields are crucial for creating products that are both functional and visually appealing, spanning everything from everyday consumer goods to sophisticated systems like robots and drones. In robotics and drone applications, mechanical design focuses on developing robust and efficient enclosures that protect internal components while maintaining aerodynamic performance and structural stability.
Structural design addresses factors such as strength, weight, and material properties to ensure durable frameworks capable of withstanding stress and environmental challenges. Additionally, 3D design tools allow engineers to visualize and simulate a product’s physical and mechanical properties, enabling precise customization and optimization. Whether designing intricate robotic systems or lightweight drone frames, these design principles are vital to achieving performance, reliability, and user satisfaction.
TM32 Project
When working on projects that utilize STM32 series microcontrollers, you’ll discover their broad range of applications, particularly in areas like smart home devices, consumer electronics, and robotics. Renowned for their versatility and high performance, STM32 chips are well-suited for tasks demanding efficient processing and low power consumption. In smart home systems, they enable smooth communication and control, allowing users to effortlessly manage their environments.
In consumer electronics, they provide the necessary computational power for features such as touch interfaces and connectivity. In robotics, their ability to handle complex algorithms and integrate sensors significantly enhances the functionality and responsiveness of robotic systems, opening up opportunities for innovation across various industries.
Evaluation Criteria
Project Design – The PCBWay team will thoroughly assess the project design based on its complexity and level of innovation. They will examine how challenging the design is to implement and how creatively it addresses the intended purpose. This evaluation helps ensure that the most advanced and original designs receive appropriate recognition.
Project Description – A complete project description should include all essential elements such as functions, videos, and programs to provide a clear understanding of the project. Offering comprehensive information enhances others’ ability to grasp the project’s scope and details. Additionally, whether the files are fully open source plays a crucial role in the review process.
Popularity of the Project – Sharing your project is crucial to gaining visibility and support from a wider audience. By showcasing your work, you increase the chances of attracting collaborators, feedback, and potential backers. Remember, the more people know about your project, the more opportunities you have to build a strong community around it.
Social Significance of the Project – Welcoming an increasing number of innovative projects that have the potential to create a positive impact on society. These initiatives, driven by passion and purpose, aim to address real-world challenges and improve lives.
Rules
- Each entry must be original and uploaded within the specified time, otherwise it will be considered disqualified.
- The intellectual property of the entries belongs to the participants, and they must ensure that their submissions do not infringe on any third party’s intellectual property rights. The competition has three themes: Electronic Project, Mechanical Project, and STM32 Project. Each participant can choose any theme to participate in and is allowed to upload multiple projects.
- Each entry must include original design files: electronic projects should include their PCB designs, and mechanical designs should include their mechanical design files. We strongly recommend sharing all files related to the project (such as Gerber files, BOM list, schematics, layouts, code, mechanical design files, CNC machining files, etc.) to help judges better understand your creativity.
- How to participate? Click the “Participate Now” button on the competition page. Alternatively, create a new project in the PCBWay community, click the “submit project to..” button on the page, and select the appropriate theme: “Electronic Project,” “Mechanical Project, ” or “STM32 Project.”
- Regarding the participation award of the Raspberry Pi Pico, once each entry is approved by PCBWay, 500 points will be allocated to your PCBWay account, which you can use to redeem the Pico in the store.
- The additional rewards for using STM32 series chips will be granted based on a thorough evaluation by our judges and will be awarded only to great projects. Not every STM32 project will receive this reward.
- The event organizers reserve the right to interpret and adjust the rules of the event and have the right to cancel or modify the event plan. l you have any questions, please contact anson@pcbway.com
Click Here to Participate : PCBWay 7th Design Contest
Prizes
1st Prize : $1500 Cash Prize, $200 Coupon and A Palm-sized Robot Dog*1
2nd Prize : $1000 Cash Prize, $100 Coupon and Raspberry Pi 5 4GB *1
3rd Prize : $500 Cash Prize, $50 Coupon and OpenMV4 H7 R2 Cam Smart Camera *1
Popular Design Prize : For 10 winners
$100 Cash Prize, $20 Coupon, $10 3D Printing Coupon and Multimeter ZTY890DPro *1
Participation Prize: Raspberry Pi Pico * 1
STM32 Great Project Prize : Six-Claw Multifunctional Aluminum Alloy Soldering Table *1
Time
Project Release Time : 2nd September 2024 – 19th January 2025
Project Review Time : 20th January 2025 – 28th February 2025
Result : 10th March 2025
Conclusion
Taking part in PCBWay’s 7th Project Design Contest has proven to be an exceptional experience for both electronics hobbyists and professionals. The contest offered a unique platform to turn innovative ideas into practical prototypes while cultivating a global community of designers. PCBWay’s unwavering focus on quality, precision, and support throughout the design and production phases has played a crucial role in helping participants realize their visions. This contest highlights the significance of creativity, technical expertise, and collaboration in driving progress in electronics. It stands as a strong testament to PCBWay’s commitment to empowering designers to push the limits of innovation and shape the future of electronics design.
