design a circuit with Atmel 8-bit mcu, win a smart car

[Admin]

I'd enter but unfortunately entire robots don't count, they just care about low power circuits . . .

The "Design Smarter with Atmel AVR Processors" contest runs now through Oct. 30, 2009. Entries will be judged on designs that maximize the benefits of the 8-bit AVR Flash Microcontroller, including high performance and low-power consumption. Additional judging criteria include uniqueness of application, usefulness, technical skill, design complexity and cost efficiency. Bonus points will be awarded for designs that incorporate touch-sensing functionality using Atmel's family of touch-sensing products.

The three elected winners will be flown to ESC Silicon Valley in April 2010 to present their designs to be considered for prizes.

http://www.arrownac.com/manufacturers/atmel/s/avr/smart-car.html
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/corporate/view_detail.asp?ref=&FileName=AVR_6_11.html&SEC_NAME=Product

[Joker94]

i don't like it when competition hosts like atmel say you have to use their product as it always ends up costing hundreds more

if you look at te prices before during and after a company run comp the prices for important parts and electronics always goes up like 5 bucks

[chelmi]

if you look at te prices before during and after a company run comp the prices for important parts and electronics always goes up like 5 bucks

I find it hard to believe. The number of people entering the competition is negligible compared to regular customers who buy tens of thousands of units. And they wouldn't like a five bucks increase for random reasons...

[Trumpkin]

Design Contest Prizes

•1st Place: smart fortwo pure
•2nd Place: 2.13GHz 13 inch White Apple® MacBook
•Third Place: HP Mini 1000 Mi Netbook

Bah, who wants a MacBook (no offense to people who like macs)  . I hope they post the finalists' projects on the webpage, it would be intresting to see what people come up with.

[madchimp]

i don't like it when competition hosts like atmel say you have to use their product

Isn't that why they host such competitions and give away cool prizes to promote their products. They wouldn't stay in business very long if they promoted other companies products!

[SmAsH]

if it doesn't benefit them, why do it?
by telling people to use their products it draws more sales to them...

[chelmi]

if it doesn't benefit them, why do it?
by telling people to use their products it draws more sales to them...

Indirect sales. It's a marketing operation. The goal is to "force" people to use their products, nut they don't plan on getting much money for the parts they sell for the competition. They hope that people will become more familiar with their their products and turn to them when they design industrial products, where the money is. Exactly like big EDA companies like Synopsys, Cadence or Mentor who give for practically nothing their software (+ support) to universities. Such tools cost tens of thousands of dollars.

[TrickyNekro]

I could enter my tachometer.... but that's surely not a low power thing.....
Rather power hungry with that 4X 7seg on it......

It's not like I need a smart car.... But I can still sell it for some parts for my civic.... darn....
Of course, I don't really feel like winning anyways.....