Project Greenlight - Solar Powered LED Challenge -- Avnet Tech Games

Congratulations to this year's winners!

Congratulations to the winning team from Mesa Community College.

Student Team Members: Jacquelyn Hawes, Cameron Lane, Jon Powers

Faculty Coach: William Klein

The winning team is seen here with Steve Phillips, Chief Information Officer for Avnet, Inc.

Thank you to our 2010 game sponsor:

"Design, build, test and present the best overall solar-powered "Green Energy" solid-state lamp. Teams will compete by retrofitting a camping lantern with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), a rechargeable battery, a charging/power circuit, solar cells and other components. Think clean- think green - think solar energy and LEDs!

Note that the teams must complete their solar-powered LED lantern BEFORE the Game Day; on Game Day they will be evaluated according to the procedure in the Project GreenLight Student Guide.

3-4 people per team

1 team per college - 6 teams total (Max 1 teams per college with additional teams placed on reserve hold - pending open slots based on maximum 6 allowed teams)

Registration Deadline:

March 2, 2010 – Registration is closed.

Disciplines / Skills Recommended:

Electrical engineering(microcontroller background a plus), mechanical engineering, industrial design (aesthetics & robustness) and marketing

(optics could be a plus)

Event Description:

By March 19, 2010, Avnet will provide each team with a kit that includes the lantern shell, various parts discussed in this document and a Project GreenLight Student Guide. Teams will use this base kit to build their entry, and they may add additional parts if they wish at their own expense (up to a maximum of $50). Avnet will cover the expense of this initial build kit. Avnet will keep the winning lantern and reimburse the winning team $50 for out-of-pocket expenses.

Teams must present their FINISHED project on Game Day (April 10, 2010) for evaluation and judging. All team entries will be judged on Game Day - regardless of whether their project is completed or not.

Each student team will be provided with a standard store-bought camping lantern to retrofit, a small solar cell module, a rechargeable battery, LEDs, etc.
Team determines the objective features, characteristics, and selling points for their unique implementation.
Based on their creativity, experience/knowledge and their lamp's intended design and functionality, each team then builds, BEFORE GAME DAY, their solar-powered LED lantern. Although the teams are free to add other components or augment the design in any creative or useful manner, their entry must be built into the lantern shell provided, use only the solar panel module provided, only the rechargeable battery provided, and incorporate the LEDs provided. Additional LEDs can be added if desired.
Each team tests their design and measures objective data BEFORE GAME DAY, making design changes as needed.
Each team develops a two-page brochure BEFORE GAME DAY, which (at a minimum) explains the intended use, highlights benefits and presents performance data. Photographs and creativity are encouraged.
Avnet LightSpeed will be available (as time permits) to help students with limited LED, thermal and electrical experience. Students are encouraged to download and read articles from www.em.avnet.com/Lightspeed

Technical Parameters:

Detailed in the Project GreenLight Student Guide

Schedule:

March 19, 2010 - Receive Kits

March 26, 2010 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Scenario Q&A for Clarifications
Conference Call (888) 582-3528 Passcode: 732-1024

Game Day (April 10, 2010):

7 a.m. - 8 a.m. Registration

7:30 a.m. Breakfast

8 a.m. Design and build a digital electronic device; prepare a 15-minute presentation that includes circuit simulation demonstration, hardware demonstration, and a report presentation on PowerPoint.

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. On the Go lunch

12 p.m. Event Complete

12 p.m. Pre-judging

12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Judging - (15 minutes per team)

Networking 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Awards 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Awards:

Each team member will win a $1000 scholarship

Equipment Requirements for Students: