Microchip and Digilent have officially extended the chipKIT Design Challenge from January 15th 2013 to May 15th 2013. In a press release Microchip stated "In light of the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy to parts of the Northeastern United States, we will be changing the deadline for submissions for the chipKIT Design Challenge from January 15/2013 to May 15/2013. Microchip Technology extends our thoughts and best wishes to all those affected."

Official Rules for the chipKit™ Platform Design Challenge

These Official Rules govern the chipKIT™ Platform Design Challenge (the “Contest”) and set out the terms and conditions between Microchip Technology Incorporated and its affiliates, and the individuals and teams who participate in the Contest (each considered a “Participant”). A submission to the Contest constitutes your participation and acceptance of these Official Rules.

Contest Overview:

The chipKIT™ Platform Design Challenge starts on September 1, 2012, and ends May 15, 2013. The Contest will be a three-tiered competition as follows:

Level 1 Challenge: 

Develop an original application using a chipKIT™ platform, an existing, known-working shield, and existing, known-working libraries. Participants will have the choice of using a chipKIT™ Max32, Uno32 or uC32 platform.

Level 2 Challenge:

Develop an original application using a chipKIT™ platform and an existing shield where associated libraries are modified to exploit specific features of the chipKIT™ platform’s PIC32 device and associated peripherals. Participants will have the choice of using a chipKIT™ Max32, Uno32 or uC32 platform.

Participants are encouraged, although not required, to use any Arduino-Compatible shield listed on the following websites:

• http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Hardware
• http://www.adafruit.com/category/17_21
• http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/103

Level 3 Challenge:

Develop an original shield that will highlight the additional functionality of the PIC32 devices populating the chipKIT™ platform. Participants will have the choice of using a chipKIT™ Max32, Uno32 or uC32 platform.

Rules for Eligibility:

The Contest is open to legal residents of the U.S. and Canada. Minors must obtain prior consent from a parent or legal guardian before participating in the Contest and demonstrate the consent to be eligible to receive an award. Employees, officers and representatives of Microchip and its affiliates, members of their immediate families or those living in the same household are ineligible. The Contest is void where prohibited by law. Anyone living in a country, province, or state where the Contest is prohibited, taxed or otherwise restricted, or where registration or the posting of a bond is required is ineligible. Participants waive all additional rights granted to contestants by the country, state or province in which they are domiciled.

Judging Criterion:

Participant videos will be posted on a dedicated YouTube channel along with links to Participant’s support files including source code and schematics. Judging will be conducted by members of the YouTube community who will be directed to a contest-specific survey.

Entries will be judged on the following criterion:

• Originality of the application.
• Optimal use of existing resources on the chipKIT™ platform:
• i.e., Digital I/O, Analog Out, Analog In and Serial Comms;
• Resource use should be apparently justifiable in that they are necessary for the execution of the target application.
• Application firmware works as Participant intended.
• Extra merit will be given to applications that:
• Generate new libraries under open source terms or modify existing libraries under open source terms to take advantage of the advanced features of the PIC32 device populating the individual chipKIT™ platform being used as it relates to the specific shield being used;
• Provide added documentation in the form of a tutorial that identifies barriers in utilizing a particular shield along with a well documented solution to allow the shield to be used on a given chipKIT™ platform.
• Winners will be determined by the highest score rating received through the survey.

Microchip reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest or disqualify a Participant without obligation if it discovers fraud, or any other causes beyond the control of Microchip which corrupt or affect the administration, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest.

IF you would like to know more about, or place an entry into the Microchip chipKIT Design Challenge head over to Microchip.com's chipKIT page! If you have never heard of chipKIT or MPIDE head over to our pages on both!