Design contest targets European engineering community

Entries can be submitted online at http://www.eeweb.com/freedomcontest by June 30, 2014.

Contestants can choose among any of the fourteen Freescale Freedom Development Platforms including the newly created Kinetis E versions and the Xtrinsic portfolio of sensors as well as the company’s newly released FRDM-K64F board that was also announced last month at Freescale Technology Forum in Dallas, Texas.

“Freescale’s Freedom Development Platform offers a powerful, cost-effective way for entrepreneurial and professional engineers to bring their ideas and designs to life,” said David Sandys, Director, Digi-Key Supplier Marketing. “Pairing these powerful devices with an easy-to-use design tool like Scheme-it dramatically lowers the barrier of entry for budding designers and we look forward to seeing what these talented individuals create.”

Participants can easily access Digi-Key’s complimentary online design software – Scheme-it – to choose their block-level circuit design. Once approved, contestants can move to the next level where they are required to submit their design prototype overview along with an image or video. Participants must use the Freescale Freedom board for their product design although they may choose to use their own board or they can purchase one from digikey.com. Although only one board is required, bonus points will be awarded for use of multiple Freescale devices in the design.

“Engineers are going to love this kind of contest because it’s quite easy to enter with a low barrier to entry. From our affordable development boards, Digi-Key’s free CAD tools, and ease of online part delivery, participation in the contest is quite easy and, as a result, we anticipate a very positive response,” commented Francois Fortun, Corporate Sales Director from Freescale.  

Convergence Promotions, the leader in ARM core-based programs, Aspen Labs, the designer of Scheme-it, and EEWeb, a leading online electrical engineering community are collaborating to produce the Freedom Design Contest.

The contest is limited to entries submitted from EMEA-based engineers. The initial block designs must be submitted via Digi-Key’s Scheme-It online design tool by June 30. Then, the next-level prototypes are due September 15. Prizes will be awarded at every stage of the contest, giving the engineers the ability to participate as time permits. A team of engineering and product design experts from all three companies will judge the submissions, announcing the final prizewinners at electronica in Munich, Germany on November 11, 2014.