Distributor lays down Upcycle it challenge to engineers

2nd February 2017

Mick Elliott

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A new Design Challenge for designers and engineers called ‘Upcycle it’ has been launched by element14. Sponsored by Intel, element14 will challenge 15 community members to Upcycle an unwanted or waste product to give it a new or enhanced lease of life. Upcycling is a concept that began in the 1990s and is also known as “Creative Reuse”. This is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.

element14 is inviting all engineers, DIY hobbyists and tinkerers to upcycle an obsolete item, computer or appliance and make a useful IoT device. Engineers looking for inspiration can watch Ben Heck’s take on the challenge when he upcycled an 80s "ghetto blaster" using an Intel Edison kit for Arduino .

Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Content and Community, element14 said: “We are hoping that the ‘Upcycle it’ challenge will really get our members excited. We all face the duel challenge of trying to reduce our footprint on the planet, whilst living within our means. Being environmentally friendly is sometimes seen as something that costs more – this challenge aims to show that this isn’t the case. We are asking our members to take something useless and make it useful. We are looking forward to seeing a diverse range of entries that can inspire us all.”

element14 will accept applications for the ‘Upcycle it’ challenge from now until March 3 2017. Fifteen official challengers will be announced on March 14 2017 who will receive a complimentary Kit containing the Intel Edison Kit for Arduino, Arduino Protoshield R3, a Grove Starter Kit for Arduino, AC/DC power supply and USB cable.

Each of the 15 challengers will provide weekly updates on their progress through blog posts, photos and videos via the element14 Community.

Finalists will have until June 4, 2017 to submit their projects. Entries will be judged on originality, innovation and technical merit by a panel of judges including experts from Intel® and element14. The winners will be announced by the end of June 2017.

The grand prize winner will receive a bundle of products worth over $4,000 containing a Keithley DMM7510, a 7 1/2–Digit Graphical Sampling Multimeter, Dremel 4000 MultiTool Kit and Weller Digital Soldering Station.

There is also a Second Prize Bundle worth over $800 containing a Motorola Moto 360 Watch, Dremel 4000 MultiTool Kit, an Emulation Technology ET-413 USB 2MP Pen Microscope and Weller Digital Soldering Station and Third Prize Bundle worth over $500 containing a Fossil Marshal Touch Screen Watch, Dremel 4000 MultiTool Kit and Weller WES51 Analog 50W Soldering Station.

All Challengers who submit a completed project will receive a finisher’s bundle worth over $100 comprising a Duratool Hot Air Gun and Soldering Tool Kit, and a NTE Electronics Heat Shrink Tubing Kit.