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Challenges

The Mars 2024-2025 Winter Break Avionics Challenge is live!

WIN $50, and some MARS merch for Designing a PCB

Who is this for?

This challenge is for anyone with some or no experience in PCB design who wants to learn more. 1st and 2nd year students are prioritized. No commitments and no other requirements are needed.

Please sign up using this link

What you have to do

  • Design something fun (doesn't have to be avionics related) in KiCad or Altium and order it from JLCPCB.
  • Document as much as you see fit.
  • Order your PCB on January 13th, submit your documentation and PCB in person to KHN03 on January 30th.
  • DigiKey is recommended for components

We can provide feedback on your design, but there won’t be any tutorials for this challenge.

Keep in mind, it takes about two weeks for a PCB to arrive from JLCPCB.

MARS does not pay or reimburse you for your PCB.

Ask questions on our Discord!

Requirements

Documentation

There are no requirements for formatting, length for documentation, however the ideal documentation includes the following:

  • Design process, component selection
  • What went right, and wrong
  • What you learnt
  • Uses Markdown for writing

Originality

No requirements, but the ideal board is fully custom. You can use an off the shelf board but it must make up less than 10%ish of all components on your board.

Teams

You may work in a team, however solo is recommended, and the prize will be split between team members.

PCB Ideas

  • Blinking led with 555 timer
  • Variable brightness LED
  • An acceleration logger using an MPU6050
  • An air quality monitor using a BME680
  • Servo controller

Prizes

The challenge is biased towards first and second years.

First place:

Free mars sweater and $50 cash

Second and third place

Free mars sweater

Participants

20% off a merch purchase. You must make a unique functioning PCB to be eligible.

How to get started with no experience

This video is a good place to start.

Extra Things You Can Do to Win

  • Post everything on GitHub.

Deadlines

January 13th

All boards must be ordered from JLCPCB before or on monday, January 13th at 11:59PM.

Assuming boards take 15 days to arrive, soldering or testing begins on January 28th.

If your board doesn't arrive on January 28th we may extend your deadline.

January 30th

The documentation and PCBs should be submitted on January 30th in person to KHN07.

February 2nd

All documentation and PCBs will be graded, and the top 3 PCBs will be announced on February 3rd.

Marking Scheme

There is no official marking scheme. The most impressive PCB, and documentation will win. There are bonus points for submitting early. All boards and documentation will be posted online, and will be marked publicly. There will eventually be examples of past winners who's files can be downloaded.

Why is MARS Hosting This?

We need help with our avionics projects! This event is a way to discover talented individuals who are skilled in PCB design. We will be doing many many more of these challenges. The next one will begin sometime in February

We may also use this opportunity to recruit for the Mars Avionics Team.
Good luck, and happy designing!