Open competition: Mouser launches second part of “Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge”

Open competition: Mouser launches second part of “Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge”

Great prizes for top-finishing participants

BY JEFFREY BAUSCH

If you haven’t heard of the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge yet, it’s a series of competitions that the company is running through the summer: three separate contests that task participants with developing solutions for three separate IndyCar-related challenges.

The Mouser 500 Engineer Challenge poses IndyCar-related challenges for engineers to figure out.

Those who partake in the contests are asked to develop a solution to the challenge posed, describe it in paragraph form, and submit it for consideration via the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge website at mouser.com/500challenge.

That’s it — no other requirements are necessary. (Seriously.)

Contest background

“We’re looking for the industry’s top engineers to help Mouser and KV Racing Technology identify innovative solutions to some of its most intriguing race-related engineering challenges,” said Larry Johannes, Mouser’s Vice President of Strategic Marketing.

Once the contest is closed, ten solutions considered to be the best of the rest will move on to be reviewed by the Mouser / KV Racing Technology Team. The finalist whose solution is judged to be the best in each challenge wins an Apple iPad 3.

When the entire Mouser 500 Engineer Challenge contest is over, all three first-prize iPad winners will compete against one another for a chance to win the Grand Prize: an autographed Tony Kanaan racing helmet.

“The technology behind this sport is critical to the success of every race car driver and an aspect many fans do not often get to see,” said Johannes. “But we know there are many fans who understand and revel in the fact that there is much more that goes on behind the scenes and under the carbon fibre than what can be seen on the racetrack. We were amazed with the talent and creativity of the submissions seen in the first challenge and we welcome new approaches and even more imaginative themes as our fans find solutions to this challenge and our last challenge in August.”

Details on the latest contest

While the first challenge just ended (June 15th), the second one is now open and will run through till July 31st.

For this challenge in particular, participants are being asked to find a better way to determine the level in the refuelling tank.

You see, at present there is a Gill level sensor (12V DC supply, 0-5V DC output and RS422 serial feed) in the tank which is used to track fuel volume during race testing. Mouser wants to come up with a solution that includes a local and rugged digital read out for fuel volume to be used during actual IndyCar races. What’s more, they want the device to also be able to wirelessly transmit real-time fuel levels to a laptop in the pit.

All electronics presented in a proposed solution are expected to be external to the tank in an environmentally sealed enclosure. Keep in mind that general racing parameters include the practice of using sealed connectors, externally braided wire, and environmentally sealed boxes that conform to IP67/68.

Competition series

The Mouser 500 Challenge is part of Mouser’s larger racing program. The company started with an IndyCar sponsorship last year as a new way to connect with the industry’s top engineers while simultaneously showcasing its supplier partnerships.

After their record-breaking 2011 debut, the company teamed up with IndyCar Champion Tony Kanaan and KV racing for the 2012 season.

Mouser’s racing program is meant to better connect with the industry’s top engineers and showcase its supplier partnerships.

For the latest updates on Mouser’s IndyCar news and Tony Kanaan, visit mouser.com/indy.

For more information on all of the 500 Engineering Challenge, details on how to participate, as well as contest rules, please visit mouser.com/500challenge. ■