EEVblog #122 : Renesas RX Design Contest - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2010, 04:04:06 pm
content: Hey Dave, you did great on stage. Good job!I jumped through the hoops and entered the design contest the day after it went live on the Renesas site but have never heard anything back. I'm wondering if I didn't make the cut, or if they're just slow.Has anyone else entered and received any kind of feedback?

author: logictom
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2010, 05:46:49 pm
content: I entered it today after watching the video and it said it would take 4-5 days before they would either confirm a board or to ask for more info.Don't think I'm likely to get one but fingers crossed

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2010, 06:29:06 pm
content: They really didn't sound that excited about announcing their own contest on the video.I'd enter, but really I have no ideas, no time, and no interest in learning another uC. I've already gone through too many architectures and development environments. I've pretty much narrowed it down to ARM variants and MSP430's and I don't want to move outside of that unless something really impressive/different comes along.

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2010, 04:40:15 am
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on October 28, 2010, 04:04:06 pmNot a word. But as a hobbyist, I tend to be mostly ignored anyway.Scott

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 29, 2010, 05:08:37 am
content: Quote from: TheDirty on October 28, 2010, 06:29:06 pmTrust me, they were massively excited and are taking the contest it very seriously, it's a very important thing for them.Dave.

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2010, 10:25:28 pm
content: So ... I was totally excited to see the FedEx truck pull into my driveway this afternoon. Finally!! The damn T.I. MSP boards I ordered 45 friggin' days ago are finally here....Nope ... It was the Renesas board!!!Boy, these guys don't screw around. LOL ... I got the email confirmation of my application 90 minutes AFTER fedEx delivered the board.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 29, 2010, 10:46:39 pm
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on October 29, 2010, 10:25:28 pmAwesome.I still have to do several videos about the board for promotion on their site.Only got mine at the event though, they were hot off the press.The "live" judging at next years ESC should be fun.I still don't have details on how I'll see the contest entries as a judge. Presumably I won't know who's is who's so I can't play favorites!Dave.

author: logictom
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 09:19:48 am
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on October 29, 2010, 10:25:28 pmWell donewhat was your abstract idea? Care to share some pics of what you got?

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 03:34:48 pm
content: The abstract was about creating a vision system for a pick-and-place machine. In short, holding an SMT part over a camera and then analyzing the image to determine the part offset (X,Y,&T) so that it can be placed accurately on the pads. These systems exist but generally they are crazy expensive.The package included the board, a couple of USB cables, and the book. There's no CD, just directions to download the software off the net. Apparently I also was granted a license for the Micrium RTOS (they make it sound like not everyone will get that). The book, hard covered and 865 page long, covers the Micrium uC/OS-III Real-Time Kernel.I gotta say, this stuff makes the Arduino, MSP-460, and NXP mbed look like toys.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 04:15:23 pm
content: very interesting! but i'm not sure i can complete a project with this soon enough. by the look of it, reading/understanding/implementing the kernel will take year(s).

author: Time
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 05:35:50 pm
content: man that thing is sweet for a free board. I started to apply but under the abstract part I felt like I was just going to be lying extensively just to get a board so my conscience kicked in and I felt it was better for someone who would use it.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 07:28:59 pm
content: I looked at the contest rules, and they make it impossible for me to take part in the contest. Local laws grant my employer a pre-emption right for everything I "invent", even in my spare time (and local laws grant me a big fat bonus if my employer exercises that right). However, Renesas wantsQuoteThat is a lot of rights. I can't grant them without the approval of my employer. In the past I could negotiate a deal with my employer in advance for contests. But this where for contests that didn't require so many rights in advance, only some from the winners, not so many from everyone. For the Renesas contest I won't get an approval.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 09:42:21 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on October 30, 2010, 04:15:23 pmYou don't have to use the RTOS. It's just one of the tools available to you.BTW, I believe there was supposed to be a CD with a PDF of the book on it as well.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 09:45:53 pm
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on October 30, 2010, 07:28:59 pmMy previous company tried to do that, and even included a clause that said they still have rights to everything AFTER we leave the company!They finally had to admit that none of it was actually enforceable in law.Dave.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2010, 11:04:35 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 30, 2010, 09:45:53 pmYour law is not my law. My employer doesn't have to include anything in the contract. They just have to point to the law. Fortunately the law is rather balanced.If I have an out-of-the-ordinary idea ("invention") during working time or outside working time, I have to offer it to my employer first. If they take it they are required by law to pay extra money, taking market value into account, even if I had that idea during working time, and even if it was work-related. It is extra cash.If they pay they of course have rights after I leave the company. If they continuously make money from it there might be royalties payment in it.If they don't take it, it is mine and I could try to sell it to someone else, or pony up for a patent.I have been through both with multiple employers and I think getting extra money from an employer is much easier than trying to sell it to someone else. And don't get me started about paying for a patent out of your own pocket. It is nice to have a default buyer. And it is nice that it also applies to work-related inventions during work time.I have been through the American system, too. Got the great amount of $1 and a thank you. I prefer the local system.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 31, 2010, 01:44:15 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on October 30, 2010, 11:04:35 pmor enter a contest...or sell it yourself...or get it published...or...QuoteIdeas and "inventions" are worth less than a dime a dozen, of course no one would buy them, including any employer.Dave.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2010, 07:13:39 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 31, 2010, 01:44:15 amI have patents to prove that my employer does, listing me as inventor and my employer as proprietor of the patents. And I have the money in my bank account from my employer paying me. Much better than the $1 I once got in the US.

author: mobbarley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2010, 10:09:18 am
content: QuoteThanks for the heads up Dave, this is going to be a fun project!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 31, 2010, 08:46:06 pm
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on October 31, 2010, 07:13:39 amI'll bet they were related directly to the industry and work your company does, so it's logical they might be interested in one or two of those.Any decently clever person can come up with a dozen ideas a day, are they going to buy all of them?Personally I'd rather work at a company that gives me the freedom to work on and own my own stuff than one that pays me for the occasional patent idea and won't even let me enter a design contest. You are getting a rotten deal IMO.Dave.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2010, 12:46:25 am
content: i registered at thislinkthe same time John did. i don't recall anything about a abstract for a contest though... i did get a loosly worded confirmation email, but nothing that said "approved" that i can recall.-sj

author: allanw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2010, 04:43:18 am
content: Just got an email from them: "We are pleased to inform you that you will receive your free RX62N RenesasDemonstration Kit (RDK) in approximately two weeks."Yay

author: thakidd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2010, 06:57:54 am
content: Thx Dave for pointing this contest out. I entered and was informed yesterday that a dev board is on the way! I cannot wait to take a bite off this one. Very nice!BTW great presentation at their meet up. Keep up the good work!

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2010, 11:09:05 pm
content: Anyone get an email saying they won't be getting the free board? I entered a week after the contest started and haven't heard anything since the confirmation email. Likely that an EE student (like myself) simply doesn't qualify for it.

author: CryptLordGR
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2010, 11:59:59 pm
content: Quote from: tyblu on November 25, 2010, 11:09:05 pmIts not true. i mentioned that i am an EE student and not a so interesting idea and today i was informed that i was accepted for the free board and the license for the Probe. You just have to wait a little more to be sure.And thanks Dave for showing us such a contest.

author: thakidd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2010, 05:12:12 am
content: Sweet, I got mine in today and cannot wait to play.Very nice kit!

author: EEwannabe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2010, 05:24:06 am
content: There is a list of people that'll be receiving one at:http://www.renesasrulz.com/message/10408#10408- Patrick

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2011, 01:35:07 am
content: Only 6 hours left to get your entry in!Only 23 entries so far, so with the number of prizes, I think almost everyone is going to win something!Dave.