Dream: the Possibilities are Endless!

 INCAnaut ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Are you ready to discover the endless possibilities of technology? Are you ready to come up with your own dreams of the future? If you are, join the challenge, research your ideas, build models, and present them to the world!

Details:

There is an entrance fee of $200 dollars to use an INCA modeling kit with 100 nodes, a total of 625 pieces, valued at more than $400 for up to 4 months. Teams will be reimbursed the entrance fee and get $50 when they complete the challenge.

Who is Eligible?

Teams from any group at the High School level i.e. engineering/design clubs, Young Marines, Boy/Girl Scouts, etc.

Teams from any college or university

INCA Design teams consist of 2 to 5 students with no more than 3 teams per school.

Professors, teachers, and nonstudent mentors may advise and assist the team, but they cannot be team members.

How do I enter?

1. Fill out the registration form with a description of your entry in less than 100 words in one of nine categories:

• Consumer Products – Products that increase quality of life in the workplace, at home during leisure time, or while traveling.
• Machinery and Equipment – Mechanisms that speed up and improve work, manufacturing, or scientific research processes.
• Medical – Devices that improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare.
• Safety & Security – Devices that defend or enhance the security or safety of individuals, businesses, communities, or nations.
• Sustainable Technology – Products that harness or use renewable energy sources, as well as products designed for other purposes using environmentally friendly materials or manufacturing processes.
• Transportation – Machines that enable movement of people and goods from one place to another.
• Structures – Products or housing that would help people live in new environments such as in the air, and on or under water.
• Outer Space – Devices that would make living or working in outer space safer, easier or cheaper.
• Other – Ideas and concepts that do not fit within the other categories.

2. Make $200 registration fee out to the INCAnaut Challenge.

What will I get when I register?

INCA modeling kit worth $400 to use and experiment for up to 4 months.

What do I have to do to complete the challenge?

1. Keep a lab book – must have at least 10 pages of records.
2. Make a poster displaying your ideas
3. Make a video presentation or present at one of our events (10 to 15 minutes long).
4. Write an essay explaining why your concept could be created in the future (400 to 500 words and must have at least 5 references).

How long do I have to complete the challenge?

A total of 4 months from the day you receive the INCA modeling kits.

What happens if I don’t meet the deadline?

Then your entry fee will not be reimbursed.

What happens if I complete the challenge?

The INCA modeling kit is returned and all work is submitted to the INCAnaut Challenge (must be postmarked by the 4 month deadline).

You receive a check for 250 dollars; which includes a reimbursement of your registration fee and 50 dollars for completing the challenge!

What happens if some of the pieces I send back are damaged or painted?

The cost of the damaged pieces is subtracted from the check we send you when you complete the challenge.

Can I participate more than once?

Yes, but you have to submit a proposal of your new design for approval before you can enter a second time because of the limited supply of models.

Important Info

• Team meeting reports, brain storming session ideas, and other notes need to be kept in a black and white composition notebook which must be submitted.
• All teams that cannot make it to the presentation event need to submit video presentations.
• Each of the team members must actively participate in the design assembly, testing, promotion, and/or support in the team’s final presentation.

Tips for Entrants

The best entries clearly and concisely answer all of the following questions and are accompanied by illustrations that complement and illuminate the text:

• What problem does your design idea solve?
• What are the potential benefits?
• How would this idea be applied?
• How is your idea novel or an improvement on what is currently available in the marketplace?
• Why would we need/want the design?
• What is the market potential?
• How does your design work?
• How would your product be manufactured?

The best design ideas will:

• Improve quality of life
• Automate tedious tasks
• Prevent or reduce injuries
• Improve public safety and security
• Save time and money
• Offer alternative energy solutions
• Reduce consumption of natural resources
• Lead to other product improvements