Frequently asked questions:

Can I use the Rabbit-2000 microprocessor (or another Z180 instruction-compatible processor) for the Driven to Design 2000 contest?

No. The Rabbit core is technically not a Zilog Z180, even though it is instruction-compatible. The contest has to have some direct benefit for the sponsor. There has to be a requirement that actual Zilog hardware is used, not an emulation of it. If the Rabbit was a hybrid assembly incorporating the actual Zilog Z180 die within its system hardware, there would be no problem.  

This brings up the idea of using off-the-shelf boards like the Computer Control Concepts HCSII (actually designed and once sold by Circuit Cellar), the Micromint RTC180 (uses a Z180), and a whole bunch of older Z-World boards that physically use a Zilog Z180. Technically speaking, they are all eligible. Let's face it, this contest is about Z180-family applications and not about proving that you have unique new ways to wire a Z180 in a circuit or that you soldered it together yourself. However, the judges will probably be more impressed if the commercial source of the project's "brains" was de-emphasized and the project application and software was emphasized. The easiest way to de-emphasize that you are using the HCSII or other commercial board in a project entry is to redraw the entry schematic to contain only the hardware circuitry necessary for the project. That tells the judges that, although you used an HCSII or Z-World board for convenience, you did it only for that reason and not because you wouldn't know how to configure the proper Z180 circuit.

When should I send my contest entry to Circuit Cellar?

Before the deadline, obviously. Seriously speaking, you’ll want to send your entry with plenty of time to make it, especially if it’s coming from a long distance. In past contests, we have received some entries as much as a month before the deadline. Most, of course, show up on the last day or so. Will your entry be disqualified if you FedEx it the day before the deadline and there is a tornado that shuts down air traffic coming into Connecticut for 3 days? No. As a practical matter, a contest has to have rules. As long as we recognize that the contest entrant has made a good-faith effort in following those rules, we will make a similar good-faith effort in interpreting them.

How do I put together an entry that will impress the judges?

Circuit Cellar only administers the contest. We don’t do the actual judging. However, we can relate some of our observations and experiences from past contests as a means of giving you an idea of how to answer this question.

For the most part, following the rules is the best way to impress a judge. They don’t like searching for the key ingredients in your entry. They always seem to appreciate organization and presentation depth. We’re not telling you to submit your contest entry as a magazine article manuscript, but the organized format of a technical article is a good template for describing your project to the judges. In the past, the entries that contained depth and description seemed to score best.

Are there other opportunities besides the contest prizes?

That’s up to you. Circuit Cellar sponsors these contests so we can find good design projects to publish in Circuit Cellar and Circuit Cellar Online. Your contest entry contains typically 90% of the work necessary in creating that article already. It is normal practice for us to approach many contest entrants (after the winners are announced) about publishing their projects. Winning a prize in the contest is not related to publishing your project. Circuit Cellar’s criteria for picking which projects to publish is just deciding which ones will interest Circuit Cellar readers. Don’t worry, our editorial staff will help in the preparation of your article if you don’t think of yourself as a professional author. Of course, you will certainly be able to count yourself among that group when your project is published and you are paid for the article.

What are the prize values?

First Prize: Two year's worth of lease payments on a 2.8 BMW Z3 Roadster (estimated cost = $20,000.00) - Cost based on a 24 Month Flex Lease (12K mi/yr w/ $0 down and $774.00/mo.)

Second Prize: A Pioneer SD-532-HD5 53" HDTV (estimated cost = $2,900.00)

Third Prize: A Panasonic Portable DVD Player DVDL50 (estimated cost = $1000.00)

10 Consolation Prizes: eZ80 Demo Boards (estimated cost = $200 each) and

Magellan GPS 315 Handheld Units (estimated cost = $250.00 ea.)

Total Prize Offering: Approx. $30,000

Please Note: All prizes may be substituted for a cash equivalent except for the eZ80 evaluation boards. Cash equivalents are based on approximate U.S. market value of the product at the time of the contest. No checks or prizes will be issued to U.S. residents until a Social Security number is submitted.

Submission Guidelines Overview see rules for complete entry requirements:

• Abstracts may be submitted in Microsoft Word or or ASCII text.

• Block Diagrams for hardcopy submissions may be supplied as a printout from any drawing package. If an EPS file can be created from your program please send the file as well as the hardcopy. Hand drawn diagrams are also acceptable if they are legible and precise.

• Block Diagrams for digital submissions may be supplied in PDF or TIF formats as well as EPS.