The task is to design a personal safety-oriented wearable device that protects the wearer from personal and environmental risks, monitors their health or protects their property from theft.

Fifteen designers will then be supplied with development boards and kits by sponsor Texas Instruments (TI) to conceive and build their wearable devices.

Safety technology

The goal of the challenge is to integrate safety technology into clothing, a wristwatch, a necklace, a pendant or an arm band. Electronic engineers, performance clothing designers and makers are invited to participate.

Dianne Kibbey, element14’s global head of content and community, said:

“The members of the element14 community always surprise and delight us with their response to our Design Challenges.  The wearables market demands innovation and creativity, and we are confident that our members can rise to the challenge.”

TI MSP432

Challengers are required to integrate TI’s low-power and high-performance MSP432 microcontroller, via the MSP432 LaunchPad development kit, as the main application MCU in to their design, but are also encouraged to incorporate additional components from the official Design Challenge Kit provided by element14.

The 15 challengers will provide weekly updates on their progress through blog posts, photos and videos via the element14 website.

Punya Prakash, product line manager for MSP microcontrollers at TI, said:

“We are constantly working to redefine what’s possible and create opportunities for TI technology to improve people’s lives.  In this challenge, we are eager to see the element14 community help enable a safer environment through innovation and creativity.”

Innovation and technical merit

Entries will be judged on “originality, innovation and technical merit” by a panel of judges including experts from TI and the wearables sector.

The grand prize winner will receive a DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter worth $1,600 and the runner up will receive a DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter worth $800.

All other completed projects published on element14 will receive an RF Sports Watch with USB Data Logger and 96 Segment LCD Display.

Key dates

• 27 January 2017: applications for the Safe and Sound challenge close
• 13 February 2017: 15 official challengers will be announced
• 21 May 2017: deadline for finalists to submit their projects
• 31 May 2017: winners will be announced by the end of May