Learn about the GrabCAD Platform
Get to know GrabCAD as an open software platform for Additive Manufacturing
Visit our new homepage
Show off your skills and solve real design problems
Sometimes reaching a remote location to provide humanitarian aid is challenging and slow. Engineers around the world have been experimenting with different ideas for addressing those challenges, and drones have shown tremendous promise and opportunity.
Your challenge is to design a 3D printable drone-attached container to ensure that packages with sensitive products or equipment arrive at their destination both safely and securely.
The goal of this design challenge is to create a 3D printable drone-attached container to assist with transporting critical supplies such as aid, medical supplies or agricultural supplies (food, medication, blood packs, seeds, fertilizer, etc.) to rural areas.
With the many new generative design and 3D printing manufacturing techniques, there are no restrictions on part manufacturability. This opens up a new world for organic and complex part shapes that might not otherwise be machined or molded from plastic with traditional manufacturing methods. Additionally, designs that had to be created as multiple parts for traditional manufacturing purposes can now be single parts that can be 3D printed.
Generative design technology offers an easy way to optimize and transform traditional designs or otherwise prismatic parts into beautiful, unique and functional components. Optimization is also a way to reduce the strain on the environment by using less material and producing less waste.
The component you design must be secure and sufficiently durable to withstand any anticipated outdoor conditions that could damage or taint its cargo.
Your final design should contain at least one (1) component that can ONLY be manufactured using 3D printing.
Extra credits will be given to designs that are also optimized to save material without compromising integrity.
Siemens customer zipline: http://www.flyzipline.com/, is an excellent example of innovation in designing drones for social impact.
**Who Can Enter***
This category is open to students at a post-secondary school. Entrants under the age of 18 must have their entries submitted by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. You may enter this challenge individually, or as a design team. All team members must be enrolled as a student in an educational institution or online program during the semester/term in which they contribute to the design. The challenge is not open to any persons employed, past or present, as a professional engineer.
JUDGING CRITERIA
1. Is this design unique and creative? (test with internet searches)
2. Is there at least one component of the design engineered for additive manufacturing (3D Printing)? The design should ONLY be able to be manufactured by a 3D printer.
3. Is at least one component optimized for less material without compromising strength and functionality? The entry should include four (4) images as described.
(Extra credit given for using Generative Design in Solid Edge)
4. Description of material reduction: EX. Percentage of material saved
5. Report of how the design will help to solve the problem
6. Is the component able to withstand shock and weather conditions?
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Native Solid Edge files earn bonus points (GRABCAD To assign #)
To Download a free version of Solid Edge for this challenge, Click Here
CAD must be capable of exporting a Step (STP) file if not using Solid Edge
Photo realistic renderings (KeyShot comes with every Solid Edge download)
Size of F370 printer bed – 14 x 10 x 14 in. (design may be scaled for 3D printing)
Must be able to carry a load of 48 lbs or less.
BONUS POINTS for using Generative Design topology optimization to reduce weight, as well as make it an organic aesthetically pleasing shape. Check out this informative tutorial for more information.
Download Solid Edge Software HERE
SUBMISSION FILE FORMATS
Native Solid Edge Part File for additional points
or
STEP file of the CAD model
BMP, JPG or PNG images of the optimized design from Top, Front and Side as well as a 3D pictorial view *
Mass reduction report
Word Document description of the solution
*The winning design file will be converted for printing.
ENTERING THE COMPETITION:
This category is open to students at a post-secondary school. Entrants under the age of 18 must have their entries submitted by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. You may enter this challenge individually, or as a design team. All team members must be enrolled as a student in an educational institution or online program during the semester/term in which they contribute to the design. The Challenge is not open to any persons employed, past or present, as a professional in 3D printing.
By entering the Challenge you:
1. Accept the official GrabCAD Challenges Terms & Conditions.
2. Agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges (Jury).
3. Warrant that you are eligible to participate.
4. Warrant that the submission is your original work.
5. Warrant, to the best of your knowledge, your work is not, and has not been in production or otherwise previously published or exhibited.
6. Warrant neither the work nor its use infringes the intellectual property rights (whether a patent, utility model, functional design right, aesthetic design right, trademark, copyright or any other intellectual property right) of any other person.
7. Warrant participation shall not constitute employment, assignment or offer of employment or assignment.
8. Are not entitled to any compensation or reimbursement for any costs.
9. Agree the Sponsor and GrabCAD have the right to promote all entries.
If you think an entry may infringe on existing copyrighted materials, please email challenges@grabcad.com.
SUBMITTING AN ENTRY:
Only entries uploaded to GrabCAD through the "Submit entry" button on this Challenge page will be considered an entry. Only public entries are eligible. We encourage teams to use GrabCAD Workbench for developing their entries. Entries are automatically given the tag "asmedronesforsocialimpact" when uploading to GrabCAD. Please do not edit or delete this tag. Only entries with valid tag will participate in the Challenge.
All submissions must include a written description of the challenge you want to solve, (from one of the 3 specified categories, aid, medical supplies or agricultural supplies), and a detailed description of how your design solves the problem.
AWARDING THE WINNERS:
The sum of the Awards is the total gross amount of the reward. The awarded participant is solely liable for the payment of all taxes, duties and other similar measures if imposed on the reward pursuant to the legislation of the country of his/her residence, domicile, citizenship, workplace, or any other criterion of similar nature. Only 1 award per person. Prizes may not be transferred or exchanged. All winners will be contacted by the GrabCAD staff to get their contact information and any other information needed to get the prize to them. Payment of cash awards is made through PayPal. All team awards will be transferred to the member who entered the Challenge.
We will release the finalists before the announcement of the winners to give the Community an opportunity to share their favorites in the comments, discuss concerns, and allow time for any testing or analysis by the Jury. The Jury will take the feedback into consideration when picking the winners.
This Challenge ends on July 18th, 2019 (23:59 EST.) Finalists will be announced August 1st, 2019. Winners will be announced August 8th, 2019.
$1,000 in Prizes + More!
$500.00, plus a 1 year subscription to Solid Edge Classic, and a 1 year ASME student membership.
$300.00, plus a 1 year subscription to Solid Edge Classic, and a 1 year ASME student membership.
$200.00, plus a 1 year subscription to Solid Edge Classic, and a 1 year ASME student membership.
ASME & GrabCAD
As part of ASME Engineering Festivals™, you are invited to go beyond the classroom or laboratory and put your engineering design principles to the test by applying them in ASME hosted student competitions.
E-Fests, are WAY more than just a series of events. It’s a movement driven by engineering students that has gained force globally. These year-round programs empower engineering students like YOU to ignite innovation, build your resume, expand your knowledge, participate in stimulating competitions, jumpstart your career and most importantly, celebrate engineering
Register for an ASME E-Fest here:
https://efests.asme.org/
Simon Pun
Jonathan Jennings
Abe Gladstone
Doug StainbrookHave an awesome idea for this competition? Want to win cool prizes? Sign-up now to upload your entries.
If you don't receive the email within an hour (and you've checked your Spam folder), email us as confirmation@grabcad.com.
99 comments
parker cummings about 5 years ago
What is the weight capacity for this, what material will it be printed out of and what does the drone look like for mounting
Artyom Aghajanyan about 5 years ago
Good
Germano Pecoraro Designer about 5 years ago
Why olny student!?
Yanni Lykoudis about 5 years ago
We can assume that the 3D printers can print one shell objects reliably right?
Kesa about 5 years ago
@Germano, The sponsor of this challenge ASME requested that this challenge be for only students.
Carlos Tapia about 5 years ago
On which drone are we mounting this drone attachment?
Dhruv Gandhi about 5 years ago
is it necessary to use solid edge
Randa Admiral about 5 years ago
highly recommended for final year students haha
Nicholas Gower about 5 years ago
Can we use someone else's drone design? It only says we need to design a drone attachment, but says nothing about designing a drone.
Kesa about 5 years ago
The Drone is completely up to you. No specific drone that you need but should be to lift up 30lbs to 48lbs
UniqueCAD about 5 years ago
I wish a mirror challenge could be opened for non-students as well. Of the last 6 challenges, 2 were open for non-students. With one of those two not really being approachable to people without knowledge / expertise in computational fluid dynamics.
Gabriele C. about 5 years ago
I just can't understand the challenge itself.
" [...] create a 3D printable drone attachment to assist with transporting critical supplies such as aid, medical supplies or agricultural supplies [...] "
- Is there a packaging system being used? Are the goods being zip tied to the drone? Are the goods wrapped in scotch tape? Are the neatly packaged and it's the box that needs to be attached to the drone?
- If there is, what are the dimensions of the smallest box and the biggest box you plan to use?
- What kind of drone are we talking about?
- What are the travel distances?
- What kind of environment is the drone going to be operated in?
Each answer to those questions can deeply affect the way the "attachment" is designed.
The way the challenge is presented is a bit too vague but it's just my opinion.
Hope I can get some answers, I'd really like to apply.
Edit. On the website I could find an answer to only some of those questions, as in range and max. load, but no mentions on the box dimensions or such and whether we need to create an attachment "compatible" with the drone shown on the site is still a thing I'm wondering about.
Tyler Wahle about 5 years ago
Do we make a drone for the contest or will the add-on just be judged? Can the project be specified to a certain drone?
Triiaxis about 5 years ago
What if you're not a engineer but also not a student?
JNANA RANJAN MUDULI about 5 years ago
tell me the size & material of this drone
Kesa about 5 years ago
@Tyler What you are making is a Container for a Drone to carry to a destination. It must be able to withstand weather conditions and shock if it drops and must be able to carry between 30-48lbs
Kesa about 5 years ago
Remember you are not designing a Drone. You designing a Container that will be transported by drone and it must be 3D printed and be able to withstand weather conditions and more.
VoltLAB about 5 years ago
30lbs is a quite demanding load, assuming completely 3d printed part and size of necessary drone to lift it. Can you please specify material to be used in final print for structural assessment?
VoltLAB about 5 years ago
Lift comparasion: 30lbs~13.6kg (with 3D print) vs. pro solution from DHL - 2kg Parcelcopter 2.0 , Wingcopter.com - 6kg (with CF reinforced resins). I think you may missed the dot/coma.. or two zeros ;)
Master3D about 5 years ago
I guess only students because they are cheap labor and easy to be digested by companies , they are suppose to have better young fresh ideas to take advantage of. About the prizes! I see this company is not so interested to give good rewards ,you are not going to use only 10 boxes for your transport drone business, you should give some kind of sharing patents rights or stocks or some crypto currencies like prizes! This will make the challenge more interesting to participate in. ;)
Michael Schliep about 5 years ago
First of all: I'm a retiree. An old mechanical engineer running 3D-print as a hobby. So I'm out from the start.
I agree to several others here who were disappointed about the stupid condition (only students) and the bad description of the job. This is not a challenge but pure unprofessional fooling. And the reward IF one wins: $500? LOL!
Forget that mess! Offer real challenges with good awards. Use the knowledge of everybody not just students - who don't have much knowledge except crazy ideas probably.
Chris Jardine about 5 years ago
As someone who spent 10 years before going back to college to be an MAE student I agree, if selected as the winner a $500 payout for the IP of said box is far from worth it if this is taken to market; especially when the preferred software is produced by Seimens, as well as the main judge working for Seimens. Plus there is little information on the bounds; anyone can make a durable box, hell 3D print a pelican case, but without knowing what type of drone, and thus what my design limitations are, means that I'm designing more than just a rugged box. Im designing the box, any fixturing, mounting, and potentially a drone that has a payload of nearly 40lbs? I would rather use all that time designing all of it and still retain my IP over $500 with where delivery drone tech is right now.
Kesa about 5 years ago
Im sorry that some of you are upset about this challenge being for students only. You can keep your eyes open for Challenges that aren't for students. We recently had 3 challenges that did end that was available for everyone. GrabCAD is a website for everyone and we need to let students who are the next designers in this line of work to be able to be seen.
Thanks everyone,
Kesa
GrabCAD Community Manager
Marcio Kis Curzio about 5 years ago
Looking at the entries so far, seems that people didn't understand what they were supposed to do at all. Maybe the challenger could give some examples to open students' minds
J. Matt Thompson about 5 years ago
Talk about a poor design challenge. Without some REAL specifications, how can ANYBODY do a design? How much volume or weight? Is the container re-usable? Is it quick detach or permanent mount? Not to mention that the judging is rigged. IT SAYS SO IN THE CHALLENGE! "Native Solid Edge files earn bonus points (GRABCAD To assign #)" Since when does the paper used matter to a design?
If this is supposed to be a learning challenge, how about making it about learning real world requirements? Exactly what kind of environment will the packages be delivered to? "Rural" can be forests, fields, canyons, swamps, desserts, tundra, beaches, and even on water! What kinds of weather will the box be expected to survive? What temperatures?
Warning to other students. This is NOT A CHALLENGE! Its an attempt to get cheap design ideas for Siemens to develop with little to no credit given to the original designer, the student.
Muhammad Sajjad about 5 years ago
Weight Specification: Must be able to carry a load of 30-48 lbs
Volume Specification: Size of F370 printer bed – 14 x 10 x 14 in. (design may be scaled for 3D printing)
Muhammad Sajjad about 5 years ago
Solid Edge is optional but not required - CAD must be capable of exporting a Step (STP) file if not using Solid Edge
Muhammad Sajjad about 5 years ago
Rural can be whatever you want it to be. If you are designing for a specific environment (mountainous, forest, etc.) then you can explain in the description that will go along the project submission.
Muhammad Sajjad about 5 years ago
I want to emphasize that you are not designing the drone but a drone attachment/container. How that container is attached to the drone is up to the designer's creativity.
Rafi Rahman about 5 years ago
What is the weight capacity for the Design, What material will it be used for printing and what does the drone look like for mounting? Can you guys clarify the thing ??
chahak gupta about 5 years ago
Do we have to directly submit our designs and enroll in the competition or there is any other procedure before submitting the design to enroll?
John Harald Schjelderup about 5 years ago
Should let this one slide because I am not interested or eligable in this case.
But in order for GrabCAD to become a platform for viable professional entries then these things have to happen soon, in my opinion:
The customer/sponsor who provides the challenge needs to have a certain level of technical competance (or interest ! !) so that a clear technical specification is provided.
I can't believe I am writing this, but engineers often refer to this starting point as a "design basis" or "technical specification". Without this it clearly becomes a case of shit in & shit out while people around the world waste a lot of time. This challenge is a prime example. Zero technical requirements apart for a rough payload capacity requirement.
Entries should ideally be in a "sealed" envelope until the deadline approaches. If you submit early others will inevidably adapt and refine your design if it is good, often claiming it as their own. If you deliver late you will be accused of using other peoples ideas. In a professional world you want to avoid both, therefore sealed envelope is the only sensible way to do it.
Finally - prizes. Talent may be cheap, but experienced talent rarely is. My point is that if you for instance want to design a new undercarriage to a multimillion dollar train then it is a joke to expect serious (i.e. technically & commercially viable) entries for prizes that often are an outright laugh. That is repulsive. Go to the industry and pay what it costs if you want the best.
Anyways, GrabCAD is a great platform - I would just like it to become something greater and more suited for professionals as well as for the aspiring designers.
FredSWUG almost 5 years ago
How are some of these "entries" being posted for this challenge? Ball bearings? A disc brake? A clutch? An oven knob?... I don't know if these are a weird protest, or accidents.
The the contest is what it is. If $500 is not a compelling prize, don't participate. But keep in mind that $500 is a great prize in some regions. Someone is going to win, and if you have a decent idea, it might be worth a few hours of modeling. Unless you figure you'll be better off spending $10,000 to patent the idea, and try to sell or license the design. But, at least this challenge notified you of the desire for such an invention.
I never saw most of these GrabCAD challenges as being about putting in hundreds of hours of engineering and design time. To me it seems like the goal is often about having a creative idea, and making a concept 3D model which is at least suitable to get that idea across to others (i.e. the judges).
Limiting challenges to a certain audience removes a lot of input. But if I had a great idea, I'd find myself a "student" and make them submit the model for a small percentage of the prize :).
Jean-Gabriel Jolly almost 5 years ago
Please use of "in" and "lbs" in 2k19 witch no trad... lol (14x10x14 in = 35,56*25,4*35,56cm and 30-48 lbs = 13.6-21,7724 kg from google but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ... )
Gabriele C. almost 5 years ago
@FredSWUG
To be completely honest with you I have made two designs ^^. The one you see uploaded I put maybe half the effort into doing it, and the other one I'm keeping on my computer is actually worth the time spent.
Poorly made/described challenges kinda deserve average projects. If they want us to take it seriously and want better designs they should at least incentivize us more. Even if we are students, we are aware of our value, being rewarded with "exposure" and 500$ (wich is roughly 1/4 of my annual university taxes) is something, but again, it's not too much of an incentive for extra work and time we have to spend beside studying.
It's interesting to know other's opinions about this, perhaps I'm acting like I'm spoiled.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tanner Hesterman almost 5 years ago
So is the challenge to make a container that a drone can carry, a drone, or both?
Harry Watkins almost 5 years ago
I'm a bit confused as well, it says in the challenge description that it is to design a '3D printable drone-attached container' so I think that it is just the container so that is what I am working on.
Kirill Romanenko almost 5 years ago
Why so many of absolutely unrelated entries to the topic?
Kesa almost 5 years ago
Remember what you are designing is a CONTAINER for a drone to carry.
Kirill Romanenko almost 5 years ago
I would like to participate, and unfortunately i am not a student already :)
Adfi Miardi almost 5 years ago
It is written that "Size of F370 printer bed – 14 x 10 x 14 in. (design may be scaled for 3D printing) ". Does it mean that i can make a part design that only able to print with larger printer bed than the F370's? Because it will be scaled anyway....
M.S.KIRAN KARTHIK almost 5 years ago
The description itself is not at all specific. "Drone attached container", Doesn't this mean to design a drone with an attached container.? Totally Misguiding the contestants.
Ali Nadimi almost 5 years ago
You do not need to design the drone. Only the attachment
Ali Nadimi almost 5 years ago
Scaling is up to you ( you need to do it ) . You can scale your part to fit the 3D printer or you can originally design your part so it fits the 3D printer and no need for scaling.
Ali Nadimi almost 5 years ago
Tip: If you have parts made in other CAD software and want to use in Solid Edge, not only you can import them , you can also edit them in Solid Edge using Synchronous Technology : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcgoYJXFgYE&list=PL1m1vu8_quoC0dz2o5jg3Yn6ECSg-UeEC&index=8
Ahmad Nasser almost 5 years ago
Hi... one question:
are all the parts of the container manufactured by 3d printing...
It is pretty clear that there must be at least one part that can only be manufactured by 3d printing but what about the other parts?
i worked on a design where i considered that the parts of the container are not always made by 3d printing and that they can be of metal or anything else which would make sense considering the load weight and the size it must take
hope you answer soon and thanks
Ali Nadimi almost 5 years ago
Just remember, you are only designing the attachment and the attachment needs to be able to carry that load.
Ahmad Nasser almost 5 years ago
Hi... one question:
are all the parts of the container manufactured by 3d printing...
It is pretty clear that there must be at least one part that can only be manufactured by 3d printing but what about the other parts?
i worked on a design where i considered that the parts of the container are not always made by 3d printing and that they can be of metal or anything else which would make sense considering the load weight and the size it must take
hope you answer soon and thanks
Cad Cam almost 5 years ago
I see a lot of nice work! I wonder about the result!
Kesa almost 5 years ago
Ahmad: most of the parts of your design must be 3D Printed but if you need metal nuts and bolts to secure the part that is fine but you must state that in your submission
Srinivaasan mechanical almost 5 years ago
i already uploaded my parts in my library as (wankel engine) if i want to participate in this event. while registering this it will mentioned as upload your file what can i do now
Ananth Narayan almost 5 years ago
@Kesa, Why unwanted models are being posted. Are they planning to replace model later (after times goes out).
Kesa almost 5 years ago
It is possible that they are place holders. But the Models that meet criteria will be chosen and judged.
Sabbella Prasanna almost 5 years ago
Unable to make an entry
Siam Shakil almost 5 years ago
I forgot to add calculations in the report, other than that everything is OK, can I submit the remaining part of the report now?
:(
adrian obrul almost 5 years ago
I have made the design but then I couldn't upload it and couldn't make an entry.
and I was on time
Pitambar Panda almost 5 years ago
I forget to take consider of dimensions in the design and uploaded my modelled with twice the dimensions as mentioned, Now whether my design is valid for the competition or not?
uzair ahmed almost 5 years ago
can we make changes to our models now that the due date has passed??
Alireza Abbasabadi almost 5 years ago
When you share the results?
Antonella Pástor almost 5 years ago
@Alireza, finalists will be announced on August 1st and winners will be announced on August 8th, 2019.
Sumit Chanda over 4 years ago
When the finalists will be declared?
oward cadenas over 4 years ago
Where can we see the finalists?
Tanner Walker over 4 years ago
Have finalist been announced?
sabelo mthembu over 4 years ago
Where can we find the list of finalists
Kesa over 4 years ago
Finalists are now live. Thank you for your Patience. Winners will be announced next week.
oward cadenas over 4 years ago
I feel like my design was overlooked. The finalist are great designs but I believe they should have a second look at my submission as I tried to make a realistic approach to this competition and designed 3D printable container that can be attached to a real drone that can be purchased by anyone today. My design is not fictional.
Dylan Domb over 4 years ago
Hi,
I am not a finalist and so was wondering if I could perhaps have some feedback on my design?
Having put a lot of effort into my design, I feel that any areas of improvements would be greatly appreciated by me.
Thanks
Ananth Narayan over 4 years ago
Yes, I also need to know the mistakes I have done. I was so confident that I will be in top 10 finalist. Worked so hard. I wish GrabCAD will tell me mistakes in my model.
Kesa over 4 years ago
Be sure to send a Judge a GrabCAD Message and see what they can say about your design.
Jayshree Rathi over 4 years ago
I assume the results were to be out today. But they haven't been yet? Has anyone heard from Grabcad? I was really looking forward to who the winners were going to be!
Please log in to add comments.
Log in