Challenge Details

Explore and document the inner workings of an electronic device. Your submission should use a combination of text and images to document and describe what you find inside an electronic device. We challenge you to choose a device you don’t mind breaking apart (for example, an old phone) then carefully deconstruct it to see what’s inside. Identify and research the components,try to determine what role they serve in the device’s design, and summarize your findings and lessons learned in a report.

Things to keep in mind for a successful submission:

• For safety purposes, make sure the device you choose is approved by your coach, mentor, or parent as appropriate.

• Extreme caution should be used with capacitors, which may hold a charge.

• Any power sources or batteries must be disconnected or removed before deconstruction.

• You must wear safety glasses during the deconstruction process.

• What kind of device did you choose to explore, and why?

• What identifiable parts did you find during deconstruction?

• What role does each component play in the system?

• What did you learn from exploring your electronic device?

Minimum Requirements

A submission must meet these minimum requirements in order to be judged.

1. Entry is created and produced solely by student team members. It is acceptable for adults to assist with downloading any necessary resources where students may need permission.

2. Format: One PDF file (up to 20MB) that includes all content, including images.

3. Size: Summary report up to 500 words, including title page, findings, and lessons learned. Judges may use a software-based word counter such as http://www.montereylanguages.com/pdf-word-count-online-free-tool.html to verify word counts. [Note on February 28, 2024: It has come to our attention that this criterion was vague and subject to multiple valid interpretations. All entries were judged on how well they met the challenge rubric and the other requirements, disregarding word count. We apologize for this confusion, and have planned adjustments for all challenges next season.]

4. Title Page:  Each entry must include a title page that includes:

   • Title of submission

   • Names of students who participated (using first names only is acceptable)

   • Team number 

   • Location of team

Upload Instructions

Note: Beginning with the 2023-24 season, challenge entries must be uploaded by the primary contact for a registered team. This individual should ensure that the submission meets all requirements and criteria before uploading.

1. Click the green Submit an Entry button on the right side of the screen.

2. Fill out the submission form and add an optional description of the entry to the Short Description field.

3. Ensure you are entering the correct team number and letter, with no spaces.

4. Click Save.

5. Click the blue Files /Images button in the upper right of the screen.

6. Drag/drop your PDF file into the Upload a File box, then refresh if needed to view file details below the Upload a File box.

7. Edit the Display Name and file information to include your entry title and your team number; for example, "Reverse Engineering Challenge entry, team 007x."

8. Click on Save to record your edits.