The Flashing Light Challenge - huge(?) cash prize

#1

A fun competition that came up at the Christmas Dorkbot…

http://www.flashinglightprize.com/

Make an incandescent light flash using an innovative approach.

£200 prize!

Deadline: 1/7/17

Go!!!

1 Like
#2

Rube Goldberg machine?

#3

Possibly, but needs to flash for 5 minutes!

Entry criteria:
You can use any size or voltage of incandescent bulb.
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The flash rate must be between 0.5Hz and 2Hz. The mark-space ratio is unimportant but the difference between the bulb being on and off must be clearly visible.
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The flashing must be done electrically (i.e. causing the filament in the bulb to glow on and off). A bulb that is on continuously but has shutters, lenses etc. moving in front of it is not an eligible entry.
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Your system doesn’t have to have amazing longevity but it must be able to run for at least 5 minutes without breaking down, exploding etc.
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#4

marble run with ballbearings to make the contacts

2 Likes
#5

When have we ever not produced anything that adheres to the Rube Goldberg principle? :smile:

Courty

1 Like
#6

Stepper motor and a falling lump of steel with a air damper or some kind of escapement made out of intresting

#7

exploded 555 and giant exploded relay?

1 Like
#8

Who needs a relay when the 555 is made of 2n3055’s

I love you idea

#9

Closing date 1st August! £200 prize!

#10

A useless box solution?

2 Likes
#11

Newton’s cradle with the end balls completing/breaking the circuit when they touch/leave the rest of the stack?

#12

Could have an electro-magnet turning on/off to pull the balls back and forth

1 Like
#13

Guys!

I got a beaten streamer with a working petrol motor , any idea if we can use it in this?

1 Like
#14

This competition is now closed.

A list of entries: https://www.flashinglightprize.com/entries

#15

Lsi ring how cool is that

#16

Nice. I rather like this one - https://youtu.be/9rf5rxx3jx8
For its embrace of excess complexity in all forms