Create the Next Great Smart Application

Join our design contest to build a complete application with chipIgnite

Participants are challenged to develop creative and impactful end-applications that integrate custom silicon, PCBA, firmware, and mechanicals. Your project should demonstrate a functional, production-ready solution for Industrial, Commercial, or Edge-IoT sectors.

Beyond the hardware, this contest is a platform for your innovation. Winning designs will be promoted as official ChipFoundry reference architectures, showcased globally to our community and industry partners with full designer attribution.

Target Audience & Eligibility

This contest is open to:

• Hardware & Silicon Engineers: Experts in RTL design and physical implementation.

• Embedded Systems Developers: Engineers capable of bridging the gap between custom silicon and functional firmware.

• Makers & Innovators: Anyone with a passion for open-source hardware and a vision for a complete end-product.

• Academic Researchers: Students and faculty pushing the limits of specialized silicon architectures.

Projects must deliver working, repeatable solutions. Example projects include a custom hardware accelerator for edge-AI vision or an ultra-low-power industrial sensor node integrated with the Caravel SoC.

Key Technologies & Platforms

Participants are expected to utilize:

• Caravel SoC Harness: The standardized silicon "wrapper" for the chipIgnite program.

• Open-Source Silicon Tools: OpenLane flow, Icarus Verilog, Verilator, and Magic VLSI.

• Hardware Design Tools: KiCad for PCBA design and FreeCAD/OpenSCAD for mechanicals.

• chipIgnite Platform: The pathway for rapid silicon prototyping and fabrication.

How to Enter

1. GitHub Setup: Login to your GitHub account and create a public GitHub repository using the official ChipFoundry template repo.

2. Proposal: Commit a README file with the project description and proposal.

3. Submit: Submit the URL for your GitHub repo using the submission form on the landing page on or before March 25th.

4. Final Design: If selected, update your GitHub repo with your final design (GDSII, PCBA, Firmware) on or before April 30th.

5. Rules: Limit one entry per person. The entry must be original and use an approved open-source license. All designs must fit in the Caravel User Project area.

Project Requirements

All requirements must be met to be eligible:

• Language: All submission content and documentation must be in English.

• Implementation: Designs must fit in the Caravel User Project area (10 mm2).

• AI Usage: RTL can be coded by AI, but all prompts or session logs must be provided as part of the deliverables.

• Verification: Testbenches for RTL verification (including GLS) must be provided. Constraints for STA must be included.

• Open Source: Must include an official open-source license (e.g., Apache 2.0, MIT, or CERN-OHL).

• Flow: Top-level integration must use the OpenLane chipIgnite flow.

• Process: Must be implementable in SKY130 with available standard cells.

• Verification: The design must pass Precheck and Tapeout checks on the ChipFoundry platform.

• Media: Winners must provide a 3-minute video and screenshots demonstrating the project in a "how-to" format.

Judging Criteria

Projects will be evaluated by a panel of experts:

1. Technical Innovation: Does this reference design solve a tangible market need?

2. Verification Coverage: Rigor of test benches and GLS results.

3. Documentation Quality: Ease of replication by a third party.

4. Feasibility & Cost: BOM cost and complexity relative to the target application.

Judges

• TO BE ANNOUNCED

Program Timeline

• Contest Officially Launches: February 3rd

• Webinar: TBD

• Project Proposal Submission Deadline: March 25th (11:59pm PST)

• Final Contest Submission (Tape-out Ready): April 30th (11:59pm PST)

• Official Shuttle Tape-out Deadline: May 13th

• Silicon Return & System Assembly: October / November

The Prize

The Primary Winner and selected Discretionary Award winners will receive:

• Fabrication: 100% sponsored fabrication on the May chipIgnite shuttle.

• Silicon Allocation: 50 QFN-packaged parts for the team.

• Global Showcase & Attribution: Your winning design will be featured as an official reference design on the ChipFoundry website, in community newsletters, and across our social channels with full designer attribution.

• Prototyping: Support for the manufacturing of initial PCBA prototype units.

• Mechanicals: Assistance with 3D printing or CNC for enclosures.
  

Resources

• Caravel Template: GitHub Repository

• Caravel Development Board: GitHub Repository

• Knowledge Base: platform.chipfoundry.io

• chipIgnite FAQs: chipfoundry.io/faqs

• Community Support: Discord Server

• Video Guides: chipIgnite YouTube