GSC Hero 2024

Elevate your design skills, win prizes, and become a robotics optimization rockstar!

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Build Better Robots Faster: Easy as 1-2-3

✅ Choose & Learn the Software            ✅ Submit Your Entry               ✅  Win Cash Prize

First Quarter Winners

Nguyen Huu Nghia Thumbnail

55% Industrial Robot Gripper Optimization

Nghia Nguyen Huu from the Vietnamese-German University optimized an industrial robot by focusing on the weight of its tools. He found that heavier tools can slow down operations and reduce accuracy. By using Inspire's optimization technology, he reduced the grabber's weight by 55%, significantly improving the robot's design. He also created a near photo-realistic video of the robot's movements. Congratulations, Nghia, on winning 1st prize this quarter!

Watch Entry
Joseph BarryThumbnail

45% FIRST Robot Intake Bracket Optimization

Joseph Barry from the Goon Squad FIRST Robotics Team 3604 is dedicated to enhancing his team’s robot performance. His work with Inspire and Inspire Motion reduced the weight of a critical intake system bracket by 45%. Since the intake is vital for scoring, precision was essential. He ensured the part met strict performance standards, contributing to their success. Great job, and we look forward to seeing the Goons at ReefScape 2025!

Watch Entry
Madu Chukwuemeka Thumbnail

45% Industrial Robot Arm Optimization

Madu Chukwuemeka from the University of Benin in Nigeria also took a stab at an industrial-style robot but his approach was to tackle the main arms of the assembly. These arms are critical to the stability and functionality of the robot but, if heavy, can also hinder and slow the movement. His work with Inspire and Inspire motion was able to reduce 45% of his robot design making for a faster, more agile movement. Congrats Madu, very impressive work on a complex design.

Watch Entry

Submission Deadlines

See the winners of the first quarter and get inspired by their entries.

Submit your project before the end of the quarter for your chance to win up to $2000.

See submission examples and rules here.

Submit your project before the end of the quarter for your chance to win up to $2000.

See submission examples and rules here.

 

The Facts: Requirements and Prizes

Who can enter?

Students of any age and geographic location.

What do I need to do?

Show off your optimized robotic creations using any Altair software products described in "The Tools" section below.

What kinds of robots?

Any kind. Think FIRST® robots, industrial robots, warehouse or package delivery robots, humanoid robots, collaborative robots (cobots), electromechanical prosthetics, medical devices, drones, planetary rovers, robotic toys, and more.

What can I win?

Substantial cash prizes ($2000, $1000, $500), sponsorship for your FIRST team ($5000), and/or a paid Altair Ambassadorship (up to $1000).
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The Process: How it Works

  1. Download the Altair tools of your choice.
  2. Learn to use the tools with this page's learning resources and the tools' academic hubs.
  3. Optimize your chosen robotics application.
  4. Record a short video explaining your project, use of Altair software, and your results.
  5. Upload your video to a public video hosting platform (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
  6. Submit your video link in the form on the submission page.
  7. Repeat every quarter for the chance at cash prizes!

 

Submission deadlines:

1st Quarter: December 31, 2024

2nd Quarter: March 31, 2025

3rd Quarter: June 30, 2025.

Winners for each quarter will be announced 3-4 weeks after the deadline.
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The Tools: What to Use

For this contest, students can use any Altair tools. For beginners, we recommend three powerful and user-friendly tools: Altair® Inspire™, Altair® AI Studio, and Altair® PSIM™. Use the links below to download the tools and get started:

To access any other Altair tools, request the free Student Edition bundle.
Get the Student Edition Bundle
Female hand holding white chalk in front of a blackboard with workshop written on it

Don't Know How to Use the Tools Yet?

Join our virtual workshops and set yourself up for success

While participation in our workshops is not mandatory to submit an entry to the Global Student Contest, they can help you get started with our recommended tools, give you ideas for your own robotics optimization project, or just be plain and simple a fun way to learn something new.

  • Using Altair Inspire to Optimize Robotic Design - October 30th, 6 PM (EDT)

Watch the Recording

  • Enhancing Robotic Uptime: Predictive Maintenance Using Classification Models - November 14th, 10:30 AM (EST)

Watch the Recording

  • Mastering Power Flow in Robotics: PSIM Essentials for the Altair Global Student Contest - November 20th, 6 PM (EST)

Watch the Recording

Submit your entry or set a reminder to do so

Go to Submission Page

Get Inspired

FIRST Support Bracket

Optimized Support Bracket

Inspire Motion optimized a support bracket on a FIRST robot's intake system, resulting in a significant mass reduction while maintaining the desired safety factor compared to the original "hand-optimized" version.

Rover Suspension

Optimized Rover Suspension

After an Inspire Motion simulation revealed an initial Mars Rover design failed to climb a 10-inch obstacle, the rover's Rocker-Bogie suspension redesign enabled it to climb a 14-inch obstacle.

Robot Arm

Optimized Robot Arm

Inspire Motion optimized a grabber robot's arms, reducing mass, motor torque requirements, and improving lifting capability by using forces from the motion analysis in the optimization.

No Need to Start from Scratch

Kit Bot

FIRST Robotics 2024 “Kit Bot”

Download Kit Bot

Robot Gripper

Robot Gripper

Download Gripper

Submit and Win Big

From October 2024 to June 2025, students can submit their entries for the chance to win one of the three cash prizes awarded at the end of each quarter.

Quarterly Prizes: Additional Prizes:

  1. First Prize - $2000

  2. Second Prize - $1000

  3. Third Prize - $500 

 
  • 3 FIRST Team sponsorships @ $5000
  • 3 Altair Student Ambassadorships
    earning up to $1000 each
Submit to Win

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Win Additional Prizes

EDU_HubSpot-Creative_Student-Contest_24-45_Prizes

If you used Altair tools and loved them, tell us about it - you may qualify for some extra dough!

  • If you're a university student, you can apply for one of our three Altair Ambassadorships, that each pay up to $1000. Submit a video telling us why you love working with Altair tools and why you'd be a great ambassador. To learn more about what an Altair Ambassador does, visit our FAQ.
  • If you're a FIRST Robotics team, you can apply for one of our three FIRST Team Sponsorships at $5000 each. Submit a video telling us why you love working with Altair tools and how our sponsorship would help your FIRST team.
Submit Your Reel

All You Need for the Contest

Because of their frictionless access, we recommend using our Personal Editions for those Altair products that have them (e.g. Inspire, AI Studio, etc.)

 

If you would like to use another Altair software or explore all the tools
Get the Free Altair Student Edition Bundle (quick request and approval, valid for one year, renewable).

Rules and Criteria 

Before you submit your project, please read the contest rules and submission criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

For answers to common questions, submissions, and more, explore the FAQ page.

Terms and Conditions

Download and read the terms and conditions of the Altair Global Student Contest here.

If you are under 18 years of age, please have your parent or legal guardian read and accept the consent document and confirm the consent in the respective field on the submission form.

Visit our Academic Hub for Inspire and get access to all the resources you may need to learn how to use the tool, how others use the tool, and much more.

Go to Inspire Hub

Visit our Academic Hub for AI Studio and get access to all the resources you may need to learn how to use the tool, how others use the tool, and much more.

Go to AI Studio Hub

Visit our Academic Hub for PSIM and get access to all the resources you may need to learn how to use the tool, how others use the tool, and much more.

Go to PSIM Hub

A Great Real-World Industry Example for Robotics Optimization

In this project, MX3D and Altair collaborated to push the boundaries of simulation-driven design and additive manufacturing. The video showcases the type of work we want for the contest, though on a smaller scale.

The engineers aimed to create a lighter, more efficient robot arm while keeping its strength. Using Inspire, they reduced the arm’s weight by 50%, cutting material costs and printing time through Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM).

Process overview:

  1. First, they scanned the middle section of the heavy robot arm.
  2. Then they built a digital twin of the arm.
  3. Next, they used Inspire to perform generative design optimization, drastically reducing the part’s weight.
  4. Lastly, they WAAM-printed the newly optimized part in stainless steel, refined it, and installed it in the robot arm.

For more in-depth information about the process, check out the webinar and the white paper.

 

Check out their video to see the process and amazing results.

 

Previous Contest Highlights

2023-24 Optimization Rockstars

Previous Global Student Contests yielded tons of optimization rockstars whose submissions may inspire your next big breakthrough.

See Last Year's Winners
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Industry Experts Compete in Lightweighting, Too!

For over a decade, we've been awarding industry leaders with the Altair Enlighten Award for exceptional achievements in sustainability and lightweighting that successfully reduce carbon footprint and mitigate water and energy consumption.

By participating in the Altair Global Student Contest, you'll acquire valuable experience and skills that will prepare you to become part of the next generation of difference-makers in whatever industry you go into.

Showcase your optimization skills to industry leaders by submitting your lightweighting project.

Who knows - maybe your future employer will see it!

Other Robotics Applications

Finger Flutter 400x400

Robotic Hand Prosthetic Motion Analysis

with Altair Inspire

Go to Article
Rethink Robotics Analysis

Rethink Robotics Analysis - Optimizing a Robot Arm

with Altair SimSolid and Inspire

Watch Webinar
Autonomous Quadrotor

Autonomous Quadrotor Collision Avoidance Simulation

with Altair Twin Activate and MotionSolve

Go to the Article
Small Autonomous Robo

Engineering Design Using a Small Autonomous Robot

with Altair HyperWorks and MotionSolve

Go to Article
Pick & Place Robot Simulation in MotionSolve

Pick & Place Robot Multibody Simulation

with Altair MotionSolve and Twin Activate

Go to Article
Make a Robot Dance

How to Make a Robot Dance

System Simulation with Altair Activate

Watch the Video
Multi-body Dynamics for the University Rover Challenge

Multi-body Dynamics for the University Rover

with Altair Inspire

Watch the Video
Robotic Car with PSIM

Designing and Building a Buck Converter for Robotic Car Motor

with Altair PSIM

Watch the Video
Optimizing Robotic Car Storage Service

Optimizing the World’s First Robotic Car Storage Service

with Altair MotionSolve

Go to Article

Ready to submit your robotics optimization?

Go to Submission Page