Bright Manufacturing Challenge 2025

Design. Fabricate. Compete.

October 19 - 23, 2025
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois

The Bright Manufacturing Challenge is an immersive, hands-on experience where student teams will design, fabricate, and test a custom printed circuit board to serve as the control center for a robot.

Register

How the Bright Manufacturing Challenge Works

Teams

The challenge is a multidisciplinary, team-based competition designed to simulate a real-world engineering product development cycle. Teams will consist of 2-5 individuals with cross-disciplinary skills:

PCB Designer

Embedded Programmer / Firmware Development Lead

Mechanical Builder / Integrater

Team Coordinator / Communications Lead

Project Rounds

The challenge is broken into four primary rounds, each with deliverables, checkpoints, and learning outcomes.

Rounds include:

Round 1: PCB Design

Round 2: Fabrication DFM Review

Round 3: Assembly - Planning and Preparing for Board Population

Round 4: Final Integration and Robot Challenge

Challenge Benefits

As a participant in the challenge, you will recieve:

One-Year Altium Designer License

Professional Design Training

Industry-Standard Documentation Practice

Mentorship and Review Support

Recognition and Awards

Bragging Rights for Your College or University

Round 1: PCB Design

$1,000 cash prize!
Open to anyone who would like to participate

Overview:
Students must carefully design a PCB that will serve as the brain of the robot challenge. The key focus is ensuring the layout is functional, efficient, manufacturable, and clean.

Additional Challenge: Each team can modify the Base design, adding a key feature. This feature will be judged.
Note: Basic PCB Shape and layer stack must be maintained. Each team must purchase any additional components for the added feature.

Deliverables:
o Design Summary Document (1–2 pages)
o Schematic (Added Team Feature)
o PCB Layout Files
o Full Fabrication File
o Full Assembly Package
o Design Rule Check (DRC) Report
o PDF Outputs

When:
July 1 - 31, 2025

Round 2: Design for Manufacturing (DFM)

Open to top ten teams

Overview:
Students will prepare their board for fabrication using industry-aligned processes in this phase. A qualified DFM facility will judge PCB, and each design will be given a Report and DFM score. If selected as one of the top ten teams invited into the final Rounds of Assembly and Overall Challenge, each team will be requested to clean up their PCB Design using the DFM Report as the guide, and create a NEW complete design package, which will go for Fabrication.

Deliverables:
o Reworked PCB Design with the DFM Report
o New PCB Design Package for Fabrication

When:
August 1 - September 30, 2025

Round 3: Assembly (at SMTA International in Rosemont, IL)

Open to top ten teams

Overview:
At the SMTA International Event, the focus shifts to hands-on execution—how well the students assemble their PCBs, manage rework, and validate electrical functionality. Judging should emphasize soldering quality, workmanship, test readiness, and debugging capability. Each team will assemble their PCB and the overall Robot System. Write the required firmware.

All components, tools & equipment, and Fabricated PCB will be provided.
(Except the Teams added feature components)

Deliverables:
o Assembled PCB Design for judging
o Fully assembled and Operating Robot
o Assembly Process Documentation
o Functional Test Report
o Assembly Review Checklist

When:
October 21, 2025

Round 4: The Final Challenge (at SMTA International in Rosemont, IL)

$2,500 cash prize!
Open to top ten teams

Overview:
The culminating event where student-designed and assembled robots compete in a real-world mission on a custom-built arena floor. This round evaluates the integration of electronics, firmware, mechanical design, and teamwork under pressure. It demonstrates how effectively teams turned their PCB design into a functional, mission-capable robot.

In Round Four, student teams bring their completed robots to life in a real-world competition on a physical arena floor. Each robot must autonomously or semi-autonomously complete tasks within a defined mission scenario, simulating a real engineering challenge such as package delivery, search and rescue, or terrain navigation.

The details of the Final challenge will be provided at the challenge launch.

Deliverables:
o Completed Robot

When:
October 22, 2025

What are the eligibility requirements to join the challenge?

Any currently enrolled student (tech school, undergraduate or graduate level) can participate. Each team must have 2–4 members and a faculty advisor.
Do we need prior experience with PCB design or Altium Designer to participate?

No prior experience is required. Teams will receive training resources, a one-year license, and training courtesy of Altium Designer.
Is there a cost to participate in the challenge?

There is a registration fee of $25 for each team. However, there will be further travel expenses if your team is selected for the final challenge
What is the timeline of the challenge?

The challenge kicks off on July 1, 2025. Teams will design and optionally build the robot PCBs over the summer. Final in-person testing will occur at SMTAI on October 21-22, 2025, in Rosemont, Illinois.
What kind of robot are we designing for?

Each team will design a robot from a set schematic with specific design criteria. EXCEPT each team will be allowed to add a specific feature to their robot, which they will be judged on in the competition. (Note: Each team must procure the added components for their feature.) Further design criteria will be provided.
Will we receive hardware or parts to help with prototyping?

Yes, basic robot kits, tools, and Equipment (except components needed for the added feature) will be provided.
Are we required to attend the SMTA International event in person?

No, but in-person participation at SMTAI (Rosemont, Illinois) is highly encouraged, primarily when representing your school in the final Challenge competition. Rounds 1 & 2 of the competition are open to everyone and will be done remotely.
How will our PCB design be evaluated?

Each Round of the Challenge will have designated categories in which they will be judged. Designs will be judged based on various criteria.
Can teams reuse or modify the Baseline robot design?

Yes, each team is encouraged to add to the Baseline Robot Design called the Added Feature. This will be judged as the best idea. Each team must procure the added components for their added feature. If you are selected to attend the Final Challenge, your PCB Design will be fabricated. You must keep specific design criteria, such as the Layer stackup and board size.
What software and tools are we allowed to use?

Altium Designer, KiCAD, and Orcad. The Altium 365 will be used for the Project workspace. Teams may also use simulation, firmware development, and mechanical CAD tools.
Can multiple teams from the same university participate?

Yes, multiple teams from one school are welcome. Each team must register separately and have a distinct project.
What kind of support or mentoring will be available?

Participants can access online mentoring sessions, forums, tutorials, and Q&A sessions.

Take the Challenge

Bright Manufacturing Challenge 2025

Design. Fabricate. Compete.

October 19 - 23, 2025 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois

The Bright Manufacturing Challenge is an immersive, hands-on experience where student teams will design, fabricate, and test a custom printed circuit board to serve as the control center for a robot.

How the Bright Manufacturing Challenge Works

Teams

The challenge is a multidisciplinary, team-based competition designed to simulate a real-world engineering product development cycle. Teams will consist of 2-5 individuals with cross-disciplinary skills:

PCB Designer

​​

Embedded Programmer / Firmware Development Lead

​​

Mechanical Builder / Integrater

​​

Team Coordinator / Communications Lead

Project Rounds

The challenge is broken into four primary rounds, each with deliverables, checkpoints, and learning outcomes. Rounds include:

Round 1: PCB Design

​​

Round 2: Fabrication DFM Review

​​

Round 3: Assembly - Planning and Preparing for Board Population

​​

Round 4: Final Integration and Robot Challenge

Challenge Benefits

As a participant in the challenge, you will recieve:

One-Year Altium Designer License

​​

Professional Design Training

​​

Industry-Standard Documentation Practice

​​

Mentorship and Review Support

​​​​

Recognition and Awards

​​

Bragging Rights for Your College or University

Round 1: PCB Design

$1,000 cash prize! Open to anyone who would like to participate

Deliverables: o Design Summary Document (1–2 pages) o Schematic (Added Team Feature) o PCB Layout Files o Full Fabrication File o Full Assembly Package o Design Rule Check (DRC) Report o PDF Outputs

When: July 1 - 31, 2025

Further Questions?

October 19 - 23, 2025
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois

The challenge is broken into four primary rounds, each with deliverables, checkpoints, and learning outcomes.

Rounds include:

$1,000 cash prize!
Open to anyone who would like to participate

Deliverables:
o Design Summary Document (1–2 pages)
o Schematic (Added Team Feature)
o PCB Layout Files
o Full Fabrication File
o Full Assembly Package
o Design Rule Check (DRC) Report
o PDF Outputs

When:
July 1 - 31, 2025