(Source: NXP)
Each year, the NXP Cup gives students a quick start in hardware and software development for autonomous model cars. Participants converge from various backgrounds across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) to build, program, and race their model cars against other teams, aiming for the fastest times and precise maneuvering. For partners, such as Mouser Electronics, the competition is an opportunity to make lasting impacts and foster lasting relationships with students. Rafik Mitry, Technical Marketing Engineer at Mouser Electronics EMEA, discusses the company’s involvement in the NXP Cup and how students can benefit from the competition.
NXP: What should students who are considering participating in the NXP Cup know about the competition?
Rafik Mitry: The NXP Cup has great learning opportunities and offers valuable insights into the “complex” engineering world. It’s an exceptional platform and starting point for students to embark on their engineering journey. Additionally, exercising teamwork throughout the event will strengthen participants’ soft skills. Furthermore, participants will receive credits for their course attendance, enhancing their overall educational experience. NXP Cup 2024 season starts in October this year. Interested students can register on the NXP Cup page.
NXP: Which skills do you think students need for a chance at succeeding in the NXP Cup?
RM: I’d say proficiency in the robot operating system (ROS) and machine vision programming are crucial requirements for successful participation. Practical skills in these areas are needed and the students must be willing to engage in hands-on work (Figure 1). They also need a good level of dedication throughout the competition. Regardless of the outcome, participating in the NXP Cup will enrich students in key ways.
Figure 1: Students competing at the NXP Cup (Source: NXP)
NXP: How long has Mouser Electronics been a sponsor of the competition and why is the partnership significant?
RM: We’ve been a sponsor of the NXP Cup since 2016. We recognized this as a significant opportunity to actively interact with students and to foster a lasting association with the Mouser brand throughout their academic journey. Moreover, this partnership is a testament to Mouser's commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers (Figure 2). Additionally, it offers a platform for productive collaboration with NXP as a valued partner. It allows us to make lasting impact.
Figure 2: Rafik Mitry (in the middle) with NXP team members at the NXP Cup (Source: NXP)
NXP: Can you describe Mouser’s involvement in the 2023 edition and how it benefited the company?
RM: We were involved in several activities around the 2023 NXP Cup, including social media and content creation. All those activities helped deepen the relationship between NXP and Mouser in EMEA. Also, the prospect of actively engaging with participants during the qualification and final event provided insights into their challenges. This information will inform and shape some of our marketing strategies, allowing us to support them better and meet their needs effectively.
NXP: Mouser and NXP have quite a history of collaboration. What do you like most about collaborating in the competition?
RM: We like NXP’s flexibility and openness to involve Electromaker in the digitization of the event and the generation and sharing of content around it on various channels. We also appreciate NXP’s commitment to excellence through the establishment of an efficient team that organizes student events and ensures a seamless experience for all participants.
The NXP Cup: A Partnership for Lasting Impact blog was first published on www.nxp.com and is republished here with permission.
Monica Tudora Monica is currently Global Sales Communications Manager at NXP. Her role focuses on keeping the NXP Global Sales organization informed with compelling communications and co-leading the NXP Cup program.
Garance Aubert-Mazenq Garance is Project Manager Experience at NXP and holds a Master's degree in Marketing and Innovation. She works in NXP's Experience team and co-leads the NXP Cup challenge. Her role is to bring new ideas and innovations that can enhance and improve the physical and digital experience.
NXP Semiconductors enables secure connections and infrastructure for a smarter world, advancing solutions that make lives easier, better and safer. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is driving innovation in the secure connected vehicle, end-to-end security and privacy and smart connected solutions markets.