The Sprey Prize is an biannual engineering competition named in honor of Pierre Sprey, a pivotal figure in the field of military aviation and a member of the Fighter Mafia. This open-source competition challenges engineers and tinkers to design and develop prototypes which use new and less-than-new technology in creative ways.
Background
The history of engineering competitions and inducement prize contests can be traced back to ancient times. In Renaissance Italy and the Holy Roman Empire, numerous trade guilds and other groups organized events such as "bills of mathematical challenge" (cartelli di matematica disfida), where mathematicians, engineers and artisans engaged in contests to showcase their technical prowess. These challenges fostered innovation and the exchange of ideas among craftsmen, laying the groundwork for future engineering competitions.
One notable historical example is the Longitude rewards, established in the 18th century by the British government to incentivize the development of accurate methods for determining a ship's longitude at sea. This competition led to breakthroughs in navigation and improved maritime safety.
In more recent times, the Xprize Foundation has gained recognition for its approach to engineering competitions. The X Prize offers substantial monetary rewards to teams that achieve specific technological milestones, spurring advancements in fields such as space exploration and renewable energy.
Pros and Cons of Picking Winners
The concept of "picking winners" in engineering competitions involves selecting and rewarding specific projects or innovations. While this approach can incentivize targeted advancements, it also comes with its pros and cons.
Pros:
Focused Innovation: Picking winners can direct resources and attention to specific technological challenges, accelerating progress in critical areas.
Market Development: Recognizing and supporting successful innovations can stimulate the growth of new industries and markets.
Competitive Drive: The prospect of winning prizes can motivate participants to pursue ambitious and high-impact projects.
Cons:
Innovation Bias: Picking winners may inadvertently favor certain projects or technologies, potentially overlooking other promising ideas.
Resource Allocation: It may divert resources away from projects that don't fit the selected criteria, limiting overall diversity in innovation.
Risk of Failure: Betting on specific winners can lead to high stakes and the potential for financial loss if selected projects do not achieve their intended goals.
Event History
The Sprey Prize engineering competition for Winter 2023/2024 represents the inaugural edition of this innovative challenge. Announced to commence on October 2, 2023, the competition invites participants to tackle the task of designing a candle-powered Stirling engine laser prototype. Drawing inspiration from the legacies of Pierre Sprey and Col. John Boyd, the competition emphasizes open-source innovation and the pursuit of efficiency and focus.
Further reading
- "Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time" by Dava Sobel.
- "Competitions for Young Engineers" by Tony Tooth.
- "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War" by Robert Coram