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DASH+ Overview

The shifting automotive landscape, with new fuel types, fuel economy regulations, and super fuel-efficient vehicles, all point to a change in the way we use and experience the automobile. To fully support this revolutionary evolution, there is a unique opportunity to redesign how interaction and feedback can help drivers increase automotive energy efficiency.

As part of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Education Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the DASH+ national high school contest challenges student teams to use their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to design a dashboard of the future that incorporates feedback mechanisms and supports behavior change to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. There are three components to the DASH+ contest. You can complete them in any order, but remember that everything needs to be submitted by March 1, 2010!

Check off what it takes to complete DASH+ as your team makes its way to the finish line:

  • Your Dashboard Design - The graphic representation of the dashboard with dials, gauges, and other visual, auditory, or sensory indicators that stretch the boundaries of what's possible to make energy efficiency more participatory. Designs or storyboards are limited to 7 images and must be submitted as JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PDF, or PPT files.
  • The Technical Plan - The written responses to five questions that ask you to describe how your concept will measure and display data reflecting fuel economy, environmental impact, and vehicle position to support more efficient driving behavior through feedback.
    • What is the concept for your dashboard of the future?
    • How will your dashboard design and related feedback mechanisms support behavior change to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact?
    • How does your dashboard design and related feedback mechanisms comply and defy Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards?
    • How does your design measure and visually display data reflecting fuel economy, environmental impact, and vehicle position?
    • How did the individual strengths and interests of your team members result in a collaborative effort?
    • Limited to 500 words per question.
  • Video Pitch - The creative commercial that persuades automakers and the general public to adopt and embrace your new concepts to better understand energy use in vehicles, and to drive change today. Videos must be 2-3 minutes in length and submitted as a WMV, MOV, FLV, MPEG file or embedded code for YouTube video.
Early submission deserves an award! The first 25 adult mentors are eligible for a special educational bonus when your team completes DASH+.
  • October 19, 2009
    Contest launches at the Classic Car Club in Manhattan and registration opens for DASH+.
  • October through January
    Ongoing resources posted to FuelOurFutureNow.com/contest .
  • February 1, 2010
    Registration closes. Your design, plan, and pitch aren't due yet, but your team must be built with 2-5 high school students and an adult mentor. The clock is ticking to complete your entry!
  • March 1, 2010
    All DASH+ submissions are due. Each team must submit a dashboard design, technical plan, and video pitch.
  • April, 2010
    Expert judging takes place.
  • Early May, 2010
    Three semifinalists are announced, and online voting is open to the general public. Tell your friends and family to vote!
  • May 31, 2010
    Online voting closes.
  • Mid-June, 2010
    Grand Prize Winner is announced.
  • Mid-July, 2010
    The Grand-Prize Winning Team travels to Motor City for a VIP experience and to pitch automakers on the dashboard of the future.

Congratulations to high school teams from across the country that submitted an entry in the DASH+ contest!

Hundreds of students designed
next-generation dashboards to help
Drive Change Today!