Vertex

Inspiration

Hardware ideas are easy to imagine but hard to organize into something buildable. A team might have a strong idea for a device, but CAD, PCB planning, firmware, parts, validation, and timelines are usually spread across different tools. We wanted to make that first step easier by creating Vertex, a workspace that helps turn a rough hardware concept into a clear prototype plan.

What it does

Vertex is an AI-powered hardware design platform. A user types in a device idea, such as a smart plant monitor or wearable safety button, and Vertex generates a structured blueprint for the project. The blueprint includes a CAD concept preview, PCB layout plan, bill of materials, firmware starter code, validation checks, and a prototype timeline. The goal is to help users move from an idea to an organized hardware build plan faster.

How we built it

We built the frontend with React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and React Bits to create a clean and easy-to-use interface. The app includes a landing page, an idea input workspace, a loading sequence, and a generated blueprint dashboard with tabs for CAD, PCB, BOM, firmware, validation, and timeline. We also designed the project with a backend-ready architecture, so the frontend can later connect to an API, database, and AI model. The planned backend would use Node.js/Express or FastAPI, an AI API for blueprint generation, PostgreSQL or Supabase for project storage, and file storage for blueprint exports.

Challenges we ran into

One challenge was making the project feel simple even though hardware design has many different parts. We had to organize CAD, PCB, BOM, firmware, validation, and timeline information in a way that was not overwhelming. Another challenge was designing a UI that looked polished and professional while still being easy to understand during a demo. We also had to think carefully about how the frontend and backend would connect later.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud that Vertex turns a complicated hardware planning process into one clean workspace. We created a clear product idea, a strong visual identity, and a demo flow that shows how a user can go from one sentence to a full prototype plan. We are also proud of building the app in a way that can grow beyond a mock demo and connect to a real backend in the future.

What we learned

We learned how important it is to separate frontend design from backend logic. We also learned that a good product is not just about features, but about making the user experience clear and useful. This project helped us understand how AI can be used as a planning tool, not just a chatbot, by turning unstructured ideas into organized engineering sections.

What's next for Vertex

Next, we want to connect Vertex to a real backend and AI model so it can generate actual structured blueprint data. We also want to add user accounts, saved projects, real component price lookup, CAD and PCB export options, team collaboration, and downloadable prototype reports. In the future, Vertex could become a full workspace for students, makers, and hackathon teams building hardware projects.

Built With

• express.js
• fastapi
• node.js
• openai
• postgresql
• react
• react-bits
• rest-api
• supabase
• tailwind-css
• typescript