Overview

Welcome to the IEEE Region 3 Sustainability Software Competition!

In this competition, students will design a solution to address a sustainability challenge. The solution will be implemented in software on a hardware platform. The hardware platform is the Elegoo Most Complete Starter Kit supplemented with the Keystudio 48 in 1 Sensor Kit. The Elegoo kit includes the Arduino UNO R3 processor.

Objective

Design a software driven solution using the provided components, and program the UNO r3 microcontroller to complete the tasks. Your challenge is to construct a solution that is not only functional but also showcases your innovative approach and technical skills. This competition is a platform for you to demonstrate how to apply software engineering and hardware engineering in a combined solution. It’s an exciting way to engage with sustainability solutions and put your problem-solving abilities to the test.

Requirements

Challenge Phases

To ensure that you develop a well engineered project within the time constraints of the competition, you must follow these challenge steps in order to submit the required deliverables:

  • Select one Challenge Area
    • Critical Infrastructure - interdependent, organized systems that are essential for supporting and sustaining communities and their separation from the natural world.
    • Access and Abilities - assistive technologies, accommodations, or modified facilities and transportation vehicles that make full participation possible for people with various forms of disabilities in an environment that challenges their access.
    • Education and Outreach - involves reaching out to students, educators, or other members of the education community to provide support, resources, or information.
    • Environment - the ability to maintain an ecological balance in our planet’s natural environment and conserve natural resources to support the wellbeing of current and future generations.
    • Human Services - an interdisciplinary set of social assistance products that help individuals and families in various situations of hardship.
  • System Design
    • Design a system using the provided components and create a block diagram.
    • List the functional requirements of the system.
    • List the measurable variables which would prove that your system meets the requirements.
    • Define the thresholds of the measureable variables that your system would need to meet to be considered sucessful.
  • Hardware Design
    • Select the components that support the system design 
    • Create a detailed diagram of the hardware system
  • Software Design
    • Program the UNO R3 using the Arduino IDE
    • Setup logic to perform the functional requirements
    • Setup logic to record the measurable variables
  • Testing and Calibration
    • Develop tests that prove the system meets the threshold values for the measurable variables
    • Optimize the system for reliable performance
  • Cybersecurity
    • Bonus points for cybersecurity features (access control, input validation, etc.)

Deliverables

Please include the following with your submission to receive full credit for all parts of your design process.

  • System block diagram
  • Hardware diagram
  • Table with the following:
    • Functional requirement
    • Measurable variable
    • Threshold
    • Test result
    • Pass / Fail
  • Code
    • Provide well-commented Arduino code
  • Video Demonstration
    • Record a short video demonstrating your system in action

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

3 non-cash prizes
1st Place
1 winner

2nd Place
1 winner

3rd Place
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Aaron Rieck

Aaron Rieck

Jens Hannemann

Jens Hannemann

Sachin Sharma

Sachin Sharma

Judging Criteria

  • Requirements (10)
    The alignment of the chosen requirements with the stated project goal
  • Measurable Variables (10)
    How well the selected measurable variables prove that the chosen requirements are met
  • Functionality (10)
    The overall extent to which the project functionally performs its stated goal
  • System Design and Complexity (10)
    The ingenuity and engineering proficiency displayed in designing the project to solve a specific problem
  • Test Data (10)
    Proof of Meeting Requirements
  • Clarity and Intuitiveness (5)
    The effectiveness and user-friendliness of the system
  • System Efficiency (4)
    Effective use of components to achieve optimal functionality with minimal complexity
  • System Creativity (4)
    Innovative software design that enhances the system’s capabilities beyond basic requirements
  • Build Quality (4)
    The physical durability and reliability of the project
  • Assembly (4)
    Neatness and robustness of the physical prototype, including software coding format and readability, sensor placement, wire management, and component layout
  • Design Aesthetics (4)
    Visual appeal of the system, including the enclosure and arrangement of interface elements like sensors, switches, and indicators
  • Cybersecurity (Up to 10 Bonus Points)
    The bonus points for cybersecurity are discretionary and awarded for exceptional features that significantly enhance cybersecurity of the system.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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