By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 24 Sep: The UPES School of Computer Science (SoCS) successfully organised the grand finale of its signature event, HARD-WAR 3.0, an International Hardware Hackathon. HARD-WAR 3.0 was designed to push the boundaries of ingenuity, providing a platform for participants to solve real-world problems with groundbreaking hardware solutions. This year’s theme, ‘IoTvity,’ emphasised the integration of IoT (Internet of Things) with various domains, challenging participants to showcase their skills and creativity.
The hackathon began with free registration for all participants. It was divided into three critical phases: Ideation (July 1, 2024 – July 25, 2024) – Online and Execution (July 29, 2024 – September 3, 2024) – Online followed by Grand Finale at UPES. Participants worked tirelessly to develop innovative hardware prototypes addressing issues in fields such as agriculture, healthcare, home automation, industry automation, fire and safety, education, automobile automation, smart city solutions, and defence automation.
The Grand Finale took place on 23 September, when the selected teams presented their final hardware solutions to the distinguished chief guest, panel of juries and an enthusiastic audience. The event provided a fantastic opportunity for teams to share their groundbreaking ideas with the world.
Prizes were awarded to the top three teams. The winner of the hackathon Code Catalyst, Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, New Delhi, presented hardware solutions on Innovation for Home Automation and was awarded a reward prize of Rs 1,00,000. The first runners-up GhostxWalkers, Rajkiya Engineering College Banda, presented hardware solutions on Innovation for Agriculture, and were awarded Rs 75,000. The second runners-up NEXSENSE, UPES, Dehradun, presented hardware solutions on Innovation for Agriculture and were awarded a prize of Rs 50,000. The event also featured networking opportunities and discussions on the future of hardware innovation.
Present on the occasion were Kuldeepak Sharma, Associate Vice President at Amararaja Energy and Mobility Limited, as the Chief Guest. The jury for HARD-WAR 3.0 comprised eminent industry experts and academicians, including Pradipto Chakrabarty, Regional Director, South Asia, CompTIA; Dr Bhoopesh Singh Bhati, Assistant Professor, IIIT Sonipat, a specialist in Information Security and IoT; Dr Vikas Thapa, Assistant Professor, School of Design, UPES, an expert in robotics with vast experience in designing intelligent automation systems; Mithun Kumar S R, Engineering Manager at Google Maps, known for his expertise in explainable AI; Dr Muthukumar K A, Assistant Professor, School of Computer Science, UPES, AI researcher with a background in computer vision, infrared medical imaging, and assistive care technology.
Commenting on the event, Dr Vijaysekhar Chellaboina, Professor and Dean, UPES School of Computer Science, said, “It was inspiring to see such creative energy, as participants pushed the boundaries of technology and came up with solutions that have the potential to make a real impact. This event not only showcased the technical skills of the students, but also their ability to work as a team under pressure – attributes that are essential for the leaders of tomorrow. Our school is committed to the idea of fostering innovation, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving among the young learners.”
