UTEK SENIOR DESIGN KOMPETITION

Technical skills involved in this project

Programming: Python, C++

Mechanical: SolidWorks, Fusion360, 3D Printing

Electrical: Multimeter, Power Supply, Soldering

Sensors and components: Ultrasonic, LED lights, DC motors, Stepper motors, Solenoid electromagnet, 9V battery, AA battery, 18650 batteries, Arduino UNO, MEGA, NANO, step-up module and step-down module

Software: Arduino IDE

Soft Skills: Leadership, Communication, Presentation

PROJECT SUMMARY

University of Toronto Engineering Kompetition (UTEK) is one of the oldest UofT hackthon (I know, I still don’t know why is Kompetition starts with a K not a C). I have been the senior design director for the year of 2023 and 2024. I am in charge of designing the competiton from problem statement, rules, simulation setup and rubrics. I am also responsible for building a prototype to make sure the competiton problem can be solved in allocated time as well as sourcing all the components required for each hackthon team.

2023 Competitions

In this year’s competiton, the topic is about smart city. The hackthon team was required to detect the intensity of the street lights, which are simulated using LED lights and display the correct sequence of LED colours. The team is then required to detect how many cars are on the road, simulated by multiple 3D printed blocks moving with a threaded rods driven by stepper motors.

2024 Competitions

In 2024 year’s competition, the topic is about search and rescue. The participants are required to build a remote controlled robot cart that utilize solenoid electrogmanet to pick up victims and put out fire (simulated by screws and nuts).

I have built a rudimentary prototype to show this problem statement can be solved in 6 hours. And the hackthon was a success where most of the teams are able to finish the challenge.