Hardware Hackathon 2.0

Hardware Hackathon 2.O

🚀 A Hardware Mission That Reaches Beyond Earth.

Enter a battlefield of innovation where wires, boards, and code come alive. Create hardware solutions that push boundaries and redefine what’s possible.

Join the ultimate hardware challenge. Design and build technologies that could help humans travel to and live on Mars. Team up with fellow hardware engineers, prototype bold ideas, and bring humanity one step closer to the Red Planet.

This is where ideas don’t just evolve — they ignite.

The Theme for this hackathon is Mission to Mars, an open challenge to design and build hardware inspired by space exploration, survival, automation, and interplanetary innovation. From autonomous systems and space-ready robotics to energy, communication, and life-support concepts, you’re free to build anything aligned with this mission using the resources.

Build it bold. Engineer it to endure. Launch something the universe won’t forget!

Learn more about the hackathon here : hack.pcbcupid.com

Pictures

Please read this docs to have a smooth 72-hour hackathon!

On Venue

• Procure all your components exclusively from the component list given.

• Design and build a functional, innovative project using only those components.

• Workshops will run in parallel, which will help in guidance or any support needed for a particular topic.

• Showcase your creativity, smart planning, and technical skills all within real-world constraints. Choose boldly, design cleverly, and build something remarkable.

• Food and snacks will be provided by the organizers.

• Softcopy of any ID for Verification purpose. (Exp: Aaadhar card, Driving licence, Voter ID etc...).

Off Venue

• Accommodation and transportation expenses shall be borne by the participants.

• All utility( or freshen up) work must be completed before coming to the venue and should not be done at the venue.

• There will be bean bags on the venue to rest, but would suggest you to have a place for good nap!

Schedule & Key Timelines

19th Dec - Friday(Day 01)

20th Dec - Saturday(Day 02)

21th Dec - Sunday(Day 03)

Notes:

• The networking session is a great opportunity to connect with mentors, judges, and fellow participants don’t miss it! We have a dedicated space in 4th floor just for networking.

Virtual Shop Timing

NOTE :

• Please plan to purchase components within a budget of Rs. 4000 - use the wallet credit only, if the wallet money is not used the order will be rejected.
• We tried our best to have accurate information on the components procurement website, but there might be some misaps :( so please get the components & verify during the PCB design.

3D Print Timing

NOTE :

• Please plan to print within a budget of Rs. 2000 - our application will auto calculate the cost of the print.
• There are 6 printers which will prints in parallel, but due to the number of team the printing process will be first come first serve bases. So please plan in advance and send your prints.
• ALL the prints will only be in PLA BLACK

Wood-Working Station

NOTE :

• Only two teams are allowed at once to use the workshop, so please inform 1hr prior to the volunteer before you need access to the woodworking station.
• Please make sure there are mentors around you while using the woodworking station.

PCB Design Submission

NOTE :

• Please use the Lion circuit capabilities under MII service. To make sure it passes the DFM and also smoother manufacturing process with less errors.
• Submit the board before 1:30pm, fail to do so. The PCB won't be manufactured
• You can submit a maximum of 2 design per team.

Workshop Timing

NOTE:

• Minimum one person (can be the same or different person for different workshop) per team should participate in all the workshop.
• Maximum of 2 per team can participate in the workshop.
• Any team fail to participate in workshop, would cause a penalty of 3 points per workshop.

Team Guidelines

• Team size: 3 to 4 members per team.

• Solo participation: Not allowed — teamwork is essential for this hackathon.

• **Teams must strictly adhere to the budget allocated (Total Rs.10,000) for component procurement (Rs. 4,000), 3d-printing (Rs. 2,000), PCB (Rs. 3,000), Woodworking (Rs. 1,000). **

• Please ensure while ordering, you include your team number when placing your order for smooth processing.

• Each team is responsible for managing and using their own components throughout the hackathon.

• All project work must be completed on-site during hackathon hours — no pre-built solutions or external work allowed.

• Teams must maintain a collaborative, respectful, and positive atmosphere at all times.

• You are free to share and Trade components between the teams.

Judging Criteria

Each team will be evaluated based on the following categories.

NOTE : Virtual Currency Mapping – Budget Utilization Each team will receive a virtual budget of ₹4000 to "purchase" components for their project. They can spend up to ₹4000.

To promote strategic budgeting, teams will earn points based on how much of the budget they save, as per the following scale:

Spend wisely, and save smart to earn extra points! (Budget of Rs. 6000 PCB + wood working + 3d printing is not considered for budget utilization)

Submission Details

• All teams must submit their final deliverables by sharp time (21st before 5:00PM).

• Project prototype/demo (ready to be showcased to judges).

• Teams will present their projects live during the demo session.

• Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Code of Conduct & Ethics

• All participants must maintain a respectful and inclusive environment throughout the event.

• Collaboration within your team is strongly encouraged

• Plagiarism or using pre-built projects is strictly prohibited. All work must be original and completed during the hackathon.

• Follow all safety protocols when handling electronic components and equipment.

• Any form of harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and may lead to instant disqualification.

• Decisions by the organizing team and judges are final and must be respected.

We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing your amazing creations.

Industry leaders with rich experience in electronics, product engineering, and robotics systems.They bring hands-on expertise to evaluate innovation, creativity, and real-world impact. As judges, they aim to inspire and mentor the next generation of hardware innovators.

Kush Mishra

Position: Visitng Partner at SPC

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishrakush

Previous Expirenece: Chief Product Officer (Devices) & VP Technology at Noise

Kush Mishra is a technology entrepreneur and product leader with a strong track record in IoT, embedded systems, product strategy, and startup growth. He has served as Chief Product Officer (Devices) & VP Technology at Noise, where he led teams to develop products including smart wearables and device ecosystems, and has previously been CTO & COO at SenRa, driving product development and strategic ecosystem partnerships in IoT networks.

He holds a B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee and an MBA from Indian School of Business, combining deep technical expertise with business and product leadership. He reflects cross-disciplinary impact in product innovation, startup ecosystem engagement, and technology strategy.

Garima Gautam

Position: Scientist Engineer SE (URSC), ISRO

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garima-gautam-859a4a101/

Previous Expirenece: Scientist Engineer SD, ISRO

Garima Gautam is a talented scientist and embedded systems engineer with extensive experience in satellite electronics, sensor instrumentation, and FPGA-based systems. She currently serves as Scientist Engineer SE at U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO, leading sensor instrumentation development for satellites and working on System-on-Chip (SoC) and RTL design. Previously, she contributed as Scientist Engineer SD at URSC and ISRO for over eight years, focusing on electronics design, FPGA implementation, and Xilinx-based systems for critical space missions.

She reflects a strong blend of technical expertise, research-driven innovation, and practical experience in high-reliability space electronics, making her highly suited for roles requiring precision engineering and systems-level problem solving.

Anurag Kesari

Position: Robotics and AI Engineer at Circu Li-ion

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuragkesari

Previous Expirenece: Senior Data Engineer & Architect at Amazon

Anurag Kesari is a technology leader with deep expertise in robotics, AI, systems engineering, and large-scale data platforms, backed by experience across Amazon Robotics, Amazon Devices, and clean-tech startups. Currently serving as Robotics & AI Manager at Circu Li-ion, he leads next-generation automation initiatives in the lithium-ion battery circular economy. Previously, he was responsible for enterprise-wide data infrastructure and governance for Amazon Devices International, where he built high-impact data products and led strong engineering teams. With a foundation in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering and active roles as an advisor and Angel investor, he reflects a strong blend of technical depth, leadership, and innovation-driven impact.

Piyush Itankar

Position: Senior Embedded Systems Engineer at Google

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/streetdogg

Previous Expirenece: Software Devlopment Engineer at Intel corporation

Piyush Itankar is a Senior Embedded Systems Engineer with 10+ years of industry experience at Google and Intel, specializing in low-level firmware, SoC bring-up, and embedded software development. Key contributions include working on Google Tensor SoC, Pixel Watch, and ChromeOS, with hands-on expertise in ARM-A, ARM-M, and RISC-V architectures, Linux kernel internals, RTOS (Little Kernel, FreeRTOS), and hardware–software co-design.

He holds a Master’s degree in Embedded Systems and has authored multiple technical publications, reflecting strong research orientation alongside real-world product impact. Overall, he demonstrates deep technical expertise, leadership, and sustained contributions to large-scale, production-grade embedded systems.

Pictures

The hardware hackathon concluded with remarkable innovations developed over an intense three-day journey. The winning team impressed everyone with a solution that demonstrated strong technical expertise, thoughtful design, and clear real-world relevance.

After 72 hours of continuous building, brainstorming, and problem-solving, we’re excited to announce the winners of our Hardware Hackathon! 🚀

🏆 1st Prize – Team 3

Project: Smart fault detector

TEAM MEMBERS:

• ADWAIT MAHESH PATTAR

• PRAHADEESH NARENDRAN

• VIKRAM PRABHU

Creativity: A smart fault detector for a Mars mission autonomously monitors spacecraft systems to detect, diagnose, and respond to faults without human intervention. It ensures mission safety and reliability by taking corrective actions and reporting issues despite long communication delays. Presentation & Documentation: Download zip file

🥈 2nd Prize – Team 18

Project: A Mars Communication Mesh System

TEAM MEMBERS:

• SAI SREEKAR

• SHREYAS CHERUKU NARENDRAN

• VATSAL GOYAL

• YOG SURYAKANT PANJARALE

Creativity: A Mars Communication Mesh System—an SOS beaconing and telemetry network designed to operate during dust storms, integrating surface nodes, a ground station, and a 1U CubeSat prototype as a relay.
Presentation & Documentation: Download PDF

Youtube link: Click here

🥉 3rd Prize – Team 4

Project: Autonomous Growth & Resource Optimization system

TEAM MEMBERS:

• SHIVASHANKAR P

• KISHORE RAM S

• EESHWARANATH MANIMARAN

• DIVYAKRITI PRABHU UMA

Creativity: An Autonomous Growth & Resource Optimization System intelligently monitors and manages critical resources such as energy, water, and nutrients to support sustainable growth during long-duration space missions. It adapts in real time to changing conditions, maximizing efficiency while minimizing waste and human intervention. Presentation & Documentation: Download zip file

🏅 Top 5 – Team 12

Project: Mars Dust Storm Early Protection System

TEAM MEMBERS:

• SUDHARSHAN N

• AKSHATHA M A

• ROHIT S

Creativity: A Mars Dust Storm Early Protection System detects and predicts dust storms using environmental sensors and data analysis to provide early warnings. It enables timely protective actions for spacecraft, rovers, and habitats, reducing damage and ensuring mission continuity.
Presentation & Documentation: Download zip file

🏅 Top 5 – Team 17

Project: Marsy-The Mars Companion

TEAM MEMBERS:

• R LAKSHVEER RAO

• JOE DANIEL

• DARSHAN SAVALIYA

• AAKASH CHOUKSEY

Creativity: Marsy – The Mars Companion is an intelligent assist system designed to support astronauts and autonomous missions on Mars. It monitors health, environment, and system status while offering real-time guidance and alerts, enhancing safety, efficiency, and mission success.
Presentation & Documentation: Download zip file

Youtube link: Click here

Pictures

Contest Rules

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable hackathon experience, please review the following contest rules:

Eligibility Requirements

We strive for an inclusive and compliant event open to:

• Teams of 3 to 4 members
• Employees/Interns with PCBCUPID, directly or indirectly, are not eligible.

Requirements on the day of hackathon

All types of hardware projects are welcome! For your entry to be considered, please ensure:

• All team members must check in at the front desk on the event day.
• Only original projects not previously made public are accepted.
• Your submission (at the end of hackathon day) should include: clear documentation, a working demo, project description, images, schematics, and code.
• Submit your project before the announced deadline.
• High value components / tools / parts are not allowed to be carried by the participants.
• Things you can carry are (optional) : Soldering Iron, Multimeter, cutter, MicroSD card, power cables, USB cables.
• Additionally we highly recommended you to get your Laptop, phones or tablet for programming the microcontroller or controlling it.
• Participants are expected to handle all equipment, tools, and venue property responsibly. Any intentional or negligent damage to hardware, infrastructure, or facilities will be the responsibility of the individual or team involved and may result in penalties or disqualification.
• Any sort of bullying or harassing will be removed immediately from the venue.
• Any person in the team, found use of any Drug / Alcohol / smoking on the venue will cause disqualification for the whole team and the entire team would be asked to move out of the venue immediately.

Communication & Support

• Dedicated channels are available for questions and assistance throughout the event.
• Organizers LION CIRCUITS, PCBCUPID and PARAM FONDATION are committed to prompt support and guidance.
• Active and open communication is encouraged to foster a collaborative community.

Prizes & Awards

• Top projects win prizes as mentioned, while all teams who participate will receive digital certificates and goodies.
• Winners are chosen based on judging criteria provided before the event.
• Prizes are awarded to the team as a whole.
• The competition encourages innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity within the tech community.

Rights & Ownership

• Participants retain full ownership of their projects. But the projects codes, schematic and other presentation will be shared in public domain (open sourced) on PCBCUPID website and Github.
• By participating in the event, participants grant the organizers a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use submissions for promotional and educational purposes.
• Organizers reserve the right to enforce the contest rules. By registering and submitting, you agree to all terms and policies stated here, ensuring a fair and transparent process.