Smart India Hardware Hackathon 2018 - CSIR CEERI, Pilani

Smart India Hardware Hackathon 2018 saw 11 Themes in focus, received 7500 entries and 626 ideas shortlisted by a panel of Evaluators and mentors. 10 different zonal centers across India consisting of 106 teams hosted the finale of SIHH 2018.

Learnings

This is a great initiative to change our attitude with which we look upon kids who haven't made that big yet. I’m quoting Sunil Chhetri from a recent press interaction.

“We wait for somebody to become a hero. Worship the hero. Talk about his whole journey only when he has become the hero. Only when somebody becomes something in our nation, we try to celebrate that person”.

The identification of innovation and then supporting them is very crucial to their success. When people say "We (India) lack in innovation", it the identification and support system at fault. I have always believed that

'You should be the support you wish, you had'.

And hence, you need to have a mentor who can be that support system. Someone who is open to receive the weirdest ideas. Someone who is going to model possibility for you. Someone who is going to hold you accountable, shrink the deadlines and bring the best of you. Unlike a teacher/coach, he is not going to provide you with answers. The role of a mentor is to ask the right questions to get you in the right direction. Motivate you when all the odds are against you, believing in you and restoring your belief in you.

People may say it’s a marketing stunt by the government, etc. Yes, it can be. But see the positive impact that it is creating. For example, at my nodal center, a team had made a project for the verbally challenged people. It was a glove which converted sign language to speech using electronics and a phone. People may say what’s innovation in this, it existed before as well. Yes, again. However, when the team told a villager to test it and her mother heard her daughter speak, she was in tears. She couldn’t believe that her daughter was speaking. This is the impact it creates. It shows people the possibility. It makes people aware of where the world is heading. And it shows people, we are the brains behind many of the world leading innovations.

The host - CSIR CEERI, Pilani

CSIR - Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani hosted 13 teams in Smart Communication stream.

It is rightly said, “Knowledge brings wisdom”. However, if you wish to experience it, pay a visit to CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani, Rajasthan. Everyone from the fresher scientists to Senior Scientists to the Director is so down to earth and humble, you would like to stay there forever. I was aware of sensors being fabricated at research institutes in India. But visiting CEERI was a treat to see. (More about this in another post)

For a span of 5 days, the organizing team at CEERI not only enabled a very smooth flow but the scientists mentored the students thoroughly as institute mentors. After being on an evaluating panel member for the initial 2 rounds, I had been allotted 5 teams to mentor for the Finale. The teams put in all their efforts in solving problems by various ministries like Warehouse monitoring, Airport baggage tracking, Forest fire detection, Air pollution monitoring, Flood monitoring and few other student innovations.

Results

The first place was bagged by Team Tech Guys, KCJ College of Engineering from Chennai for making a device which makes it easier for dyslexic kids who find difficulty in reading, write and interpret.

On second place was Team Skyporters from R V College of Engineering, Bengaluru to solve the perennial problem of misplacement and lost baggage at airports.

The third place went to Team Clairvoyants2 from B V College of Engineering, New Delhi for designing Bag Buddy - an airport baggage tracking system.

I'm proud to have mentored 2 of the 3 winning teams. The felicitation was done by Dr. Kaushik Saha, CTO - Samsung R&D Institute.

Man is the maker of his destiny. Situations and outcomes will remain as it is. It is your response and choice post that makes the difference. Teams who couldn't make through to the top has a choice to crib about it or work hard and cultivate an attitude to never fail to try. The teams who won, have a choice to either continue with their regular academic routine or take this idea ahead and make a business. Persistence is what makes the difference.

Image credits - CEERI, Pilani & Pratik Jani