01/06/2021
The Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring project successfully ran its second sprint-like event on 24-25 October 2020.
This was a highly intensive competition where over 100 students from the University of Cambridge and the University of Nottingham met online to create low cost digital solutions for addressing real-world digital manufacturing problems faced by SMEs.
25 teams participated across three different challenges: automated machine vision quality inspection, intelligent fault diagnosis assistance and virtual operational process planning.
Each team managed to frame the problem, divide tasks, create solutions, integrate technologies, test and prepare outstanding presentations. An international panel of judges from Vos Voco, TQC, PTC and Paccurate assessed the solutions and declared ∑ of Parts the overall winner of the competition and winners of the automate vision quality inspection challenge.
In the other two challenges, Error404 were the winners of intelligent fault diagnosis assistance, and The Bowden Cables the winners of the virtual operational process planning.
The 2020 Hackathon winners
Challenges
Challenge 1: Automated Machine Vision Quality Inspection
Machine vision based quality inspection allows product quality to be checked and tracked in real time. In this challenge, participants will develop a 2D low-cost visual inspection system able to pass/fail parts or assemblies. The solution must be able to support different levels of inspection such as with or without realistic backgrounds.
Challenge 2: Intelligent Fault Diagnosis Assistance
Manufacturing equipment can be very complicated, especially when it comes to fixing faults or errors. In this challenge, participants will develop a chatbot system that helps workers work out what is wrong and guides them through the process of fixing it.
Challenge 3: Virtual Operational Process Planning
Maximising operational efficiency within an SME is important for minimising delivery time while increasing profit margins. In this challenge, participants will develop an online system for optimising operational logistics and packing. The solution must be able to capture key operational processes of a multi-site company or a shopfloor.
Supported by
With thanks to the supporters of this event:
Interested in finding out how you could run a hackathon?
Find out how your FE College, company or organisation can get involved in a Shoestring hackathon by emailing us at: contact@digitalshoestring.net