What to Build

This event has challenges that the students can attempt to solve. If a submission can be applied to multiple categories, it will be eligible to receive judgement for each category it applies to. There is a team size maximum of three students. You may use any programming language or software, unless a challenge specifically instructs you on what to use. You may use any resources online, including AI, to help you make your project. Your project must be made within the span of the event. You can not submit work created prior to the event.

Challenges:

Challenge 1: CAD Robotics

Challenge Prompt:

Design a robot in TinkerCAD or Fusion360 that can operate inside a warehouse to sort, move, scan, and organize products efficiently. Your robot will help reduce the need for human labor in repetitive warehouse tasks and improve inventory accuracy.

Design Objectives:

Your robot must be able to:

1. Navigate Aisles:
• Design a mobile base that can maneuver in narrow aisles.
• Include at least 2-4 sensors for detecting shelf edges, walls, and obstacles.
2. Pick and Place Items:
   
   
• Build a mechanical arm or gripper to lift small bins or boxes (3–5 cm in size).
• Include a rotating base or vertical lift system to simulate reaching multiple shelf heights.
3. Scan Products:
   
   
• Add a mock scanner (camera or sensor housing) to simulate barcode or RFID scanning.
• Include LED indicators to represent a successful or failed scan.
4. Organize or Sort:
• Design a system to sort items into at least two different bins based on color, shape, or “code” type.
• Create a simple compartment or conveyor segment to drop off sorted items.

Design Requirements:

• Control Unit: Place a microcontroller (Arduino or similar) with logical wiring to all components.
• Power Supply: Include a battery pack and wire it to all actuators and lights.
• Functional Motion: Include servo motors or gears for arm movement and lifting.
• Compact Design: Keep the robot within a size that could reasonably fit in a warehouse aisle (base no wider than 15 cm).

Bonus Features (Optional):

• Add a rotating LIDAR-style sensor (mock) for 360-degree mapping.
• Design a touchscreen interface for manual control.
• Include a mock wireless transmitter module to simulate communication with a warehouse server.

Submission Requirements:

• TinkerCAD 3D model with all parts labeled.
• Include annotations or a short write-up explaining how the robot performs each function.
• Design should be realistic enough to simulate autonomous or semi-autonomous warehouse work.

Challenge 2: Code For good

Challenge Prompt:
Mental health matters — now more than ever. For this year’s Code for Good challenge, your mission is to build something that supports mental well-being. Whether it’s a tool for stress relief, an app for emotional check-ins, or a platform that raises awareness and fosters community support, your project should aim to make a positive impact on mental health.

You must submit any files involved with your program and take a screen recording of your project in action.

Follows default listed Judging Criteria.

Challenge 3: Game Development

Challenge Prompt:

Create a game that has a central theme or mechanic involving portals.

You must submit any files involved with your program and take a screen recording of your game in action.

Follows default listed Judging Criteria.

What to Submit

Submission content is dependent on each challenge. Please look at the "What To Build" section for more information. Contestants will be emailed a guide on how to submit their projects.

Video demonstration

You must submit a video recording of your project in action. This can be a video recording of a real life component or a screen recording of a digital project. Be sure your video demonstrates any functionality/features you would like the judges to see.