Creative minds develop the technology of tomorrow

More than 40 students, 30 hours, one goal: to shape the future of manufacturing. The students took the opportunity to spend two days working on innovative cases at the Global Production Learning Factory.

The winning team was in line for a handsome prize of 2,500 euros. Josip Kopcic, who represented the sensor and automation specialist Balluff, was part of it all and, as a member of the jury, evaluated and awarded prizes to the projects together with other experts.

Intense sprint yields first-class results

In a total of nine teams, the participants worked intensively on several cases and presented their results to a jury of experts from industry and science at the end of the event. The projects are evaluated according to criteria such as effectiveness, originality and maturity as well as the underlying business model and market potential. “The hackathon is a flagship event for us that we are proud of,” says Alexander Geiser from the wbk Institute of Production Science. “It tremendously promotes the exchange with partners, students, and companies.” Balluff’s Josip Kopcic was also impressed, saying: “The working atmosphere at the hackathon really affects everyone. You can feel that everyone is fully committed. It's fascinating what the teams can achieve in such a short time.”

“And the winner is …”

This year's hackathon was won by the “Smart Repair” team. Their project dealt with the problem of a lack of know-how in maintenance. To this end, they developed a chatbot that guides employees step by step through the repair process of a faulty machine by asking targeted questions. Descriptions prompted by voice commands are also possible. “This attempt at a solution convinced us as the jury across the board,” says Josip Kopcic. The runner-up was a voice-controlled cobot that provides support as an assistant by handing workers tools; a system that detects the fill level in the coffee maker and ensures there is always enough coffee available made third place.

Prioritizing developing young talent

Balluff has supported the annual hackathon since 2018 — not just by providing technical equipment, but also expertise. “This commitment is very important to us,” Kopcic explains. “Many of the students come into contact with our solutions and remember this later on when they start their own companies or start working in industry.”

Ending two intense days with a get-together

After the official event, all participants got together for a barbecue to relax after two challenging days. But the competition was still on their minds: ideas were developed further and discussed — and networking opportunities were seized. Kopcic summarizes: “The hackathon is a great opportunity to turn problems into tangible ideas and to develop attempts at a solution — and to think outside the box. We look forward to being a part of it every year!”

Lots of inspiration, great impressions and atmosphere: that was the Hackathon 2024