UV Robot Design Contest

with Micron
Robots are cool and so is ultraviolet C (deactivates bio-organisms). Design a robot that uses UV light to combat COVID-19 and pathogens.

Total prize pool of $21,000+

UV Robot Design Contest
UV Robot Design Contest
This contest is over! See all the winning entries. Want more chances to win prizes? Check out our active contests.

Specific Contest Rules

Eligibility

You are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at the time of entry:

  • You are at least 18 years of age
  • *You are not a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, the Crimea region, or Syria
  • You are not an immediate family member or household member of an employee at Hackster.io, Micron Technology, Inc. (“MTI”) or any of MTI’s affiliates (MTI and its affiliates, “Micron”)

*US export regulations include broad prohibitions involving the export of goods, technology, software, and services to the countries listed above. As a result, residents of these countries are not eligible to participate in this challenge.

Submission requirements

To be eligible for judging, you must meet ALL of these requirements unless otherwise stated:

General

  • Your team has no more than 10 members per entry.

Hardware/Software Design

  • Your project must be an open-source design for an Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) robot.
  • Your project must be your original work and you must expressly make your design, your project documentation, and your resource files (schematics, code, CAD) available under the CERN-OHL-P V2 license (available at https://ohwr.org/cern_ohl_p_v2.txt).
  • Identify all hardware and software requirements. Are they open source? If not, find replacements.

Project Documentation (Submitted in English)

  • Your project must include a project name, short project description, cover image, bill of materials (BOM), operations instructions, images, and relevant resource files (schematics, code, CAD, calculations).
  • Provide a technical abstract containing a maximum of 800 words. The abstract and support documentation shall cover all aspects of the UV-C light and robot design, including features, capabilities, and innovations.
  • Visual illustration(s) shall be formatted as a PDF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, DWG, Inventor, Solidworks, or Solid Edge.
  • Upload at least three visual illustrations. Approved file types include PDF, GIF, JPEG, or PNG. Visual illustration(s) should complement the entry description and can be drawings, photos, charts, or CAD images.

Provide specifications and technical details for:

  • The ultraviolet radiation (UV) dose and threshold limit value (TLV) calculations – Reference data
  • The UV-C dose calculation - Reference UV calculator
  • The Design Requirements Document
  • The component specification sheet the component example details/dimensions)(provide component, drawing, specifications, details)
  • Software platform(s)
  • Navigation and guidance platform(s)
  • Safety features

Judging criteria

Your project will be judged according to the following rubric:

Functionality (40 points)

  • Is the robot safe to operate? Does it operate via remote programming and/or autonomous navigation within rooms and other spaces? Detect items in the environment for its own operation and the safety of operators? Shut off when motion and/or heat, etc. is detected?
  • When motion is sensed, does exposure remain under the TLV (Threshold Limit Value) before the UV source shuts off?
  • Is the robot fully autonomous when UV irradiation is being performed?
  • Can the robot deliver a UV irradiation kill dose reaching of 25mJ/cm^2 in five minutes or less within six feet?
  • Does the robot have full 360-degree movement?
  • Is data generated for sanitized spaces and lamp bulb life? Can the unit operate for long periods of time without charging? Can batteries be easily swapped out when depleted? (Please specify mean time between charge)
  • Are the UV bulbs protected from collision damage?
  • Is the robot expected to be durable and relatively maintenance free? (Were quality parts chosen for the design?) (Provide proof of quality of parts)
  • Is it small and maneuverable? Can it maneuver in standard bathrooms? (consider stall doors (2ftx2ftx6.5ft WxLxH)?

Manufacturability (40 points)

  • Is it designed to be manufactured using readily available components and software? Does it use a minimal amount of custom components and software?
  • Is the design cost-effective and quickly manufactured?(Provide reasons/documentation)
  • Does the Bill of Materials (BOM) total less than 10,000 USD?
  • Is the documentation easy to follow, aiding in the manufacturing process?
  • Are the building materials (including required software), readily available in quantities enabling volume manufacturing?

Innovation (20 points)

  • Does the design implement new ways of doing things? Does it proving efficiency, effectiveness, manufacturing, or drive costs down?

How to enter

Step 1: Register for the Contest

  • Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign-in if already a member).
  • Register for the contest by clicking “Register as a participant”.

Step 2: Build and Document Your Project

  • Build your project according to the submission requirements.
  • Document your project build using Hackster’s project template. To create a new project, click “create new project” on the contest page or the “+” symbol in the top right corner of your Hackster page.

Step 3: Review and submit your project

  • Review your project and make sure it meets all the submission requirements.
  • Upload a previously created project by clicking “add existing project” on the contest page.
  • Submit your project by Aug 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM PT by clicking “review and submit project” on the contest page.

Full rules

Common terms used in these rules

These are the full rules that govern how the contest will operate. In these rules, “we,” “our”, and “us” refer to Hackster and/or the contest host. “You” and “yourself” refer to an eligible contest participant. The full rules also include all above eligibility, requirements, and judging criteria recorded in the “rules” tab of this contest page.

Contest description:

This is a skill-based contest brought to you by Hackster.io and sponsored by Micron Technology, Inc. The object of this contest is to Design a UV Robot capable of Sanitizing spaces in a Safe and Autonomous manner using Open Source Hardware and Software. For the purposes of this contest, each idea you submit will be called a “hardware application” and each project you submit in the contest will be called an “entry”. All eligible entries received will be judged using the judging criteria above to determine the final prize winners.

What are the start and end dates?

Contest starts at Jun 4, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT and ends at Aug 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM PT and will consist of the following periods:.

  • Contest projects submission period: Jun 4, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT through Aug 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM PT
  • Contest winners will be announced on September 14, 2020.

Note: Contest end dates are at the sole discretion of Hackster and/or the contest sponsor and may be subject to change.

Can I enter?

If your participation violates ANY of the following, you may be disqualified.

  • You are under the age of 18.
  • Your entry is not your own work.
  • Your entry has already been selected as a winner in another Hackster contest.
  • You have not obtained any/ all consents, approvals, or licenses required for use.
  • Your entry includes third-party trademarks (logos, names, etc.) or copyrighted materials (music, images, video, recognizable people, code, schematics etc.). Such items are only permitted with proper authorization.
  • Your entry does not comply with your employer’s gift policies.

Hardware applications and/or project entries may NOT contain ANY of the following content:

  • Content that is sexually explicit.
  • Content that is unnecessarily violent or derogatory to any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group.
  • Content that is profane or pornographic.
  • Content that promotes illegal drugs, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing) or a particular political agenda.
  • Content that is obscene or offensive.
  • Content that defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people or companies.
  • Content that communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which we wish to associate.
  • Content that violates any law.

We reserve the right to reject an entry, in our sole and absolute discretion, that we determine contains any of the above content.

Important note about Copyright: Your entire entry must only include material (including hardware, source code – both open source and third-party sourced, user interface, music, video or images) that you own or that you have permission from the copyright/trademark owner to use. You and/or your team’s entry may not include copyrighted materials (such as source code, user interface, background music, images or video) unless you own or have permission to use the materials. Ownership is not defined as purchasing a CD at a music store for replay, if playing a copyrighted recording on your guitar or repurposing an application’s user interface – your entry may be disqualified if copyrighted materials, including but not limited to these examples, are a part of your entry without appropriate licensing or permissions. If you do use permissible copyrighted materials, you must include the permissions information by citing the artist/creator and license information. Note that even material released under sites such as Creative Commons, common open source code licenses, and other similar licensing may need permission or acknowledgment as per the specific license.

Can I enter this contest as a team?

The following requirements must be satisfied to participate in this contest as a team

  • A team can consist of ten members or less.
  • The team must choose one individual (the “representative”) to speak for, act, and enter a project submission on behalf of the team.
  • Each team member must meet ALL of the eligibility and contest requirements outlined in the rules.

How will my entry be potentially used?

Other than what is set forth below, Micron is not claiming any ownership rights to your entries. However, by submitting your entry, you have agreed to ALL of the following statements:

  • You grant Micron an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your entry and all its content in connection with this contest; and (ii) feature your entry and all content in connection with the marketing, sale, or promotion of this contest (including but not limited to internal and external sales meetings, conference presentations, tradeshows, and screenshots of this contest entry in press releases) in all media (now known or later developed).
  • You agree that by submitting an entry you: (i) intend that the entry will be made publicly available if accepted for publication or presentation by Micron Technology, Inc; and (ii) acknowledge that Micron Technology, Inc, at its sole discretion, has the right to remove any information [or code] submitted in the entry to address compliance with any applicable laws, address any of the restrictions described herein, or for editorial or other purposes deemed necessary.
  • You agree to sign any necessary documentation that may be required for Micron and our designees to make use of the rights you granted above.
  • You understand that after the submission deadline has passed, any project that has been submitted to the contest cannot be deleted or made private, and will remain on the contest page after the contest has concluded.
  • You understand and acknowledge that the sponsor(s) may have developed or commissioned materials similar or identical to your submission, and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your entry.
  • You understand that you will not receive any compensation or credit for use of your entry, other than what is described in these full rules.

Please note that following the end of this contest, your entry may be posted on a website selected by Micron for viewing by visitors to that website. Micron is not responsible for any unauthorized use of your entry by visitors to this website. While Micron reserves these rights, we are not obligated to use your entry for any purpose, even if it has been selected as a winning entry. If you do not want to grant Micron these rights, please do not enter this contest.

How are prizes awarded?

In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, an additional judge will break the tie based on the judging criteria described above. The decisions of the judges are final and binding. If Micron does not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we may, at our discretion, select fewer winners than the number of contest prizes described in the contest brief.

If you are a potential winner, Micron will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address, phone number, or mailing address (if any) provided at the time of entry within seven (7) days following completion of judging. If the notification sent is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, we may award a runner-up. If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, Micron will consider the potential winner to be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to enter the contest. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and/or a W-9 tax form or W-8 BEN tax form within 10 days of notification. If you complete a tax form, you will be issued an IRS Form 1099 the following January for the actual value of the prize. You are advised to seek independent counsel regarding the tax implications of accepting a prize. If you are a potential winner and you are 18 or older but are considered a minor in your place of legal residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf. If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select a runner-up.

The Grand Prize cash prizes (1st place prize $10,000 USD, 2nd place prize $5,000 USD, 3rd place prize $2,500 USD) will be awarded via VISA or Mastercard gift card(s). Depending upon number of team members, winners will have the option to divide the cash prize into however many gift cards are necessary.

If you are confirmed as a winner of this contest, the following rules apply:

  • You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services. However, if for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, Micron reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.
  • You may not designate someone else as the winner. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, Micron may award it to a runner up.
  • You will be solely responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes related to accepting the prize, if you choose to accept the prize.
  • If a prize is awarded to a project submitted by a team, the designated representative will be the sole recipient of said prize, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by the representative and his/her team.
  • If you win a prize that violates import regulations for your county, you must complete this form within 10 days of receiving confirmation of your winning entry to 1) receive a virtual Visa gift card with the equivalent value of the prize or 2) provide an alternative shipping address to send the prize to.

Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and/or terms and conditions.

What other conditions am I agreeing to by entering?

By entering this contest, you are agreeing to the following statements:

  • You agree to abide by the full rules.
  • You agree to abide by the policies outlined on Hackster’s website, including our Terms of Service, Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy.
  • You agree to release and hold harmless Hackster, Micron and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this contest, or any prize won.
  • You agree that your personal data including your name, email address, personal address, phone number, and any other personal information disclosed during the duration of this contest may be shared with and used by Hackster and Micron in order to facilitate the execution of this contest.
  • You agree that Hackster’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this contest.
  • You agree that, by accepting a prize, Hackster may use your proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this contest, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

What laws govern the way this contest is executed and administered?

This contest will be governed by the laws of the State of California, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of California for any disputes arising out of this contest.

What if something unexpected happens and the contest can not run as planned?

If someone cheats, or a virus, bug, bot, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure) affects the fairness and/or integrity of this contest, Micron reserves the right to cancel, change or suspend this contest. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the contest, Micron reserves the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the contest.

If you attempt, or we have strong reason to believe that you have compromised the integrity or the legitimate operation of this contest by cheating, hacking, creating a bot or other automated program, or by committing fraud in ANY way, Micron may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may disqualify you, and ban you from participating in any of our future contests.

Who do I contact about this contest?

If you have any questions or comments regarding this contest, please email us at contests@hackster.io.