Meet the ten finalists of the ROCK Engineering Challenge and see which ideas ROCKed our world!

We recently invited our community of ROCK stars to take part in the ROCK Engineering Challenge. We encouraged engineers, entrepreneurs, inventors, and developers to come up with ideas for parts, products, or systems that utilise ROCK single-board computers for a chance to partnership valued at $50,000 with OKdo to bring their idea to market.

You didn’t disappoint, as received more than 150 entries from across the globe that ROCKed our world! Everything from search and rescue drones to open-source care devices. The top ten projects have been carefully selected by our team OKdo engineers based on their impact on the industry, scalability, and feasibility. The final ten projects are now being reviewed by the jury, and the overall winner will be announced on May 16, 2023. The Wevolver Community Vote winner is selected by the engineering community. The winner of the Community Vote will receive an honourable mention and be pitched to the senior management of OKdo and its partners for a chance at establishing partnerships. Read below to find out more about the ten finalists of the challenge.

Eric Schleicher: Time of Flight (ToF) 3D cameras

Constructive Realities is developing a line of Time of Flight (ToF) 3D cameras, capable of on-device depth data processing using the GPUs and NPUs found in small ARM SBCs and SoMs like the Rockchip 3566/3588. These compact cameras have AR/VR, IoT, robotics, and industrial products applications. An API allows users to process depth data and enables IoT functionality, while Linux-based SoM/SBCs provide extensibility and community support at an affordable price point.

Marcel Ochsendorf: Non-contact patient monitoring system

This project focuses on developing a non-contact patient monitoring system for medical facilities. The status of a patient is to be recorded by means of a thermal imaging camera. Among other things, breathing status, breathing frequency, body temperature and movements (fall) are to be determined without contact, and, if necessary, the medical staff is to be notified. The Rock SBC’s dedicated GPU enables local processing, ensuring data protection while providing ample resources for future upgrades and additional functionality.

Brian Degger: Open-source digital microscope

This project explores the potential of the ROCK single-board computer in open-source scientific applications, including controlling an incubator and serving as a digital 3D printed microscope. The ROCK’s camera interface and 40-pin header, combined with motor-driving hardware, enable versatile experimentation, and make it a practical choice for open lab settings.

Dallas Hudson: Retrofit existing ATG consoles

US Fuel Pro aims to retrofit existing ATG consoles at gas stations with a ROCK-powered microprocessor, providing an improved touchscreen interface and web app access. This upgrade enhances monitoring capabilities, enables better compliance with regulations, and offers a more reliable, stable solution for station owners.

Phil Hall: LambCamAI

LambCamAI utilizes a ROCK SBC along with a video feed, microphone, and AI to help shepherds monitor their ewes during lambing season. The system can detect complications during birth and notify the shepherd, potentially increasing survival rates and easing the workload for smallholders and shepherds.

Aviv Butvinik: 3D printed tracked mobile robot

AVIV1 is a versatile, 3D printed tracked mobile robot that can navigate various terrains and perform tasks such as inspecting crawlspaces, surveying construction sites, or planting seeds. With an open-source design and the ROCK 5B single-board computer, it enables users to customize and repurpose the robot for specific needs or educational purposes.

Andrea Foschi: Industrial automation solution

Zuun is developing a solution for industrial automation that uses the ROCK SBC to enable the automatic detection of machine networks, providing a fully self-diagnosing and compatible board independent of the manufacturer’s system. This improves support for technicians and programmers using OPC UA and their custom framework. Their prototype, compatible with SIEMENS and BECKHOFF technologies, is designed to recognize devices automatically and grant immediate access to features, speeding up development, testing, and bug-solving processes. The solution is built using web technologies such as Node Red, ReactNative, and OPC-UA.

Team Farmbeast: Advanced, fully autonomous field robot

A group of students from the University of Maribor are developing Farmbeast, an advanced, fully autonomous field robot that performs tasks like crop spraying, weed termination, and crop inspection. Equipped with numerous sensors and the ROS (Robot Operating System) framework, Farmbeast addresses challenges in agriculture such as efficiency, variability, and environmental impact. The team seeks to use the ROCK 5B 16GB to support their current work and future research, including raspberry detection and robotic arm-assisted picking using an innovative origami gripper design.

Jacque Wilson: Pedestrian safety system

FOREST aims to address the high rate of vehicle and pedestrian accidents by using the Rock 5B “GUMP” units (Grouped Utility Machine Processing unit) to improve pedestrian safety and situational awareness. The primary goal is to amplify pedestrian visibility to cars and provide advance warning to pedestrians if a vehicle is on a potential collision course. A secondary goal is to collect and transmit real-time environmental data to better understand factors contributing to global warming and pedestrian health. FOREST will be available in two models: Backpack FOREST, a portable solution with an LED matrix and speaker, and Vehicle FOREST, an electric go-kart-like frame with visual tracking, navigation, and collision alerts.

Jamos Tan – AyeAye Systems: All-in-one boat system

Our project focuses on developing a unique maritime all-in-one boat system that prioritizes open-source, affordability, and sustainability. In collaboration with the Dutch government, we are working on hydrogen-powered vessels. The boat computer uses an ARM-based CPU, and we’re currently adapting our software to support the Rock chip.