Camera rig, real or simulated
A small grocery loses sales to empty shelves, so a camera, real or simulated, watches the shelves (never people), spots gaps and sends a restock note. Trials report success rate and false alarms.
Builder World · University · Ages 18–24 · Quest 02 · AI Robotics & Smart Devices
Build Your Real-Life Sidekick
Every hero needs a sidekick. Build one that senses, decides and acts.
BOSS CHECKThe loop works (sense → decide → act), and you can say why AI beats a simple rule, like a timer that always does the same thing.
Create value with AI
People beyond your circle rely on it: AI at its core, results in numbers.
Any form counts.
No robot? No problem. A simulation, a desktop robot, an old phone, cardboard or a kit: all count, judged the same.
Simulation
Small desktop robot
Old Android phone
On-screen robot- Laptop as the robot
Cardboard build
micro:bit gadget
Robot car
Robot arm
Wearable
Smart home gadget- Sensor box
No drones
Battery or USB only
Nothing that heats or cuts
Shelf Gap Spotter
More ideas.
- Sensor networkFridge Failure WatchSensors warn a small caterer of a fridge failure hours early, compared with a plain temperature alarm.
- Simulation, then a small robotMailroom Delivery SimSimulate a campus mailroom delivery robot; compare delivery time and wrong drops with today's schedule.
- Small robot armLibrary Returns SorterA desktop arm reads returned books' spine labels and sorts them, measured against sorting by hand.
See real ones.
- Phone camera app
Oculis (opens in a new tab)
Point your phone at the road, and on-device AI spots each bus and reads its number aloud. 11 visually impaired users ran 21 sessions in a week.
Recent polytechnic graduates, Singapore · Build for Good
▶ Watch the video - Brain-signal wearable
Neural Drive (opens in a new tab)
A wearable reads blinks and brain signals; on-device AI turns them into messages for paralysed patients. Home trials with about 60 users.
Singapore Polytechnic students and recent graduates, Singapore · Startup Fortune
- Home sensors
Sync Labs (opens in a new tab)
Home sensors with on-device AI spot falls, meals and bathroom visits, and brief caregivers daily, storing no video. Seven paid pilots with senior-care providers.
Three University of Pennsylvania fourth-year students, USA · Penn Today
What a finished project shows
AI Robotics & Smart DevicesUniversity · Ages 18–24
Make: A working device or complete simulation that does a defined everyday task from start to finish, for a clearly described user and setting.
AI’s job: AI handles a sensing or decision step that a simple rule couldn't do well.
Shows:
- A one-page design note: how data flows from inputs to model to decision to outputs, and why a fixed rule isn't enough.
- A test plan written before testing, then 20 or more trials reporting success rate, response time or false alarms, compared with a simple non-AI version.
- A fail-safe, safety notes, known limits and at least 3 versions.
- A process log with at least 5 dated entries, a short intro and your project or a demo judges can open.
Finalists on stage: 10 min talk + 3 min Q&A.
A summary: if the two ever differ, your challenge is what counts.
Pick this quest, or look at another.
Prizes in Builder World: Champion S$10,000, three more team prizes and 8 Special Awards. All prizes