URI hosting ‘Internet-of-Things’ hackathon this weekend

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island is holding an “Internet-of-Things” hackathon Nov. 13 to 15 for undergraduate and graduate students who will be given a specific problem to solve using modern technologies.

Kunal Mankodiya, an assistant engineering professor who is one of the hackathon organizers, said teams will be predetermined, so that they will be diverse and represent various ages and fields. He expects to have 9 to 10 teams of students from the University of Rhode Island, Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Northeastern University, Purdue University and the University of Puerto Rico.

Mankodiya said the idea for a hackathon on Internet-of-Things came from his research in this area, as well as his interactions with Tom Kowalczyk, who consults with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“What we have noticed is that U.S. government and industries boost the practice of IoT to construct a smarter world around us in the forms of smart cities, smart healthcare, smart transportation, smart cars, and many other areas … We felt that the University of Rhode Island is a perfect venue to get started with this effort since URI has a strong grip on engineering with a sufficient incubation space where students can get together and design their projects,” he said.

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He said solutions will be developed and tested over a two-day period by the student teams, who then will pitch their ideas before a panel of judges including representatives from the R.I. Commerce Corporation, Slater Technology Fund, Senedia, Delsys, TechACCESS, HMEA, Polaris MEP and URI faculty. Mankodiya said this will help identify Internet-of-Things as a “promising technology for major investments,” and can also strengthen economic development in the state.

A winner will be determined and prizes will be awarded.
The award ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held Nov. 15 from 2 to 5 p.m.
The event, which will be held at Kelley Hall, kicks off at 5 p.m. on Nov. 13.
Sponsors are: FabNewport, Venture Well, Slater Technology Fund, StartupRounds, Wearable Biosensing Lab, Senedia, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation.
Information can be found HERE.

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