The AWS IoT Mega Contest!

Total prize pool of $1,000+

The AWS IoT Mega Contest!
The AWS IoT Mega Contest!
This contest is over! See all the winning entries. Want more chances to win prizes? Check out our active contests.

FAQ

General

Other questions


Did I win the contest? When will I receive my prize?

If you are a winner, we will contact you directly via email to arrange the shipment of your prize.

Do I need to participate in the pre-contest to submit a project?

No, you're welcome to submit an entry for the contest even if you haven't participated or won in the pre-contest.

I submitted my project but it says "Awaiting moderation". Will it affect my eligibility?
As long as you submit your project before the deadline it doesn't matter when it is moderated. Just sit back and enjoy a well deserved break!
My project is locked and I can't edit it anymore. Why is that?
All projects entered in the contest are locked after the submission deadline to ensure that they remain the same during the judging process. They are then unlocked after winners are announced.
Somebody copied my entry! What can I do?
When judging entries, we take into account the submission date. When an entry is clearly plagiarized from another, we favor the original entry. If you believe the result of the judging is unfair, please email us at help@hackster.io to appeal.
What are the entry requirements?

To be eligible for judging, an entry must meet the following content/technical requirements:

  • You must create a free Hackster.io account and register as a participant for this contest.
  • You must create an AWS account to build a working submission.
  • Your original idea must be submitted prior to building a project.
  • All ideas must be submitted in the English language.
  • Your project must be for a device connected to the AWS IoT Service.

In addition:

  • your entry must be your own original work; and
  • your entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other contest; and
  • you must have obtained any and all consents, approvals or licenses required for you to submit your entry; and
  • your entry may not include any third party trademarks (logos, names) or copyrighted materials (music, images, video, recognizable people) unless you have obtained permission to use the materials.

 

Additional requirements if submitting a full project (From November 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM through January 8, 2016 at 11:59 PM):

  • Your project must be fully documented on Hackster per the “project” template.
  • Your final project must be submitted as within the projects template.
  • Your final project must consist of the following materials:
    • Images
    • Instructions
    • BOM
    • Schematics
    • Code
    • CAD if any
What are the judging criteria?

Winners are selected based on the following criteria:

Idea Submission (From October 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM through January 8, 2016 at 11:59 PM)

  • Presentation (20 points)
    • The way you describe and present your idea. The easier to understand, the better!
  • Use of AWS IoT Services (50 points)
    • Are you using the AWS IoT Service to the full extent of its potential? Are you using it in ways never seen before?
  • Creativity (15 points)
    • Your idea doesn't have to be original, but it should be creative (a fresh take on an old idea is often worth as much as a brand new idea).
  • Practicality (15 points)
    • Does it solve a practical problem that you might encounter?

 

Project Submission (From November 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM through January 31, 2016 at 11:59 PM)

  • Project Documentation (60 points)
    • Story/Instructions – Show how you created your project, including images, screenshots, and/or video (20 points)
    • BOM – Detail the hardware components as well as apps you used (10 points)
    • Schematics – Use software like Fritzing.org, draw your circuit diagrams, and/or take detailed photographs (10 points)
    • Code – Include working code with helpful comments (20 points)
    • Great photographs, videos, and screenshots are worth a thousand words. Ask yourself: "If I were a beginner reading this project, would I understand how to recreate it?"
  • Creativity (20 points)
    • Your idea doesn't have to be original, but it should be creative (a fresh take on an old idea is often worth as much as a brand new idea).
  • Practicality (20 points)
    • Does it solve a practical problem that you might encounter?
What are the prizes?
First Prize
  • Fire HD 10, 10.1" HD Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB (2 are available)
Second Prize
  • Amazon Echo (3 are available)
Third Prize
  • Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition (5 are available)
What are the steps to enter the contest?

From October 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM through January 31, 2016 at 11:59 PM:

  1. Register with Hackster
  2. Register with AWS IoT Service 
  3. Submit your idea
  4. Submit your project using hardware + AWS IoT Services 
  5. Share detailed instructions with images in the story section
  6. Share the bill of materials
  7. Share the electronics schematics
  8. Share the source code (optionally via Github or Bitbucket)
  9. Share the CAD files if any
What is the contest timeline?

Contest begins:

November 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM PT

Submissions close:

January 31, 2016 at 11:59 PM PT

Winners announced:

February 8, 2016

When will winners be announced? Where can I see the list?

Pre-contest winners will be announced by November 14, 2015. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

Contest winners will be announced on February 8, 2016. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

Who is eligible to participate?

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

  • You are at least 16 and are a hobbyist or professional in the field of technology development; and
    • If you are considered a minor in your place of residence, then you should ask your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission prior to submitting an entry into this Challenges.
  • You are NOT a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria; and
    • US. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Therefore residents of these countries/regions are not eligible to participate.
  • You are not involved the execution or administration of this Challenge;and
  • You are not an immediate family member of (parent, sibling, spouse/domestic partner, child) or household member of a Hackster employee.
How can I get an AWS IoT Button?

AWS IoT Buttons are provided from time to time as part of AWS public events such as the re:invent conference as a “hello world” device to try out AWS IoT. Amazon currently does not plan to sell them. However, if you have a great use case for the AWS IoT Button and would like Amazon to get back to you if buttons become available for sale, contact them at aws-iot-button@amazon.com.

How do I obtain the $880 worth of goodies?

Step 1: You must submit a project to hackster with code, schematics, and BOM. 

Step 2: We'll review your projects by January 10th and send you an email with your $880 worth of Amazon credits.

Included:

  • $100 AWS Credits
  • 1-Month AWS Support (Valued At $100)
  • AWS Technical Professional Training (Valued At $600)
  • $80 Credit For Self-Paced Labs

Note: this offer does not include any hardware. The "goodies" referred to are credits to the AWS cloud, AWS technical support and AWS training.

What hardware can I use?

You can choose hardware in any of these three categories:

Couldn't find an answer to your question? Email us.