Reinventing Healthy Spaces

The challenge

Build an open source healthy spaces solution using the M5Stack Core2 for AWS IoT EduKit reference hardware, AWS IoT Core, and at least one other AWS cloud service.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on the importance of public health and safety. While everyday life has been impacted for over a year, we’ve learned healthy best practices (and many new terms!), as well as adapted to new normals.

As cities begin to open back up and people can gather once again in homes, businesses, and public spaces, it’s more important than ever to have strong safety protocols and continue innovating new solutions that keep us safe. These may include temperature screenings, physical distancing guidelines, face covering requirements, occupancy limits, and enhanced cleaning and air flow. Technology can clearly play a role in reinventing how we keep people healthy by making it easier to follow safety protocols and best practices.

AWS launched AWS IoT EduKit at re:Invent 2020 to grow the community of builders who are going to invent the next set of world-changing solutions with IoT, machine learning, TinyML, Alexa, and other technologies. AWS IoT EduKit provides developers, from students to professionals, hands-on learning experience building end-to-end IoT applications with hardware and educational content.

Let’s see how can you make an impact.

The Challenge: Build an open source healthy spaces solution using the M5Stack Core2 for AWS IoT EduKit reference hardware, AWS IoT Core, and at least one other AWS cloud service.

We can’t wait to see what the community can invent.

All submissions must include a Hackster submission article, open source code, and either images or a short video demonstrating your solution. Content created may be used to promote the AWS IoT EduKit program after the contest is over.

Need help getting started?

You can get started with tutorials that cover common IoT use cases, from building your first cloud connected “blinky”, to using machine learning and Alexa Voice Service. You can continue to build your own custom cloud-connected edge applications using the reference hardware’s on-board features and plug-and-play expansion options. See the contest's technical resources here.

Apply for hardware

We are giving away 150 Core2 for AWS IoT EduKit reference hardware devices to be used in contest submissions. (Note: international shipping may take several weeks, so it is also advantageous to submit your application as soon as possible.) Hardware applications will close on June 30 at noon PT.

Prizes

Grand Prize

1 winner

$5,000 Amazon.com Gift Card*

*Please see Rules for more information

Runner Up

2 winners

$2,000 Amazon.com Gift Card

*Please see Rules for more information

Finalists

5 winners

$200 Amazon.com Gift Card

*Please see Rules for more information

Judges

Sandy Carter - VP of worldwide public sector partners and programs at AWS

James Gosling - founder of Java and Distinguished Engineer at AWS

Richard Barry - founder of FreeRTOS and Principal Engineer at AWS

Rashed Talukder - owner of the AWS IoT EduKit program & Sr. Dev. Advocate

Resources

• AWS IoT EduKit program overview
• AWS IoT EduKit tutorials: (Getting Started, Cloud Connected Blinky, Smart Thermostat, Smart Spaces (IoT + ML), Intro to Alexa for IoT)
• Code repository on GitHub (using ESP-IDF)
• API reference (for hardware board support package)
• MicroPython example connectivity to AWS IoT using the secure element
• Arduino example of connectivity to AWS IoT using the secure element (uses PlatformIO)
• Additional examples

Additional resources

• Blog — How to access and display images from S3
• Blog — The benefits of using a pre-provisioned secure element
• Twitch video — Program overview and demo application on adding peripherals to expansion ports
• AWS IoT developer documentation
• Other AWS IoT workshops
• ESP-IDF compatible peripheral libraries by Ruslan V. Uss

Support from the AWS IoT technical field community

There are multiple ways to get technical support for your submission. You can ask a question on the contest discussion forum. We have AWS IoT technical experts monitoring the discussion forum and will respond as quickly as possible. Second, attend the following office hours (Amazon Chime):

• Welcome to the hardware: July 12, 2021 at 8a.m. PDT
• Project office hours: August 13, 2021 at 8a.m. PDT
• Final wrap-up office hours: September 10 at 8a.m. PDT

The hardware:

• Espressif ESP32-D0WDQ6-V3: Dual-core, 8MB PSRAM, 16MB Flash, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
• Security: Pre-provisioned ATECC608 hardware encryption chip
• Sensors & Interfaces: 2” capacitive touch LCD, vibration motor, gyroscope & accelerometer, microphone & speaker, 10x RGB LEDs
• Expansion: compatible with hundreds of plug-and-play peripheral and connectivity options
• Power: 500mAh battery, power management chip

About us