Exploring & Understanding Our Connected World

The challenge

The Age of Exploration is upon us yet again!

Through the rise of IoT, the internet has broken out of the University labs and data centers, and is now living alongside us here in the real world. With global release of Particle's 3rd generation of IoT hardware, powered by Particle Mesh, you have the chance to explore like never before.

To celebrate Particle is pleased to launch our latest IoT contest...

We need your help. As a member of the Hackster community, it's clear that you're curious, creative, and love to build and share your projects. That's why we can't wait to see your best builds that help us all us engage with the world around us.

How It Works

Details & Deadlines

The Exploring & Understanding Our Connected World Contest runs from now until August 18, 2019, with all ideas and work being submitted to the Hackster contest community.

In addition to the guidelines laid out in this contest's rules section, each submission must have:

• A clear description of your project + how it helps explore and understand the world around us.
• How you plan to use Particle to solve the problem you’ve identified.

Note: We want to see what each and everyone of you can create on your own, this contest is not open to team entries.

Our judges will pore over each and every submission and, after careful consideration, will give the best entries top prizes. Think you got what it takes? Let's find out!

Contest Categories

To help focus your projects, this contest focuses on three awesome categories, each with their own unique prizes.

• The City Slicker
• The Naturalist
• The Fleet Master

Note: While your project can be entered to all three categories, it can only win one prize in this contest.

More than half of the world's population lives in urban areas and that statistic is growing each and every year. As one of New York's most famous residents once said, "mo people, mo problems..." but, when you stop and think, that just means mo solutions through the power of IoT!

If your project shines under the big city lights, we want to see it! Our expert team of judges are looking for the most impressive application of Particle technology for urban deployments. Did you customize a vehicle to cut down on the last mile of your commute? How about an Argon-powered energy monitoring system that saves on your apartment's electric bills? Or a tool that gathers and maps commute data so you know if you have time to make that last cup of coffee when you're rushing out the door. There are just a few freebie ideas to get your juices flowing.

Inspiration Station

• Jordy built a Boron-powered asset tracker to keep tabs on his scooter.
• The Exploratorium set up connected wind chimes to monitor city air quality.

Requirements

In addition to what is laid out in the contest rules page, your project must address an issue born from an urban environment.

Ahh, the great outdoors. There's still so much that we don't know - so there's so much to explore! Our judges want to see how well you bring the internet of things off the grid.

How will you modernize our natural world? A gamified way to plot GIS points as you hike? A motion-triggered camera system to better understand the migration patterns of animals in your own backyard? A solution to the neighbor's cat digging up your garden?

Go wild!

Inspiration Station

• Jaza Energy developed a #ParticlePowered solution to help deliver clean power to rural communities in Tanzania.
• Gustavo made a device with sensors to water leaks and more.

Requirements

In addition to what is laid out in the contest rules page, your project must address an issue impacting, or caused by, environmental factors.

Our 3rd generation of IoT hardware is powered by Particle Mesh technology. making it easier than ever for you to build and control an army of devices. In this category, the judges will be looking at how well you build multi-node, scalable networks using Particle's Mesh technology.

Will you build a GPS-enabled asset tracker that will revolutionize the trucking industry? A connected fleet of drones for your Ultimate Gah Lak Tus's cosplay? Something new all together?

This category is almost literally boundless - so feel free to let your creativity juices flow!

Inspiration Station

• Nick made "In-Plants," a mesh networking system for houseplants.
• Brandon made a fleet of mesh-connected RC Cars.

Requirements

In addition to what is laid out in the contest rules page, your project must be centered around a connected fleet of three or more devices.

Your project must also feature at least one of the devices from Particle's 3rd generation of IoT devices.

Bonus!

Didn't win one of our categorical prizes? No worries! Our judges will also be selecting the project that really caught their eyes.

Have fun and feel free to get creative!

Inspiration Station

• Students in Colorado, for better or worse, brought a banana to life.
• Charlyn combined the power of sharks & unicorns to make a connected hat!

Requirements

Your project must adhere to what is laid out in the contest rules page.

Prizes

The City Slicker

This is a prize for the best use of Particle IoT solutions in an urban environment.

1 winner

A Personal Electric Scooter

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$300 value

Zip around your city in style with your personal (and oh so hackable) e-scooter!

The City Slicker - Runner Up

This is a prize for the second best use of Particle IoT solutions in an urban environment.

1 winner

Particle Mesh Wi-Fi Bundle

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$90 value

The Particle Mesh Wi-Fi Bundle is a great way to start your exploration of the latest Particle Mesh hardware and software. This Wi-Fi bundle provides the key hardware and supporting platform to build mesh networking for your IoT project. Particle Mesh means you can create local networks that collect data, share messages, and connect to the Internet through a Particle gateway.

The Naturalist

This is a prize for the best use of Particle IoT solutions to address an issue found in the great outdoors.

1 winner

A #ParticlePowered Camping Bundle

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$300 value

Make your choice to opt outside even easier! We've packaged up an insulated sleeping bag (+ sleeping pad) and an easy-to-use two person tent to help you explore in style

The Naturalist - Runner Up

This is a prize for the second best use of Particle IoT solutions for a natural environment.

1 winner

Particle Mesh Wi-Fi Bundle

-

$90 value

The Particle Mesh Wi-Fi Bundle is a great way to start your exploration of the latest Particle Mesh hardware and software. This Wi-Fi bundle provides the key hardware and supporting platform to build mesh networking for your IoT project. Particle Mesh means you can create local networks that collect data, share messages, and connect to the Internet through a Particle gateway.

The Fleet Master

This is a prize for the best use of Particle IoT solutions that incorporate a fleet of devices powered by Particle Mesh

1 winner

Your Very Own Drone

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$300 value

Add yet another faithful soldier to your connected fleet!

The Fleet Master - Runner Up

This is a prize for the second best use of Particle IoT solutions for a connected fleets.

1 winner

Particle Mesh Wi-Fi Bundle

-

$90 value

The Particle Mesh Wi-Fi Bundle is a great way to start your exploration of the latest Particle Mesh hardware and software. This Wi-Fi bundle provides the key hardware and supporting platform to build mesh networking for your IoT project. Particle Mesh means you can create local networks that collect data, share messages, and connect to the Internet through a Particle gateway.

Judges' Choice

Our judges selected the best project that did NOT win a main prize, but still caught their eyes.

1 winner

A Particle Swag Pack

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$100 value

A hand-picked collection of Particle goodies!

Hackster Impact Prize

Join Hackster as we rally with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to make today's world a smarter, healthier place. The Hackster team will select one project that best contributes to any of the SDGs. Please refer to the specific judging criteria for this prize category.

1 winner

$250 Gift card + Video interview + More

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$430 value

The winner will receive the following:
- a $250 gift card;
- a 12-month subscription to Patchr Premium ($180 value);
- last but not least, they will be featured in a video interview with Hackster’s one and only Alex Glow.

Please visit the Hackster Impact Prize page for more information.

Judges

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