IDEA Hacks 2024
Jan 12-14
Ackerman Grand Ballroom
IEEE at UCLA is pleased to present the tenth anniversary of IDEA Hacks, the premier hardware-focused hackathon on the West Coast. Hosted by IEEE’s Student Branch at UCLA for 36 hours this upcoming January 12-14, 2024, it provides hundreds of students from both UCLA and local community colleges with the opportunity to develop their own tangible products. Throughout the experience, IEEE provides parts, tools, space, food, and workshops all for free, so all students can focus solely on their projects.
This year will be the tenth anniversary of IDEA Hacks, and the theme “Celebrating Our Communities” will encourage students from all backgrounds to embrace their unique backgrounds and create something that will improve or benefit their communities, surroundings, and environments.
The three sub-categories Sustainability, Accessibility, and “Go Touch Grass” aim to promote the creation of projects that will benefit the health of the planet, improve usability, or share the enjoyment of life. More information on these subcategories can be found here.
Everything you need throughout the weekend, from parts to food to knowledge, will all be right at your fingertips. Communication and announcements will happen through a Discord server we will set up for the hackathon.
Prizes
Grand Prize:
GIGABYTE M27Q 27" 170Hz 1440P -KVM Gaming MonitorSecond Place:
Electric Gooseneck Kettle, Pour Over Coffee Maker, 16 oz Carter Move Travel MugThird Place:
JBL Flip 6 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth SpeakerAccessibility Track Prize:
Luna 20 LB Weighted Blanket and Comfort Spa Backrest PillowSustainability Track Prize:
Bonsai Tree Kit and Hydroponic Indoor Herb Garden Kit with LED Grow Light“Go Touch Grass” Track Prize:
Camping Hammock, 80”x 80” 3-Layer Waterproof Outdoor Blanket, and White Stainless Steel 24oz HydroFlaskPatient Safety Tech Prize:
$500 (split between members)
In order to be eligible to win the patient safety prize, your innovation must align with one of the following five leading patient safety challenges facing health care across the continuum of care: Medication errors, procedural/surgical errors, errors during routine patient care (e.g. pressure ulcers, blood clots, falls), infections and diagnostic safety.
The winning team will represent the most innovative, impactful, viable idea that clearly understands the problem identified.
Schedule
Friday, January 12th
| Event | Time / Location |
|---|---|
| Patient Safety Workshop | 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm Ackerman Union 2412 |
| Check In | 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Webdev Workshop | 5:00 pm - 5:45 PM Ackerman Union 2408 |
| 3D Printing Workshop | 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm Ackerman Union 2408 |
| Team Building Workshop | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Opening Presentation | 8:30 pm - 9:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Team Registration Closes | 8:40 pm Register your team |
| Hacking Begins | 9:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Microcontroller Workshop | 9:15 pm - 10:00 pm Ackerman Union 2408 |
| Wireless Connectivity Workshop | 10:15 pm - 11:00 pm Ackerman Union 2408 |
Saturday, January 13th
| Event | Time / Location |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 8:00 am - 10:00 am Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| High Speed Data Acquisition, an introduction with Red Pitaya and Infineon | 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ackerman Union 2412 |
| Screen Printing Workshop | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Ackerman Union 2408 |
| Lunch | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Optiver Workshop | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Ackerman Union 2408 |
| Game Music Ensemble Performance | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Dinner | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Bruin Chamber Musicians Performance | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
Sunday, January 14th
| Event | Time / Location |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7:00 am - 9:00 am Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Project Submission Due | 9:00 am Submit your project |
| Hacking Ends | 9:00 am Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Round 1 Judging | 9:15 am - 10:45 am Ackerman Union 2408, 2410, 2412 |
| Judging Finals | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
| Awards and Closing | 12:40 pm - 1:00 pm Ackerman Grand Ballroom |
Frequently asked questions
Who can attend?
All students interested are encouraged to apply regardless of your major or experience level! And although most participants end up being UCLA engineering students, we would love to welcome participants from any major and those outside the Bruin community :)
What if I don't have a team?
You are free to hack alone, but doing it with a team makes it all the more fun! We encourage everyone to be on teams of around 4-5 hackers. Not only will this make it more enjoyable, but more equipment will be available for your use.
What tools and hardware will be provided for my team?
If you would like to see a specific part or device at the hackathon, you can specify so on your application and we'll do our best to accommodate! You can also view a full list of available parts on our Parts page closer to the start of the hackathon. We will also provide soldering stations, 3D printers, and laser cutters for you to use on your projects.
How do I contact IDEA Hacks?
Email us at evp@ieeebruins.com! If you have feedback on the website please reach out at webmaster@ieeebruins.com.
