Learning by Doing with Spresense CPES Hackathon at Cal Poly
Cardboard robots, hydration reminders, and AI-powered productivity hacks – not an average Saturday. But at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, that’s exactly what happened throughout the weekend, April 19–20, during the Computer Engineering Society’s (CPES) first-ever embedded systems hackathon powered by Sony’s Spresense boards.
More than 30 students gathered in Engineering East, many with limited or no prior experience in embedded systems. Equipped with Spresense development boards, camera modules, and audio components, teams had a single day to develop and present functioning prototypes. And they delivered.
From detecting motion to triggering devices like LEDs and buzzers, the projects ranged from practical to playful. A couple of groups used the Spresense camera to detect if a person was in the frame, triggering actions such as an LED, buzzer, or LCD display.
Meet H2Optimize: The Robot That Wants You Hydrated
The champion of the hackathon was team H2Optimize and their clever hydration-monitoring robot. This project used a Spresense camera and AI to track water bottle activity. If the robot sensed a prolonged period of stillness, it would gently nudge the user towards better hydration habits with subtle audio alerts and blinking LEDs. H2Optimize impressed the judges with its practical use case, creative integration of Spresense's features, and engaging way it interacted with users. Kudos to Carlie and Jason for bringing an innovative idea to life!
Machine Learning Meets Focus: The Spresensitive Guys
Another standout project came from a team called The Spresensitive Guys, who created a smart desk assistant designed to help users stay focused and sit up straight. By applying the Spresense board's camera with AI, their system kept a watchful eye on users, identifying instances of slouching or wandering attention (like checking a phone). When the system sensed a lapse in focus, it would deliver a quick audio reminder to get back on track. Impressive work by Colin, Nick, Damon, and Daniel in turning the concept into reality!
Learning by Doing
Despite it being the first time many students had worked with microcontrollers like the Spresense board, they embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. “This was a great experience for our club’s first-ever hackathon,” said Robert Burns, CPES Corporate Outreach Director. “We were very happy with the outcome.” The atmosphere stayed hands-on and low-pressure throughout, and by the end of the day, students walked away with new skills, functioning prototypes, and a few solid additions to their resumes. “We had a wonderful time hosting this event, and the students in attendance enjoyed it as well.”
To all the teams who participated: congratulations! It was impressive to see how many brilliant ideas emerged in just a few hours, and the hard work that went into bringing them to life. We eagerly await your future innovations!
Check out our hackathon recap video here: Sony Spresense Hackathon at Cal Poly
