Amaravati Drone Hackathon 2024

The Andhra Pradesh Drone Corporation, Government of Andhra Pradesh, is launching a pioneering drone hackathon in Vijayawada. This hackathon aims to bring together innovators, technology enthusiasts, and industry leaders to solve real-world problems using drone technology, with a specific focus on improving good governance and delivering efficient, citizen-centric services.

With rapid advancements in drone technology, opportunities are emerging to solve complex challenges across diverse sectors. Drones have shown immense potential in enhancing agricultural productivity, monitoring infrastructure, responding to disasters, and even providing healthcare in remote areas. This hackathon seeks to harness this potential by inviting participants to develop innovative drone-based solutions tailored to the needs of the state government, enabling more effective governance and improved public services.

The hackathon will focus on several key areas where drones can significantly impact. Government departments will provide specific problem statements based on their challenges, ranging from agriculture and rural development to urban planning, public safety, healthcare, and environmental management. The aim is to foster a collaborative environment where the industry can create practical solutions that directly contribute to better governance and improved citizen services.

Participants will have the opportunity to work on real problem statements provided by various government departments, giving them a unique platform to understand public sector challenges and create solutions with a tangible impact. The hackathon will be a platform for technology providers, startups, and innovators to demonstrate their capabilities and work alongside government stakeholders, driving the adoption of drone technology in state governance.

Through this initiative, the Andhra Pradesh Drone Corporation, Government of Andhra Pradesh is committed to fostering an ecosystem of innovation that can elevate public service delivery. The hackathon is expected to pave the way for the integration of drones into state operations, making governance more effective, responsive, and centered around the needs of the citizens.

HACKATHON PROCESS

1. Anyone—whether an individual, firm, or team—can participate in the Hackathon. Teams can have up to 4 members.
2. There is no fee to participate.
3. Interested participants can choose from any of the 9 themes stated and apply online by submitting a concept note.
4. After successful registration through AP Innovation Society (the Hackathon Organizing Body), participants will be added to a WhatsApp group for updates.
5. Participants must upload a detailed pitch deck of their proposed solution using a link shared in the WhatsApp group. Only those who submit their pitch decks will be considered for screening and further evaluation. Failure to submit will result in disqualification.
6. Shortlisted participants shall be anounced on or before October 18. Participants to check for whatsapp anouncements regularly
7. Virtual pitching to the jury by short listed participants will take place on October 18, 19, and 20, 2024.
8. Winners will be announced by October 20, 2024, and cash awards will be awarded during the Amaravati Drone Summit 2024.
9. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh reserves the right to use the solutions from the Hackathon in the public interest.

HACKATHON SCORING CRITERIA

• Problem-Solution Fit (25%): Relevance to problem statements and understanding of its impact.
• Innovation and Originality (25%): Novelty of solution and creative use of drone technology.
• Feasibility and Scalability (20%): Technical viability and potential for scalability.
• Implementation Strategy (15%): Practicality of implementation and clear timeline/roadmap.
• Impact and Effectiveness (15%): Improvement in governance and potential social/economic benefits.

HACKATHON REVIEW JURY

• Representative from Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Representative from Directorate General of Civil Aviation
• Representative from Andhra Pradesh State Government
• Representative from IISER, Tirupati
• Representative from IIT Tirupati
• Representative from IIT Bombay
• Representative from IIT Hyderabad
• Director-Partnerships, Drone Federation India

HACKATHON THEMES

1. How can drones be used to improve agriculture and rural development in Andhra Pradesh?
   • Develop a solution for real-time crop health monitoring to identify pest infestations and nutrient deficiencies.
   • Provide a system for accurate land mapping and surveying to support rural development and land ownership verification.
   • Design drone-based approaches for detecting areas needing irrigation, water leak identification, and irrigation system performance monitoring.
2. How can drones enhance disaster management and emergency response capabilities?
   • Develop drone-based solutions for predicting flood-prone areas, monitoring water levels, and providing early warnings.
   • Create a system for assessing post-disaster damage, identifying critical areas needing relief, and mapping logistics for rescue operations.
   • Design drone solutions for early detection of forest fires, with real-time imagery for firefighting and evacuation planning.
3. How can drones be leveraged for urban planning and infrastructure monitoring?
   • Develop a drone solution for monitoring traffic patterns and identifying areas in need of road maintenance or new infrastructure.
   • Provide a system to detect unauthorized constructions and encroachments on public land in urban areas.
   • Design drone-based inspection systems for electrical lines, gas pipelines, and other essential utilities to prevent breakdowns or accidents.
4. How can drones improve public safety and law enforcement?
   • Create drone solutions for monitoring large gatherings to improve crowd control and ensure public safety.
   • Develop a system for monitoring illegal activities such as poaching and mining in restricted or forest areas.
   • Design drones for night surveillance and patrolling, particularly in areas prone to criminal activities.
5. How can drones be used to improve healthcare and medical supply delivery in remote areas?
   • Develop drone solutions for delivering medicines and vaccines to remote locations more efficiently.
   • Create a system that enables real-time video feeds for remote diagnosis by healthcare professionals using drones.
   • Design a drone-based rapid emergency response system for transporting medical kits and AED devices faster than traditional means.
6. How can drones support environmental and natural resource management?
   • Create a drone solution equipped with sensors to assess air and water quality for better environmental conservation.
   • Develop systems for tracking wildlife populations, monitoring habitat changes, and preventing illegal poaching.
   • Design drone-based solutions for identifying illegal waste dumping and supporting authorities in enforcing waste management practices.
7. How can drones assist in surveying and mapping for improved governance?
   • Develop drone-based mapping systems for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and public utilities.
   • Create a solution for inventory management of government-owned resources like land, forests, and water bodies using drones.
   • Design drones for mapping slum areas and gathering data to assist in urban rehabilitation planning.
8. How can drones improve transport and logistics efficiency?
   • Develop drone-based solutions for delivering critical goods to remote or hilly regions where conventional transport is inefficient.
   • Create a system to analyze road accident sites quickly and assess traffic flow for minimizing congestion.
   • Design drone solutions for monitoring railway yards and ports to improve cargo handling and safety.
9. How Drone-Based Computer Vision for Object Extraction?
   • Agriculture: Detect crops, weeds, and pests while analyzing crop health and estimating yield in large fields.
   • Disaster Management: Extract debris, damaged infrastructure, and stranded individuals in disaster-hit areas to assist in rescue operations.
   • Security and Surveillance: Detect unauthorized individuals, vehicles, or suspicious activities in restricted areas to enhance security monitoring.