Wow - what a week!
From 27. to 30. September the first “Mi5 Green Island Makeathon” in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria took place. More than 50 Students from Spain, Germany, Austria and Italy participated in our 4 day event with the moto: “How can digital technology and connected devices help to build a smart and green island?”
Check out our aftermovie here.
SPEGC and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria provided us with an awesome event location @Infecar Gran Canaria
What is a makeathon?
A makeathon is an event, where young programmers and engineers stick together for a few days to be creative and develop new ideas and prototypes together. Especially the connection between the digital and the real world causes new interesting challenges because you build and construct physical prototypes and combine them with digital and web technology. It is about passion for technology and having fun within a young and creative community.
The hardware:
The students could use a lot of hardware to implement their ideas: Lots of Raspberry PI Computers, Arduinos, Sensors, Shields and Motors were provided, as well as an Electrical Car, an electric “TukTuk”, a Drone, 3D-Printer and many more “geek toys”.
Our Drone + we got provided by sweets from local schocolate manufacturer “Tirma Ambrosias”
4 Days of making:
We started our event at the Escuela De Ingeniería Informática, where Prof. Daniel Hernandez welcomed the students and some further introduction presentations were given. After that, we moved to the buildings of Infecar, where the SPEGC provided us with a nice location. After having lunch together, the students were given time to exchange ideas and form groups before their first team pitches.
Prof. Daniel Hernandez welcoming us at the EII ULPGC for our start and final presentations
The next two days, we programmed, brainstormed and built prototypes. The ideas went from a Smart Farming Robot, a Public Parking Assistance System, a Bike Sharing Plattform or the Integration of our Electrical Cars to a Database Solution. Parts were printed, Circuits were soldered and Servers were set up. Some students kept working 13 hours or more each day.
Professors from the ULPGC Civil & Industrial Engineering, Informatics and Telecommunication Faculties came to visit our event, as well as two Professors from Aalen, who joined their students for the Makeathon.
Professors from different universities and faculties exchanging
Our brand new Twizzy got checked out by all the students
On the last day, the students had to present their results, which lead to some morning stress – but at the end the results were worth the effort. Everyone had fun and was satisfied about some great days of working together.
