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Pitfalls

Hardware projects require precision under a tight time constraint. To help participants make optimal use of their limited time, communicate these common pitfalls and corresponding mitigation strategies.

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Technical friction

  • Give hackers components vetted to work together as a system with minimal configuration

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Scope creep and time management

  • Develop a thorough design plan early on, identifying the core components needed for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to get started quickly.

Here's an example breakdown of how hackers might spend their time at a hackathon:

  • 10% Product Ideation (4.8 hours in a 24-hr hackathon)

  • 35% Product Development (8.4 hours in a 24-hr hackathon)

  • 30% Product Packaging (7.2 hours in a 24-hr hackathon)

  • 25% Product Documentation (6.0 hours in a 24-hr hackathon)

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Component shortages

  • Bring Your Own Electronics/Hardware (BYOE/H): Bringing personal components reduces the likelihood of reliance on the main lab inventory.

Organizer Note: Source additional parts or reserve ahead of time to minimize event shortages.

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Soldering

  • Pre-solder headers on microcontrollers before the event if possible

  • Use hot glue for quick and durable prototyping

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Hard to move projects

  • Build for portability and presentation:

  • Build the project on a movable surface (e.g., a tray or small cart).

  • Keep the project size manageable.

  • Design the project to be easy to disassemble and reassemble.

  • Take plenty of photos and videos showing the project working, especially for fragile or large assemblies, as backup for judging.

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Long reset time

  • Document the process: Take frequent photos and videos showing the project working

  • Create a simple reset checklist for bringing the project back online after power loss, movement, or demo completion

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Fabrication delays

  • Prototype early: The sooner your idea is finalized, the sooner the design can be measured, finalized, and sent to a 3D printer or fabricated (e.g., using laser cutters)

  • Around 30% of a team’s project time is recommended for physical packaging. That includes printing, fitting, etc.

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Robot pathing

  • Multiple paths: If your challenge(s) use a test floor on site (such as for robot pathing challenges), set up multiple test zones so that many teams can test during the event at once

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