HAcK at Transfer Bridge to UCLA Samueli Engineering is a summer Accelerator program designed to provide incoming engineering transfer students an opportunity to ‘get their hands dirty’ on a technical engineering design project; to use their math, science, and engineering concepts; to gain some professional development; and to have some fun.

Welcome to HAcK 2024!

Link to Basic Training modules

Friday, July 26, 2024 (9 AM – 9 PM) – HAcK Day 1 (in-person or remote)

• • • 9:00 – 9:30 AM – Welcome & morning announcements – Shannon Room (Engineering 4 Room 54-134 (see map below). Zoom session link for remote participants
    • 9:30 – 10:00 AM – Presentation by Northrop Grumman engineer
    • 10:00 – 12:30 PM – HAcK officially begins
    • 12:30 – 1:00 PM – Lunch (see Sustenance section below)
    • 1:00  – 3:00 PM – HAcK-time
    • 3:00 – 4:30 PM – Design-pitch to Northrop Grumman engineers
    • 4:30 – 5:00 PM – HAcK-time (We will move to the MakerSpace at 5 PM)
    • 5:00 – 6:30 PM – Move to MakerSpace & Dinner
    • 6:30 – 8:30 PM – HAcK-time
    • 8:30 – 9:00 PM – Final Announcements

Benchmarks for the day:

• • • Teams should have completed their design work for their first prototype and begun assembly.

Saturday, July 27, 2024 (9 AM – 9 PM) – HAcK Day 2 (in-person or remote)

• • • 9:00 – 9:30 AM – Welcome & morning announcements – Zoom session link for remote participants
    • 9:30 – 12:30 PM – HAcK-time
    • 12:30 – 1:00 PM – Lunch (see Sustenance section below)
    • 1:00 PM – Field of Play opens for testing
    • 1:00 – 5:30 PM – HAcK-time
    • 5:30 – 6:30 PM – Activity
    • 6:30 – 7:00 PM – Dinner
    • 7:00 – 9:30 PM – HAcK-time
    • 9:30 – 10:00 PM – Final Announcements

Benchmarks for the day:

• • • Test stations for prototype testing will open today.
    • Team should have tested their first prototype by mid-afternoon so that they can iterate, re-design, re-build, and test again.

Sunday, July 28, 2024 (9 AM – 10 PM) – HAcK Day 3 (in-person or remote)

• • • 9:00 – 9:30 AM – Welcome & morning announcements – Zoom session link for remote participants
    • 9:30 – 12:30 PM – HAcK-time
    • 12:30 – 1:00 PM – Lunch (see Sustenance section below)
    • 1:00 – 6:45 PM – HAcK-time
    • 6:45 – 7:15 PM – Dinner
    • 7:15 – 7:45 PM – Photo-shoot
    • 7:45 – 10:00 PM – Prototype Performance Competition & HAcK Finale

Benchmarks for the day:

• • • Hacking ends at 6:45PM. Any team hacking after this time will be disqualified.
    • Have some fun with your team photos.  We encourage participants to dress-up!
    • Teams need to sign-up to run their prototype through the field of play for testing.

Monday, July 29, 2024 @ 11:59PM – Design Review presentation submission deadline

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 (9 AM – 6 PM) – Northrop Grumman Corporation Space Park – by invitation-only (in-person)

Saturday, August 3, 2024 (9:30 – 11 AM) – HAcK Awards Ceremony (virtual)
Zoom Session

It’s December 1st, 1996 (Not really, in case you got confused LOL). You have just three days to design a rover destined for Mars. This mission is historic—the first time a vehicle will be sent to another planet. The pressure is immense, but the stakes are higher. This rover must be equipped to explore every facet of the Martian landscape, unlocking secrets of a world never before touched by human ingenuity. The countdown has begun.

The Technical Challenge

We can only afford to send one rover to Mars.  As such, we have devised this technical challenge to determine the prototype that will be sent to Mars to win the race. Your rover will need to traverse a field of play, moving around in a maze-like structure.

What your rover will need to do:

• Move forwards and backwards
• Turn in place (essentially rotate) both left and right
• Be able to gather data and display on your website:
  • Temperature
    • Temperature that you display must be within 2°C/5°F of temperature displayed on thermometer.
  • Humidity
  • Distance from rear of the rover to nearest object to avoid collisions when backing up
    • Distance displayed must be within 1cm of actual distance.
• Mount an ESP-32 Camera which will be connected to your React frontend in order to have a visual directly from your rover.
• Pick up multiple payloads seperately, and drop off said payloads at designated drop off locations:
  • Size of objects will be no larger than 2 in * 2 in
  • Height at which payloads will sit will vary, ranging from the floor, to parallel with the chassis to  7-8″ above the floor
  • Weight of payload does not exceed 5 oz.
• Handle a bumpy terrain without your rover falling apart
• Climb a 10% grade
• The rover’s chassis must NOT be bigger than 10″ wide  x 12″ long
• The rover must survive a drop test from 6″ inches
•  

Your website’s requirements:

• Send controls to your rover (motors, grabbing mechanism, etc.) through MQTT Broker
  • Use the node server (index.js) provided to you as a middle man between your React frontend and the MQTT Broker
  • GITHUB FOR NODE SERVER AND MQTT CODE: https://github.com/ryancarneyy/HaCK-backend
• Receive data from your Raspberry Pi Pico W (temperature, humidity, etc.) through MQTT Broker and display it on your site
• Document your experience
  • Write down brief notes, like a lab report of the process of your design and any successes, iterations, roadblocks, that you may run into
  • Images will make this even better!
  • The more creative + aesthetic your documentation is, the better the score!
• Embed your ESP-32 camera’s display into your site!
  • Use this video to set up your ESP-32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_GY0zbM1bM&t=444s
  • If your ESP-32 is very laggy, turn down the clock rate to 4 MHZ and reduce the resolution

Pico W Requirements:

• Your Pico W must interact with temperature/humidity and ultrasonic sensors.
• Your Pico W must interact with your grabbing mechanism and your wheels’ motors.
• Your Pico W must send data to and receive controls from your website through the MQTT Broker.
• Your MicroPython code must be:
  • Styled: Focus on clean, reusable, and modular code (functions, etc.)
  • Commented: Your code must contain comments on not-as-obvious code:
    • Don’t comment on: x = 6
    • Do comment on a function’s purpose, a sequence of code, etc.

Mechanical requirements:

• You must create a CAD for each part of your design
  • Take advantage of GrabCAD, McMaster, and the Onshape public section to get CADs of regularly used parts (sensors, servo motor, etc.)
• The following assemblies must be completed:
  • Top Assembly, demonstrates all components created and utilized to create the project 
  • Arm Assembly, all components used/ manufactured for the arm must be represented and assembled 
  • Chassis Assembly, all components placed and created on the chassis needs to be represented 
• Components (The Designs)
  • All components needed to have a CAD  to achieve full points
  • Components for…
    • Arm 
    • Chassis
    • Grabbing mechanism
  • Mounts for components also need to be accounted for
• Your CAD will be graded on how close it is to your real project

Electrical Requirements:

• Your circuit should be well wired and tidy and marked.
• You must follow good and safe electrical systems wiring and your circuit should not have any shorts and be able to prevent shorts from happening.
• You must provide a simple schematic of your circuits that contains the wiring route and the electrical components used in your rover.
  • This is good for debugging for your circuits and also insure that after a year you can still use your rover

Laser-cutter (1st floor MakerSpace)
If you have parts that need to be cut, contact any mentor available and they will help you to cut your part.

Do NOT operate the laser cutter unsupervised.

3D printers (2nd floor MakerSpace)
If you have parts that need to be 3D printed, contact any mentor available and they will help you upload your file and start your print job. Please be mindful of the time it will take to print your part. 

Do NOT operate the 3D printer unsupervised.

Hand tools (1st floor MakerSpace)
Hand tools are available to HAcK teams throughout our competition.  Please return your tools once you are done as other teams may need to use them. All tools must be returned at the end of the day. 

Do NOT use the hand tools in a manner that they are not intended to be used,
Do NOT destroy the tools in the MakerSpace.  If a tool is damaged please bring it to the attention of Wes or one of the mentors. 

Dremel (1st floor MakerSpace)
Please inform a mentor before using the Dremel and proceed with the following rules:

• • • Take care to not injure yourself or others,
    • Do NOT destroy the Dremel and use the appropriate saw for the material you are working with,
    • Always return the Dremel to where you found it after use,
    • If you hear a ‘screeching’ sound from the Dremel, cease operation immediately. 

Power Drill (1st floor MakerSpace)
Please inform a mentor before using the Power Drill and proceed with the following rules:

• • • Take care to not injure yourself or others,
    • Do NOT drill through the table or other surface.  Please use buffer material (like a thick piece of wood) under the drilled materila.
    • Do NOT destroy the Drill and if it is damaged, please notify Wes or one of the mentors,
    • Always return the Drill to where you found it after use,
      

Band Saw (1st floor MakerSpace)
Contact a mentor if you want to use the Band Saw.  It requires a key that the mentor can access. 

• • • Take care to not injure yourself or others,
    • Use the equipment only as intended,
    • Be aware of your surroundings and direct others in the area to move away,
    • Use a push stick to prevent cutting your fingers.

Soldering Irons (2nd floor MakerSpace)

• • • Take care to not injure yourself or others,
    • Use the equipment only as intended,
    • Never touch the element of the soldering iron…it’s 400 C!
    • Hold wires to be heated with tweezers or clamps,
    • Keep the cleaning sponge wet during use,
    • Always return the soldering iron to its stand when not in use. Never put it down on the workbench.
    • Turn unit off and unplug it when not in use. 

Things to Bring & Prohibited Items

Please bring: 

• • • Please bring your laptop, closed-toed shoes and something to tie your hair back if you have long hair
    • Please bring a water bottle (no water will be provided at HAcK), food and snacks as you need (no refrigeration provided).

Please DO NOT bring: 

• • • Students will NOT be allowed to bring in or use personal hardware components or use their personal equipment (3D printers, etc.) unless otherwise specified. These provide an unfair advantage to teams with members who are familiar with or have access to tools that other participants do not.  Teams run the risk of being disqualified.  Please check with a mentor when in doubt.
    • Use of outside software or libraries is allowed (provided that it is freely available online) for design analysis or algorithm enhancement. However, Accelerator Mentors will NOT provide training for any software other than the ones mentioned previously in workshops.

Rules of Engagement

s sTo preserve the spirit of good sportsperson-ship, and to keep the challenge interesting and meaningful, teams will be required to follow a list of requirements outlined below.

• • • Be respectful of others and your teammates.
    • Please DO NOT begin assembly or inspection of parts provided until the HAcK Reveal.  
    • Communicate with your teammates regardless of participating in-person or remote.  Please make sure to communicate work and team meeting times with remote participants.
    • Each member MUST contribute to the project.
    • DON’T bring food or drink into the Makerspace, please eat outside or in designated resting area. Water is allowed.
    • Please clean up after yourself and return all tools to where you found them.  We will shout-out, ‘CHAIRS’ at the end of the day.  This is a signal to stop working, put your tools away, throw trash away, and get ready to leave.
    • Please SLEEP (recommended at least 6 hours per 24 hour period).
    • The project protytpe must be left at the Makerspace at the end of each day. Teams CANNOT work on the prototype after HAcK ends for the day. However, teams are ALLOWED to work on CAD, coding, and other aspects on their own time.
    • When using AI, don’t have the AI do it for you! It is great to use it as a companion for coding syntax, etc. But don’t have it do the whole project for you!
    • In-person participants – please be on time and ready to work.  Please sign-in each day and inform a mentor when you leave for the day.
    • Try your best, learn lots, and HAVE FUN!

Team Logistics

Teams will be required to submit the following:

• • • Team name & logo
    • Photo shoot – Each team will need to bring their prototype for photographing.  A team photo will also be taken.
    • Prototype performance test – your team will bring your prototype to run through the field of play 
    • Design Review Presentation

Please see each section below for more information, instructions, and deadlines.

Team Registration – Each team will need to submit a registration for your team by Friday, July 25, 2024 at 12 AM.  One submission per team is required.

Teams are required to include their team name, logo design, team photo, and the names of their individual team members.

Guidelines for team name and logo – please have fun with this; but, keep in mind that it will be what is published and shown to judges and donors.  Your logo must be 2 x 2 inches max.  Canva is a great resource if you want it to look fancy.

Guidelines for team photo – all members need to be in the picture along with your team name.

Submit your team registration here. 

Photo shoot – Each team will need to bring their prototype for photographing.  Teams will also need to take a photo with their prototype. 

Sunday, July 28, 2024 before the prototype performance test.

Team Submissions

All teams will create a Design Review presentation, a ten-minute recorded video that will be reviewed by our panel of HAcK judges. Your team is responsible for explaining your design process from start to finish including iterations, showcase relevant CAD models and code snippets, show your website, and demonstrate their final rover’s performance. You must use a slideshow to keep your presentation in your video.

Your Design Review Presentation should include the following elements:

1. Electronics and Schematics: Provide a detailed overview of the electronic components and their schematics.
2. Mechanical Components: Discuss the mechanical aspects of your design, including the arm, fasteners, and connectors.
3. Code: Present the code developed for your project, explaining its role in controlling the various systems (ex: servo/arm, h-bridges, sensors). Include a demo/screenshots of your website.
4. Design Iterative Process: Describe the iterative process during the design phase, emphasizing the steps and revisions that led to the final design.
5. Challenges and Fixes: Reflect on at least one failure or significant challenge you encountered and explain how you addressed or resolved it.
6. Overall Rover Presentation: Provide an overview of the entire rover. Include pictures and videos of the rover performing in the field of play to illustrate its features and performance.

Teams can submit their link to their video recording of their presentation and a link to a .pdf of your slides through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/WzUQTdHo4vhVJuCm6 . Please make sure your materials are publicly viewable.  Your materials will not be reviewed if we cannot access them. And

Submit your CAD files and your schematic. Drawings are acceptable for the schematic. Link: https://forms.gle/5f3ohkqPRbQynLSs6

Share your GitHub repository link – Make sure your GitHub repository is public by the time of submission. It should contain any other files you used in your final submission Link: https://forms.gle/jyinn6LgHENhqu9J7

HAcK Feedback Survey: https://forms.gle/mucTkG6etz6mNdEZA 

An automatic disqualification will be applied to teams that do not submit all required materials.

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE IN BY MONDAY,  JULY 29TH, 11:59PM TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMPETITION!

Please submit you resume by Monday, August 5, 2024 for review: https://forms.gle/nArtFtYL8rJSj4eS6 

Field of Play Challenges

HAcK prizes will be awarded to the three highest scoring teams at the virtual HAcK awards ceremony on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 9:30 – 11 AM.  and available for pick-up at the Fall eTransfer Welcome & Kick-off on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.  Prizes will be awarded to each individual team member.

1st Place Prize – HAcK Portfolio, $100 UCLA Store Gift Card, and an invitation to be a judge at HAcK 2025.

2nd Place Prize – HAcK Portfolio, $75 UCLA Store Gift Card,

3rd Place Prize – HAcK Portfolio and $50 UCLA Store Gift Card

Communication & Fun Stuff at HAcK

Team Channels on the ETC Discord Server – Your HAcK mentors have created a channel on the ETC Discord Server for each of your teams.  Only the mentors and your team mates will be able to access your team Discord Channel.  Please feel free to use this to communicate with your mentors and teammates.  For assistance, please contact XXXX.

Pick-up Zoom Sessions – There may be a need to communicate with all HAcKers (remote and in-person).  Please utilize this Zoom session anytime we need an all group chat during HAcK:
https://ucla.zoom.us/j/97305263897?pwd=X4GdqhS1EkAoBrbCPUpbgBjwiRUMLn.1 

Add your fun HAcK photos to the HAcK Fun Stuff channel – Help us to make some capture some memories from HAcK and for those of you participating remotely.  

HAcK Juke Box – Hit the link to help us create the Spotify playlist of music to play at HAcK.  Please keep it clean and respectful!

Sustenance at HAcK

Friday, July 26, 2024

• • • Lunch – Subway box lunches*
      • • Turkey, Italian BMT, Cold Cut combo, and Roast Beef sandwiches
        • 2 no dairy sandwiches, 1 vegetarian sandwich
    • Dinner – Dominos Pizza*
      • • Pepperoni, Sausage & mushroom, Mushroom & olives, and cheese
        • 2 salads – no cheese

Saturday, July 27, 2024

• • • Lunch – Bentos from Aunty Maile’s*
    • Dinner – El Pollo Loco*
      • • Chicken & sides

Sunday, July 28, 2024

• • • Lunch – In and Out*
      • • Cheeseburger & fries
        • 2 Hamburgers & fries
        • 2 Grilled cheese
    • Dinner – Chipotle burritos*
      • • Choice of chicken, carnitas, or steak burritos
        • 2 burritos no-dairy
        • 1 sofritas burrito

*Please plan your own meals if you have strict dietary restrictions and/or if you think you’ll need more than what we are providing.  Please keep in mind that we do not have refrigeration available. 

Directions & Parking

Locations by day and time:

• • Friday, July 26, 2024
    • 9 AM – 5 PM – Shannon Room (Engineering 4 Room 54-134 (5^th floor))
    • 5 – 10 PM – UCLA Engineering Innovation Lab MakerSpace (Boelter Hall, Room 1805)
  • Saturday, July 27, 2024 & Sunday, July 28, 2024, 9AM – 10 PM, UCLA Engineering Innovation Lab MakerSpace

Address to use for navigation: The Engineering 4 building address is 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095. Boelter Hall is located directly behind Engineering 4.

Directions to Parking Structure 8: Take the Wilshire exit off the 405. Head east (or away from the ocean) off the freeway. Turn left on Westwood Blvd (~ the 3rd traffic light). Westwood Blvd turns into Westwood Plaza after Le Conte Avenue. Continue on Westwood past the UCLA hospital. The entrance to the roof top of Parking Structure 8 will be at the traffic light after the intersection of Westwood and Charles E. Young Drive.  This is just before the UCLA parking kiosk that is located in the middle of the road on Westwood Plaza.  If you pass Strathmore, you have gone too far.  Take the ramp up to the roof top and look for a pay by the hour stall on the roof top.

Parking in Parking Structure 8: Parking is $15.  Go to the parking kiosk and follow the directions on the kiosk to purchase your parking pass.  For information please visit the UCLA parking website: https://transportation.ucla.edu/campus-parking/visitors.  Parking fees have been covered for all Northrop Grumman mentors.  Please see the attached instructions on how to access your parking permit.

Walking Directions to the Shannon Room (Friday): Locate Engineering 4 (420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA) which is at the intersection of Westwood Plaza and Strathmore Place.  This is diagonally across the intersection from Parking Structure 8.  Walk counter clockwise around Engineering 4.  You will be walking between Engineering 4 and Parking Structure 9.  The south entrance to Engineering 4 is directly across the car entrance to Parking Structure 9.  If you hit Boelter Hall, you’ve gone too far.  Walk into the building.  Take the elevator to the 5^th floor.  Exit the elevator and turn right.  You will see a sign at the hallway on your left to the Shannon Room.

Walking Directions to the MakerSpace from Westwood Plaza: Locate Engineering 4 (420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA) which is at the intersection of Westwood Plaza and Strathmore Place.  This is diagonally across the intersection from Parking Structure 8.  Walk clockwise around Engineering 4 (between Engineering 4 and 5).  The building behind Engineering 4 is Boelter Hall.   The MakerSpace is located on the ground level.  Look for the HAcK sign near Room 1805.  The MakerSpace has two locations.  One in Boelter 1808 on the first floor.  The second in Boelter 2808.  To access the 2^nd floor,  you will need to walk counter-clockwise around Boelter Hall.  You will see a long stairwell after you turn the first corner around Boelter Hall.  Turn left at the first hallway into the courtyard.  Boelter 2808 is located on the left after you enter the courtyard.

Map & Driving Directions to the UCLA Innovation Lab MakerSpace. Hit this link to download a copy.

Joshua Burpee
UCLA IEEE Outreach &
Pre-OPS lead, 2024 – 2025

We are very excited to welcome 3 HAcK judges from Northrop Grumman!

About Us

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please email the eTransfer Center for additional questions or concerns at etransfercenter@hsseas.ucla.edu.