I would like to share with you my experience of the first ever Digital Innovation Boot Camp organised by the University of Birmingham’s School of Engineering and Business. It involved a competition/global challenge and winning the title’ Young Innovator’’ Prize’.

The Digital Innovation Boot Camp ran from 10-14 June 2019 to introduce innovative and cutting-edge digital technologies and train the students on the applications of Machine Learning, Virtual Reality, Data Analytics, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

Last month, I had participated in DIGITAL INNOVATION BOOT CAMP 2019 (DIBC 2019). Exciting Lectures and workshops were given to introduce us to cutting-edge technology used in the field of engineering like  Machine Learning,  Virtual Reality ,  Data Analytics,  Robotics and  Artificial Intelligence were the topics covered by University academics and Researchers from the industry.

We  then participated in a Global  Challenge using the innovative technologies to compete to win the 'Young  Innovators Prize'. I and our teammates brainstormed on the topic to choose. I proposed the topic of sustainable development with convincing points and we all agreed. What better and wiser topic than ‘Sustainable development’ which is in its true sense a global challenge.

After opting to choose the global challenge important to us, this was aiming to improve the UN's sustainable development goals, we AGROTECH (from multiple engineering disciplines) developed a unique  idea utilising  Machine Learning and  AI (Artificial Intelligence). Our idea was to improve crop yields through the collection and analysis of data. Our sensor array would be placed in the fields to synchronise with a smartphone app to deliver instant-simple-personalised analytics to farmers over their crop statuses. In summary, we developed the idea for an app that reduces crop losses aiming for sustainable development. I used my experience of my internship at Siemens, With the help of a demo written in  python, various concept  art and a very tight schedule! Our pitch to a panel of judges from the University and industry proved successful and we claimed the first prize! It was such a tough competition as we were competing with Computer Engineering students, IT students and the best talents from UK wide universities.

I was so so thrilled and elated upon winning the first prize for the topic close to my heart. By choosing this topic, I and our team could not only pour in my passion & experience for the topic ‘Sustainable development’ but also draw wider attention to the fact that it’s time to work towards environment protection and sustainable development.