HacX!

Name of the competition : HacX!

About the competition : Organised by HTX Singapore in collaboration with Microsoft Singapore, HacX! is a hackathon that empowers students to use science, technology, and engineering to address pressing public safety challenges. This year, HacX! aimed to leverage rapid prototyping for public safety challenges across three domains—enhancing frontline safety, deterring and solving crimes, and safeguarding lives and properties.

Date of the competition :  4 August - 29 November 2024 (Grand Finals)

Achievement : First Runner-up

Prize : $7,000 cash prize

REP Student/s :  Wee Tseng I, Jiang Zongzhe, Balasubramanian Sricharan, Chia Yong Le, Calvin, Lim Rui Yi, Ray

Product/Proposal : Noodleguard, a 3D-printed, custom-designed solution that uses pool noodles to dissipate the force of rappelling ropes on windowsills.

Description : Our solution addresses the challenge faced by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) in reducing property damage during complex rescue from height. During such deployments, DART team members rappel out from windows, which can damage the window frames as well as the ropes they use. We leveraged the ability of 3D printing in producing complex structures to design a product that distributed the force of the rope over a larger surface area. Our use of pool noodles as the cushioning material promised excellent compressive strength and durability, while keeping costs low. Clever features like a carabiner-inspired security mechanism and magnetic cartridge system further enhanced utility and user-friendliness.