2026 Flagship Challenge
AI Hardware-Based Wire-Free Sewer Hackathon
A flagship technical challenge designed to revolutionize urban infrastructure, shifting from theoretical modeling to robust physical prototyping and edge intelligence.
Event Evolution: From Concept to Hardware
This event serves as the direct successor to the "Wire-Free Sewer Vision" Hackathon held on 11-12 December 2025 at COMSATS University, Islamabad (Abbottabad Campus). While the previous event focused on concept solutions and machine learning analytics, the 2026 FAST University edition requires:
- Physical Prototype Development: Teams must build hardware units capable of surviving sewer environments.
- Wire-Free Connectivity: Implementation of Long Range (LoRa), NB-IoT, or satellite-based communication to eliminate physical wiring.
- Edge AI Integration: On-device processing to detect blockages, gas leaks, or flow irregularities in real-time.
Core Objectives
The hackathon brings together students, researchers, and engineers under the Internet Society’s vision of a "Global hub for AI innovation." The primary goals include:
- Sustainable Sanitation: Developing low-power devices using energy harvesting (kinetic or thermal).
- Predictive Maintenance: Utilizing AI to predict infrastructure failure before it occurs, reducing municipal costs.
- Hardware-Software Synergy: Bridging the gap between software-heavy AI models and the rugged realities of industrial hardware.
Impact & Collaboration
Organized by the Internet Society AI members, this event fosters a vibrant ecosystem for AI research and deployment in Pakistan. By hosting the 2026 edition at FAST-NUCES Chiniot, the organizers aim to leverage the campus’s strong reputation in computer engineering and industrial technology to solve local and global urban challenges.
Building on the success of the conceptual phase, the 2026 AI Hardware-Based Wire-Free Sewer Hackathon at FAST-NUCES Chiniot represents a critical transition from "AI on screens" to "AI in the field."
Technical Tracks & Challenge Areas
Participants will compete in three specialized tracks, each addressing a unique failure point in modern urban sanitation:
1. The Edge Intelligence Track
(On-Device Processing)
Traditional IoT sends raw data to the cloud, but sewers are often "dead zones" for signal.
- Challenge: Deploy lightweight Neural Networks (TinyML) on MCUs like ESP32 or Arduino Portenta to detect blockages locally.
- Goal: The device should only wake up and transmit an alert when it detects an anomaly (e.g., a 20% rise in methane or a 15% drop in flow rate).
2. The Wire-Free Connectivity Track
Sewer systems act as Faraday cages, making standard Wi-Fi useless.
- Challenge: Implement LoRaWAN or Sub-GHz radio communication protocols that can penetrate manhole covers and travel through concrete tunnels.
- Goal: Establish a stable "daisy-chain" network where devices pass signals from one to another until they reach a surface gateway.
3. The Ruggedized Hardware Track
Sewer environments are corrosive, humid, and physically turbulent.
- Challenge: Design a "Floating Capsule" or "Manhole Node" using chemical-resistant 3D-printed housing (e.g., PETG or ASA).
- Goal: Devices must remain functional after a 2-hour submersion test in a simulated high-flow environment.
Comparison: 2025 vs. 2026
While the 2025 event at COMSATS Abbottabad focused on the "Untethered Inspector" concept, the 2026 event at FAST University focuses on the physical execution.
| Feature |
2025 (COMSATS Abbottabad) |
2026 (FAST Chiniot) |
| Focus |
Concept & Analytics |
Hardware & Prototyping |
| Medium |
Hybrid/Simulation |
On-Site/Physical Testing |
| Requirement |
AI Models (Python/MATLAB) |
Microcontrollers & Sensors |
| Success Metric |
Model Accuracy |
Hardware Durability & Connectivity |
Organizing Umbrella
The event is mentored by members of the Internet Society (ISOC) Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group. This affiliation ensures that the solutions developed:
- Adhere to Open Standards: Encouraging interoperability between different municipal systems.
- Prioritize Data Privacy: Ensuring that sensors monitor infrastructure, not the private lives of citizens.
- Focus on Scalability: Developing low-cost solutions ($50–$100 per node) that can be deployed across large cities like Faisalabad or Lahore.
Event Hosts
Lead Facilitator
Joshua Mwakalobo
Vice Facilitator
Abinery Yohanes Mchena Ja
Board Member
Franklin Ward
★ Ex-Lead Facilitator
Engr Adeel Nayyar
Ready to Get Your Hands Dirty?
This event is designed for engineers and developers who are ready to build industrial-grade hardware and edge computing solutions.
Apply for 2026 Hackathon
