Check the box before it ships.

Objective

The goal is to reduce human errors, improve packaging accuracy and ensure complete shipments.

Minimum technical requirements

• Packing list: use a predefined packing list of several distinct components for one shipping box.
• Automatic identification: identify each component placed in the box using suitable sensors, with no manual checking by the operator.
• Verification: compare the identified components with the packing list and decide whether the box is complete.
• Error detection: detect missing items and incorrect items, such as the wrong component or a wrong quantity.
• Real-time alerting: alert the operator as soon as an item is missing or incorrect, and clearly show when the box is complete.
• Digital record: keep a record of every verification, including the box, the expected and found items, the result and the time.
• Monitoring interface: show the packing list, what has been verified so far and the final result of each box.
• Repeatability: verify several boxes one after another without resetting the whole system.

Expected prototype

A working embedded or IoT prototype made of a packing station or box, a sensing arrangement that identifies the components, a microcontroller or suitable processing system, an automatic verification mechanism, an operator alert (visual, audible or digital) and a digital record.

Participants must demonstrate a correctly packed box, a box with a missing item and a box with an incorrect item, and show how the system tells them apart.

Key constraints

• The prototype must use safe low-voltage electronics, preferably 5 V or 12 V.
• Use only safe, school-appropriate components and materials for the items being packed.
• Verification must be automatic, without continuous manual interpretation.
• Basic verification, alerting and recording must work without continuous internet connectivity.
• The prototype must be suitable for demonstration in a school environment.
• Explain the sensing principles and the decision logic used.

Suggested hardware (indicative, not mandatory)

• ESP32, Arduino or equivalent microcontroller
• Weight sensing (load cell with HX711), RFID or barcode/QR identification, proximity or IR sensors
• Camera with simple image recognition (for example colour or shape detection)
• LEDs, buzzer, LCD or OLED display
• Optional wireless communication modules

Suggested software (indicative, not mandatory)

Participants are encouraged to develop innovative alternatives to the suggested architecture.

• Arduino IDE, MicroPython, Python or equivalent; OpenCV if a camera is used
• Rule-based verification logic against a stored packing list
• Local or IoT-enabled monitoring dashboard
• Digital record of each verification (for example a log file, spreadsheet or cloud database)

Evaluation parameters for this challenge

• Component identification accuracy
• Detection of missing and incorrect items
• Alert response time
• Reliability and false-alarm control
• Quality of the digital verification record
• Cost efficiency
• Innovation and engineering approach
• Prototype demonstration and technical explanation

Round 1: concept and proposed solution

• Problem understanding and proposed engineering approach
• System architecture or functional block diagram
• Proposed method to identify components and verify them against the packing list
• Hardware and software requirements
• Preliminary cost estimation

Round 2: prototype development

• Functional prototype demonstration video (a working prototype is mandatory)
• Identification of components and verification against a packing list
• Demonstration of missing-item and incorrect-item detection
• Operator alert and the digital verification record
• Preliminary test results

Grand Finale: working prototype

• Fully operational smart-packaging verification prototype
• Live verification of several boxes, including a complete box, a missing item and an incorrect item
• Real-time operator alerts and a digital record of every verification
• Supporting test data and performance observations
• Technical presentation explaining system operation and design decisions