A team of engineering students was crowned the winner of the DEFINE Hackathon, organized by Millog and the DEFINE network, with their sensor solution addressing the challenges of battlefield surveillance. According to Juha Mäkelä from the Finnish Defence Research Agency, several of the solutions presented in the hackathon have significant development potential for the operational needs of the Finnish Defence Forces.
Millog, in collaboration with the Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE), hosted the dual-use technology-themed DEFINE Hackathon from September 26–28, 2024, in Riihimäki. The winning team, Boom Mesh, impressed with their sensor-based solution.
Boom Mesh consisted of Aalto University engineering students Aarno Koponen, Annika Eloranta, Emil Lintunen, Miikka Leppinen, and Rika Lintunen. During the competition, they developed sensor packages to create a surveillance meshed network on the battlefield. The judges were impressed by their innovation and teamwork, with additional praise for the antennas they built on-site to demonstrate their solution.
“The victory surprised us. We didn’t expect to win because many participants had more developed technologies. Yet we worked hard on the competition and only started tackling the task on-site. We were still finishing the last antenna at 4 a.m. the night before the final,” said Emil Lintunen.
In addition to the winning solution, the teams Sapper Intelligence and Kilpi SWARM were also awarded. Sapper Intelligence, consisting of Carmen Loew and Jacob von Manteuffel, traveled from Germany with their AI-based radar signal recognition and sensor fusion technology that enables the detection of covered objects such as mines, hidden under vegetation. Kilpi SWARM, a team of Björn Sjölund, Gabriel Nyman, Niclas Jern, and Tuomas Wuoti from Kilpi, presented a meshed network of sensors that can
detect movement and noise at specific locations.
Riihimäki Tilat ja Kehitys Oy awarded the winning team a 5,000-euro cash prize, along with the rare opportunity to present their solution to Patria CEO Esa Rautalinko and the Finnish Defence Research Agency. Millog awarded the second and third-place teams with cash prizes of 2,000 and 1,000-euros respectively. Additionally, the top teams received tickets to the defence and security event SecD-Day, which will take place in January 2025, and business development support services from the City of Riihimäki.
48 Hours – 61 Competitors
In the DEFINE Hackathon, teams were tasked with applying everyday tools in the defence and security sectors. Solutions were asked to focus on cybersecurity, disaster relief systems, unmanned aerial systems and autonomous systems, communication networks, and the use of AI and machine learning to detect threats. Many of the competition’s projects revolved around drone-related innovations, such as electronic jamming countermeasures, situational awareness, and autonomous operations.
The 48-hour competition featured 18 teams and 61 competitors from Finland and abroad. Participants ranged from advanced technology developers to those creating solutions on the spot.
Teams included students, established companies, and start-ups, many of whom saw the event as an excellent networking opportunity. Several participants sought feedback on their innovations from the defence sector and hoped to gain a better understanding of the Finnish Defence Forces’ technological needs. Some participants, with experience in other hackathons, joined to further develop and test their skills.
Many Solutions Have Potential for Further Development
Throughout the DEFINE Hackathon, participants had the chance to refine their ideas with the help of a wide array of professional mentors, including representatives from the Finnish Defence Forces, Millog, and other top experts in technology and business. The competition challenges were developed in collaboration with the Finnish Defence Research Agency The event was executed by Ultrahack.
Agency was one of the hackathon’s judges.
One of the competition judges, Lieutenant Colonel Juha Mäkelä, chief of the Information Technology division at Finnish Defence Research Agency, was positively surprised by the participants’ professionalism and enthusiasm:
“The level of innovation was high, and the competition was tough. In just two days, many teams were able to turn ideas into conceptual solutions, and some even reached the demonstration stage. Several of the solutions presented have significant development potential for the operational needs of the Finnish Defence Forces.”
According to Mäkelä, the event provided an excellent opportunity to see how start-ups can generate dual-use products and innovations that benefit the Finnish Defence Forces and overall security.
“In my opinion the hackathon succeeded in bringing together the teams, mentors, and judges in a way that benefited all of us, and we learned a lot throughout the event. The topic is highly relevant, as the lessons learned from Ukraine highlight the significant need for innovation development in military defence,” Mäkelä says.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Juha Tuominen, director of the Finnish Defence Forces’ C5I School, the DEFINE Hackathon served as a good example of collaboration between the network and the Finnish Defence Forces. The C5I School, located in Riihimäki, offers training in information defence and cyber defence for the personnel of the Finnish Defence Forces and various authorities. Additionally, the school is responsible for the specialized training of cyber conscripts.
– It’s great that organizations like DEFINE provide forums such as the DEFINE Hackathon, where ideas and innovations can be presented and their feasibility can be assessed with a low threshold. The DEFINE network has been a great partner for us, particularly in the training of cyber conscripts. The network offers us the opportunity to develop our expertise together with various stakeholders and also supports the transition of conscripts into working life after their military service, Tuominen explains.
DEFINE Innovation Hub Launches
The DEFINE Hackathon was held at Veturitallit in Riihimäki, just a stone’s throw from the train station. Soon, the premises will house a business accelerator and Innovation Hub focused on dual-use technologies, which will particularly support the growth and internationalization opportunities of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kanta-Häme region.
Toni Piispa, chair of the DEFINE network steering group and director of the Authorities and Industry division at Millog, thanks all the teams that participated in the DEFINE Hackathon and congratulates them on a successful event.
“The participating teams demonstrated creativity and technical expertise that will undoubtedly take their ideas far. I hope to see the teams further developing their solutions in Riihimäki at the DEFINE dual-use technology business accelerator and Innovation Hub! We have a great opportunity to make Riihimäki region even more significant cluster for the defence technologies!” says Piispa.