Challenge 1: Rethink Displays

• eON Indoor Air Quality Sensor
• UV Glow-In-The-Dark Laser Displays
• Volumetric Display using Acoustically Trapped Ball
• Holographic Wavefront Cylindrical Display
• India Navi
• Infrared Mirror
• VVD: an open source Real 3D Volumetric Display
• EMOJO Mental Health Chatbot
• Stereo Ninja
• AR Glasses

Challenge 2: Refresh Work-From-Home Life

• LoRaLamp AIRQuality
• KEEP CLEAR
• Present! Availability sensing for Zoom meetings
• breadWare
• PCB for HandWired Keyboards
• Gesture/Pattern Recognition Without Camera : TOF !
• Making Work-From-Home Lighting Work-For-Me
• SOLAR DISPLAY CASE v2.0
• PnPAssist
• ThunderScope

Challenge 3: Reimagine Supportive Tech

• Thenar – portable and affordable Braille book
• Mini Pupper – First ROS,Open-source Robot Dog
• Capacitive Touch Button Computer Mouse Hack
• Rugged Solar Generator 2.5KW
• T.O.F. Wristband V2
• Eye-to-Speech Module
• PECS Communication Board
• Raspberry Pi Spectrometer
• BioAmp EXG Pill
• FlowIO Platform

Challenge 4: Redefine Robots

• CM6
• Tardygrade
• My Machinery 2021
• Stack-chan – JavaScript-Driven Super-kawaii Robot
• Assistive Robotic Manipulator and 6-DoF controller
• Autonomous Litter Detection Robot w/ Edge Impulse
• UV Sanitizing Autonomous Robot
• FiberGrid Reloaded
• A Robot for Automating 3D Printers
• Robotics Ground Control Station

Challenge 5: Reactivate Wildcard

• MetaSense
• Ozirma – Near Infrared Spectrometer
• Minamil: Minimal CNC Mill
• WiFi Wart
• Direct Granules Extruder
• M4-Breadstick
• Flexible Circuit Wind Generator
• M5Stack Color Maker
• Automatic Ventilation System with CO2 Monitors
• CRYPTOiNK

We have updated the official rules for entries:

We have made a change to the entry requirements in the 2021 Hackaday Prize Official Rules to help ensure that more of your excellent projects will be judged during each entry round of the contest.

We found that some entries had published copious information about their projects, but did so in the details section of the page and hadn't published the minimum number of project logs needed to be included in the judging. The purpose of that requirement is to ensure in-depth information was included, but "How thoroughly documented were the design process & design decisions?" and "How complete is the project?" are already two of the judging criteria. For that reason we have removed the "7. Show at least four (4) Project Log updates on your Project Profile." requirement from all of the Challenge Rounds this year.

All finalists will still be required to publish at least 10 project logs or updates to be eligible for the big prizes. You can read through the complete contest rules by clicking the "Official Rules" button on the Prize section of the contest website.

Dream Team challenges represent an opportunity to join a three-person task force. If selected, you will be awarded two $3,000 grants to participate in a two-month long engineering sprint. Apply individually, or as a team. 

The Teams: 

The Byte

Apply by July 18th to join The Byte Team. 

The Byte was the 2020 Hackaday Prize winner, a hands free universal interface.  

Team Eja

Team Eja is returning to complete the next phase of development for their intelligent buoy.  Follow their journey here.

Here's your chance to ask a professional mentor the hard questions about your Hackaday Prize entry...

Let's get hacking! This year we've challenged you to take your Hackaday Prize entries to the next level, but we know prototyping isn't easy, especially in isolation. So we've created a space for you to ask one of our expert mentors questions about your entry. This is your opportunity to get one on one support and direct feedback, no matter what stage your project is in. The schedule will be updated every two weeks. Learn more about the mentors here. 

Space is limited so sign up today at: 

Mentor Sessions Sign Up Form

As part of our mentor sessions this year, we want your help finding the best and most inspiring individuals out there! Nominate yourself, or someone you know! 

Nominate a mentor here

Top 10 Finalists:

• eON Indoor Air Quality Sensor
• UV Glow-In-The-Dark Laser Displays
• Volumetric Display using Acoustically Trapped Ball
• Holographic Wavefront Cylindrical Display
• India Navi
• Infrared Mirror
• VVD: an open source Real 3D Volumetric Display
• EMOJO Mental Health Chatbot
• Stereo Ninja
• AR Glasses

Read more on Hackaday.com

Entry Period 7:01 a.m. P.D.T on May 18, 2021 - 07:00 a.m. P.D.T on June 14, 2021.

Finalists Announced 6/21

Experiment with new display technologies or refresh older ones to help people communicate better or more effectively.  

Whether it’s six feet or six miles apart, displays are how we express ourselves, communicate, and interact with the virtual world. For this first challenge, we want you to experiment with new display technologies, repurpose or refresh older ones, and redefine how displays connect us to the technology we know and love. Your designs for this challenge should repurpose display technologies to communicate with others more effectively. 

This could look like: 

• Leverage various technologies to create unique displays (LEDs, POV, e-Ink, etc.)
• Portable and low-power display solutions for the field
• New approaches to UI and visual communication 
• Create eye-friendly displays without the need for filters or glasses

Top 10 Finalists:

• LoRaLamp AIRQuality

• KEEP CLEAR
• Present! Availability sensing for Zoom meetings
• breadWare
• PCB for HandWired Keyboards
• Gesture/Pattern Recognition Without Camera : TOF !
• Making Work-From-Home Lighting Work-For-Me
• SOLAR DISPLAY CASE v2.0
• PnPAssist
• ThunderScope

Read more on Hackaday.com

Entry Period 7:01 a.m. P.D.T on June 14, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. P.D.T on July 19, 2021

Finalists Announced 7/26

Design tools or devices that make it easier to work from home, or help achieve a healthier work-life balance. 

We’ve all become experts at working from home, but with remote work sticking around into the future, how can we enrich and enhance our home offices or hackerspaces? For this challenge, we want to see solutions for ergonomics, for productivity, and anything else that transforms the concept of working from home. Your design should make it easier to work from home or achieve a healthier work-life balance. 

This could look like: 

• Open source options for ergonomic standing desks, workbenches, etc. 
• Productivity tools like timers or reminders to take breaks and stretch 
• Hacking chairs, lighting, keyboards, mice, etc. 

Top 10 Finalists:

• Thenar – portable and affordable Braille book

• Mini Pupper – First ROS,Open-source Robot Dog
• Capacitive Touch Button Computer Mouse Hack
• Rugged Solar Generator 2.5KW
• T.O.F. Wristband V2
• Eye-to-Speech Module
• PECS Communication Board
• Raspberry Pi Spectrometer
• BioAmp EXG Pill
• FlowIO Platform

Entry Period 7:01 a.m. P.D.T on July 19, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. P.D.T on August 23, 202

Finalists Announced 8/30

Create technology that acts as a better, more inclusive version of an existing device, or design beginner-friendly tech for aspiring engineers!

Many projects across the maker community begin life as the solution to a problem. How can we fill a gap in hardware? What would a modular version of that device look like? How can we bring more people into the fold through more accessible and entry-level projects? These are the questions this challenge seeks to answer. Your solution should make it easier for others to build electronics or make electronics devices more accessible; modular, hackable, or affordable. 

This could look like: 

• Modular versions of existing hardware concepts 
• Hacking hardware to be more user-friendly and inclusive to all types of mobility
• Creating beginner-friendly projects or jumping off points into STEM education

Top 10 Finalists:

• CM6

• Tardygrade
• My Machinery 2021
• Stack-chan – JavaScript-Driven Super-kawaii Robot
• Assistive Robotic Manipulator and 6-DoF controller
• Autonomous Litter Detection Robot w/ Edge Impulse
• UV Sanitizing Autonomous Robot
• FiberGrid Reloaded
• A Robot for Automating 3D Printers
• Robotics Ground Control Station

Read more on Hackaday.com

Entry Period 7:01 a.m. P.D.T on August 23, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. P.D.T on September 27, 2021

Finalists Announced 10/4

Rethink robotics with this challenge, utilizing hardware to create an assistant, a companion, or something else entirely! 

Whether it's a friendly digital face to keep you grounded, or a functional robotic arm to assist you in your projects, we want to see the droids and robots of the future! How can robotic companions or assistants help us thrive in this new normal? Your designs should utilize robotics in a unique way, as a personal assistant, a friendly companion, or something else entirely!  

This could look like: 

• Companion bots that provide motivation, positivity, or work-life balance reminders
• Collaborative (cobots) that assist with simple tasks like pick-and-place or other functions
• Robots that translate or otherwise transcribe spoken dictation 

Top 10 Finalists:

• MetaSense

• Ozirma – Near Infrared Spectrometer
• Minamil: Minimal CNC Mill
• WiFi Wart
• Direct Granules Extruder
• M4-Breadstick
• Flexible Circuit Wind Generator
• M5Stack Color Maker
• Automatic Ventilation System with CO2 Monitors
• CRYPTOiNK

Read more on Hackaday.com

Entry Period 7:01 a.m. P.D.T on September 27, 2021 - 07:00 a.m. P.D.T on October 27, 2021

Finalists Announced 11/1

Got an idea that doesn’t quite fit into our other challenges? 

The wildcard is for you! This is where anything goes, so show us how you plan to hack the new normal and build a better future! Your designs should stand apart from the other challenges, but still fit within the overall concept of the prize this year: to refresh or redefine the technologies we know and love in order to create a brighter future for all. 

This could look like: 

• A modular synth 
• An environmental sensing kit for small- scale farming 
• A countertop plastic recycling machine

The 2021 Hackaday Prize FAQ

How do I enter?

There is a drop down menu below your project image. Simply start a project and click the dropdown, from there you will see 2021 Hackaday Prize. You will only be able to enter the challenge that is open at the time you are submitting. 

What is considered an entry?

Put simply, you need an idea, an image, and documentation. To start, choose a challenge to address, or talk about a technology problem facing people today and your idea of what a solution might be and enter it to the Wildcard Challenge. 

From your documentation, others should be able to build what you're working on, and incorporate the best ideas into their own projects. To be eligible for judging you must have the entry round requirements completed by the close date of the challenge you are entering.

Those who need a little more inspiration will excel in any of the first four challenges. But everyone should enter the Wildcard Challenge too as it encourages you to plan well, working though problems before they become huge prototyping issues.

What are the 2021 Hackaday Prize Challenges? When do they start/end?

Choose to enter any of these five challenges. 

• Rethink Displays
• Refresh Work-From-Home Life
• Reimagine Supportive Tech
• Redefine Robots
• Reactivate Wildcard

How do I see which projects have already been entered?

Check out this full list of official entries.

How much of my Project Profile will I be judged upon?

All parts of your project will be judged. We recommend you start with a brief summary to provide an overall understanding of your project. From there, explain each part in detail, adding images and diagrams as needed. A video is only required for the final round, but if you want to make one to help walk through your project that is a great idea.

Where do I submit my prize project entry video?

On the Edit Project page add the link to your entry video in the Contest Entry Videos field and click save.

What does "open" actually mean?

Open refers to how much you have documented about your project and how much you will make available to the public when you push your project out into the world. Optimally, we would like to see open source drivers, hardware, and development tools; the final project would also be licensed as open source (using the wide range of licenses that are possible). This is a judging preference, so providing design files in a format that uses open source tools (and therefore allows others to easily use or modify them), will help you with the best chance of edging out your competition.

What are the judges using as criteria for who moves on to the final round?

You must complete the minimum entry requirements for the Challenge. Challenge entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• How effective of a solution is the entry to the challenge it is responding to?
• How thoroughly documented were the design process & design decisions?
• How ready is this design to be manufactured?
• How complete is the project?

What are the judges using as criteria to select the top ten winners?

Finalist entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Concept- Is the project creative, original, functional, and pushing boundaries? Does the project effectively address the selected challenge?
• Design- Is there a depth of design detail available (like a system design, CAD models, project test methods, etc.)? Is there base-level planning for the functionality (e.g., functional block diagram, list of specifications and descriptions of how they will be met, etc.)? How user-friendly is the design? 
• Production- Is the project realistically reproducible (taking into consideration necessary materials, skills, and production processes)? Are the manufacturing processes detailed? Are those processes realistic for scalability?
• Benchmark- How well is the project impact and viability demonstrated? Are estimated costs realistic? How well does the project improve upon other designs? 
• Communication- How thoroughly have the Final Round requirements been completed? How well documented is the project? How “open” is the design? Is the project reproducible (consider materials, skills, and processes) and could the work be extended for other uses?

I was a finalist in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020 can I enter the same project again?

If you won anything in a previous presentation of The Hackaday Prize that project is not eligible for entry in this Contest. You may enter with a substantially different project.

Can I re-enter my project from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020?

You can enter a previous Prize entry, but you must create a new project page and the project must be significantly different from when previously entered and show meaningful development during the course of the Contest.

I'm under 18, are there special rules around entering?

Yes, you must fill out a consent form and have a parent or guardian sign it. When you click on the dropdown under your project profile to enter the Prize, you'll get a screen with a link to download the consent form. Here is a link to the consent form.

Where can I see the Hackaday Prize 2021 entries?

Hackaday.io lists all of the Hackaday Prize 2021 projects entered.