Excited to join in with Axelera AI’s new project challenge, but have a few questions before you get building? This FAQ might help, and feel free to join the group and post any other questions in the comments. 🖖
Pioneer 10: Smarter Spaces Project Challenge FAQ
Q: Is the Project Kit free?
🟢 Yes! If your project pitch is selected, you’ll receive a full Project Kit at no cost. And you keep it upon completion of your project, too.
Q: Can we apply as a team?
👥 Absolutely—teams are welcome. Just note that each selected project will receive one kit, so you’ll need to share it.
Q: What kind of projects can I pitch?
🔧 Anything that uses the Axelera AI Metis M.2 and Orange Pi 5 Plus host system and integrates edge AI/computer vision into the places we live, work, or visit. This can be any kind of location, as long as it can clearly be defined as being a specific location. For example, a workshop, garden, office, hospital, park or house. A “street” might be too vague and lack boundaries that make it a “space”, but a driveway or parking space that does have clear boundaries would work.
Q: Does it have to perform some kind of real-world action after detection?
Actually, no. This isn’t like the Recognize & React project challenge we previously ran. If you have a unique and creative use case for location-based offline computer vision that is just about object detection, that’s fine. If it performs some kind of action upon detection - even if it’s just a phone notification - that’s even better! But either way you need to get creative and innovative.
Q: Do I have to use the entire kit?
🧩 Not at all. Use what’s relevant to your idea. We’ve packed in a mix of equipment so you can go big—but you must use the Metis M.2 and Orange Pi 5 Plus host system in your project.
Q: Can I add my own hardware or software?
💡 Absolutely. Add anything you like—sensors, screens, code libraries, even LEGO. Just make sure the Metis and Orange Pi devices stay at the core of your project.
Q: Does this have to work offline?
Yes, this is all about edge AI, which means it should work even without an internet connection or cloud services. That being said, we’re including a WiFi router… so we’re not saying it has to be wired. It can use local wireless communication (such as camera feeds), and it can connect to the internet for extra features, but it must be alble to operate fully while offline.
Q: How old do I have to be to apply?
🎓 Anyone can apply. If you’re under 18, we may need parental/guardian consent before we can ship you the kit, if your project is selected to go forward.
Q: How will projects be selected?
📋 Our internal team will choose based on creativity, feasibility, and potential impact. Be realistic—we expect you to build what you pitch, so you’ve a better chance with a good but practical project than you have with a brilliantly ambitious one that probably won’t get finished.
Q: What if I can’t finish my project?
⚠️ You’re committing to follow through. If you can’t deliver without a valid reason, we may ask you to return the kit. Make sure to read the full terms before applying.
Q: Do I need to train my own AI model?
🧠 Nope. We provide ready-to-go options in the Axelera AI model zoo that can recognise everyday objects. You can expand it if you want, but it’s not required.
Q: How long do I have to build my project?
📆 You’ll get around 8 weeks to build and document your project. We’ll ask for progress updates that you can post right here in the community.
Q: What do I submit at the end?
🎥 To get into the finals, we’ll need to see your project in glorious operation. So whatever you need to do in order to show it doing everything clearly. That will probably work best as a short demo video, but also need a written project summary, and any code (GitHub, etc.). A good project demo is one that will help other people to do what you’ve done, and the grand prizes will be based around that.
Ready to join in? Head over here!