We are thrilled to share that KokkoNav, a team from Vaasa, secured the second place at the Czechia’s CASSINI Hackathon. The competition was held 22-24 November simultaneously across multiple locations in Europe, including Prague, Czech Republic, where KokkoNav took part on-site.
Meet Team KokkoNav
Members of KokkoNav include Muhammad Safi, Mudassir Usmani, and Hasan Ali, who all are master’s students at the University of Vaasa. Safi studies Sustainable and Autonomous Systems, Usmani Smart Energy and Ali Industrial Systems Analytics and Management.
Previous Success at NASA Space Apps
This isn’t the first time members of KokkoNav have tasted success. All of the team members who participated in the CASSINI Hackathon were also part of the winning team at the Nasa Space Apps Challenge Vaasa event, where the team not only claimed first place but was also appointed as one of the global nominees. Although the full Nasa Space Apps team didn’t participate in 8th CASSINI Hackathon, those who did brought the same exceptional skill and innovative spirit that secured their earlier victory.
About the CASSINI Hackathon
Organized by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), the CASSINI Hackathon challenged participants to develop groundbreaking solutions using EU space technologies like Galileo, Copernicus, and Govsatcom. Local prize for the second place, which KokkoNav won, was 1000 euros and six months of mentoring at the ESA Business Incubator.
Participants could choose from three challenges:
- Enhancing defense & security with geospatial intelligence
- Unmanned drone application for defense & security operations
- Orbital security: navigating the collision frontier
KokkoNav selected the second challenge, as they had prior knowledge on UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).
The team members had been mentored by West Coast Startup before heading to Prague.
KokkoNav’s Journey at the CASSINI Hackathon
Muhammad Safi from the team kindly shared insights into their experience, project, and future aspirations:
1. What inspired you to participate in the CASSINI Hackathon, and how did your previous hackathon experience help you prepare?
We are passionate about space and aviation technologies, with all of us having backgrounds related to these fields. After winning the local NASA Space Challenge, we felt ready to take on a new challenge, and the CASSINI Hackathon provided the perfect platform to showcase our skills. Our previous hackathon experience helped us improve our time management, focus more on visualizations, and deliver a clearer, more impactful pitch.
2. Which challenge did you choose and why?
We chose the second challenge, Unmanned Drone Applications for Defense & Security Operations. The primary reason was that all our team members have relevant backgrounds in UAVs, whether in technical expertise or business insights. We had a clear vision for what to showcase during the hackathon. Additionally, drones represent a growing market with significant business potential, and we believe our idea could translate into strong commercial opportunities.
3. Can you describe your project? What problem does your solution address, and why is it important?
Our project addresses GNSS interference, particularly GNSS spoofing, which drones frequently encounter. We developed an autonomous UAV solution capable of operating in GNSS-denied environments. Our system not only detects GNSS spoofing but also mitigates it in real time, sharing corrected telemetry with nearby friendly drones.
This solution is critical because GNSS spoofing has caused significant losses in the defence sector, especially during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. By safeguarding UAVs from interference, our system reduces costs, ensures mission success, and extends usability to both military and commercial applications across various environments.
4. Which EU Space technologies did you use in your project, and how did they enhance your project?
We used Copernicus Sentinel maps for our project. These maps provide a wide range of data, from true-color images to mosaics and cloud-inclusive maps, making them ideal for our application. In the future, as we advance our project into a tangible product, we plan to integrate ESA WorldView-2 or WorldView-3 satellite imagery for higher resolution and enhanced performance.
5. What roles did each team member play?
Muhammad Safi and Mudassir Usmani handled the technical aspects, ensuring the functionality of our solution. Hasan Ali focused on the business side, conducting market research and identifying potential customers to evaluate the project’s commercial viability.
6. What are the next steps for your project? Do you plan to develop the idea further or seek funding for implementation?
Our next steps include testing the project to gain practical insights. We aim to transform it into a fully functional product and actively seek funding for implementation. Specifically, we need resources to acquire a drone for data collection and testing, as we currently lack this essential hardware.
7. Any advice for other teams considering joining future hackathons?
Our best advice is to maintain a clear and calm mindset throughout the hackathon. Success often depends on how effectively you present your idea within the limited time available. While technical aspects are vital, equal focus should be given to business elements and visualizing your solution during the pitch. Remember, not all judges have technical backgrounds, so impressing the business-oriented judges can make a significant difference.