News & Events

SofDCar Hackathon II

External Event

Be a part of Germany’s biggest publicly-funded R&D project for software-driven vehicles.

What can you expect?

The publicly funded SofDCar consortium brings together numerous automotive technology leaders and visionaries from industry and academia. In our second Hackathon, spanning 2 days, you have the opportunity to collaborate within a network of developers, product owners, UX experts, and researchers to define answers to the challenges posed by new generations of vehicles and to prototype these solutions. 

SofDCar Hackathon II will take place from November 10th to November 11th 2023, at Arena2036 in Stuttgart. Here, alongside experts from project partners, you can work on a variety of use cases and challenges, developing innovative solutions. These will be presented as prototypes by the assembled developer crew at the conclusion of the event. 

What else can you find here?  

Of course, a lot of fun! Furthermore, you not only have the opportunity to test your own skills in competition with other teams but also to expand your network and engage in direct discussions with experts from both industry and academia on current topics related to the software-defined vehicle. 

On Saturday, we also provide you with a direct point of contact with the respective HR representatives of partner companies and institutes through the “SofDCar Marketplace.” 

Who should participate?

We are looking forward to the participation of young and experienced developers from the fields of computer science / business informatics – in addition, we are also open to all participants from other disciplines. 

Are you in?

You want to participate in the SofDCar Hackathon II? Then apply right here for your free participation …  

Your ticket includes

  • Participation in the Hackathon (2-day ticket) 
  • Catering  
  • Participation in the partner marketplace  
  • Pitches in the auditorium 

You can gain experience and improve your skills in the following topics: 

P3 digital services GmbH 

The integration of vehicle functions into the Android Automotive OS and the cross-system interaction of hardware, CANBUS and operating system, such as the control of comfort systems (air conditioning, seat adjustment) via voice control, form one of the central challenges in the Software-Defined-Vehicle.

Your tasks are the integration of the Android Automotive OS HMI app with a massage seat in the car as well as the voice integration to control selected seat functions.

Who is a good fit for this challenge?

  • You have good to excellent programming skills in Kotlin & Java or C/C++ or JS / Dialog Flow
  • You are interested in vehicles and vehicle informatics and have a desire to help shape the HMI of the future
  • Ideally you have worked with technologies like PEAK (PCAN), CANoe or ANDROID Studio before

 

Experience level: beginner - advanced

Join our team - we are looking forward to you!

Mercedes-Benz AG & Robert Bosch GmbH & ETAS GmbH 

Your team is to develop a welcome scenario including logic so that passengers are greeted depending on the situation when approaching a vehicle. For this purpose, various sensors and actuators in the vehicle will be controlled in order to implement diverse greeting scenarios.

Who would be a good fit for this challenge?

  • You have first knowledge in Python
  • You can use and integrate a framework and have design skills as well as a creative streak
  • Logical thinking, an "end-to-end view" as well as abstraction skills characterize you

 

Experience level: Intermediate - Advanced

Join our team - we are looking forward to you!

Robert Bosch GmbH & University of Stuttgart 

The team is implementing a maneuvering algorithm to find a parking space and park a 1:10 scale vehicle on the intelligent floor.

There are two groups, and you can join one based on your knowledge and interests (each group has its own challenges):

- Hardware-independent, open interface standards (e.g., Eclipse KUKSA, OpenCV)
- Hardware-specific open-source software (e.g., NVIDIA JetRacer)

Who would be a good fit for this challenge?

  • You are motivated to develop applications in the context of software-defined vehicles.
  • You are creative and enjoy software development and architecture modeling.
  • Ideally, you have some experience in control theory.

Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced

Join our team – we look forward to having you!

University of Stuttgart 

Due to the increased use of software in vehicles, the implementation of Over-the-Air (OTA) updates is becoming increasingly important. Vehicle software can be updated at any time from anywhere without the need to bring the vehicle to a workshop. Distributing updates to an entire fleet of vehicles imposes varying network loads, hence different strategies need to be explored.

In the standard scenario, the team is tasked with building a prototype in the Arena2036 consisting of 5G clients and servers, as well as conducting 5G measurements for various OTA strategies. The extension of the prototype focuses on implementing Edge Cache and moving the server into the cloud backend.

Who would be a good fit for this challenge?

  • You have good to very good programming skills in Java.
  • You are motivated to gain hands-on experience with OTA updates, 5G technologies, performance measurements, etc.
  • You have basic knowledge in Git, SSH, Shell/Bash, microcontrollers like Raspberry Pis, cloud/edge computing concepts, and web development (REST, JSON, networking).

Experience Level: Intermediate

Join our team – we look forward to having you!

University of Stuttgart & Karlsruhe Institute of Technology 

Your team works with a decentralized ride-pooling platform that focuses on privacy aspects. Ride pooling provides the ability to book rides, similar to a cab service. Rides are pooled to reduce costs and trips. As a team, you have the task of developing a visualization of the available data as a web app.

Who would be a good fit for this challenge?

  • You have basic knowledge in programming
  • You are passionate about web development and want to create a graphical visualization and graphical interface
  • You find map data and services exciting and are interested in data privacy, blockchain as well as decentralized systems

 

Experience level: beginner + intermediate

Join our team - we are looking forward to you!

What exciting topics await you?

Why you should be there?

  • Develop your prototype and innovative solutions for real use cases 
  • Present your ideas to the experts and project managers of our partners 
  • Get inspired by the other teams and experts 
  • Discuss with developers & experts from industry and science in a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere  
  • Participate in the marketplace and use the direct line to the HR departments of our partners 
  • Expand your personal network to make new contacts with other students 
  • Have fun and learn new things! 

The schedule

Friday – 10.11.2023

12:00 | Participant registration 

13:00 | Opening 

13:30 | Pitches of the challenges & team building 

22:00 | Closing Hack-Space 

Saturday – 11.11.2023 

08:00 | Opening Hack-Space

09:00 | Marketplace of consortium partners 

19:00 | Pitches of the results 

21:00+ | Networking  

Location:

ARENA2036 e.V. 

Pfaffenwaldring 19 

70569 Stuttgart 

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SofDCar Hackathon II

External Event

Be a part of Germany’s biggest publicly-funded R&D project for software-driven vehicles.

What can you expect?

The publicly funded SofDCar consortium brings together numerous automotive technology leaders and visionaries from industry and academia. In our second Hackathon, spanning 2 days, you have the opportunity to collaborate within a network of developers, product owners, UX experts, and researchers to define answers to the challenges posed by new generations of vehicles and to prototype these solutions. 

SofDCar Hackathon II will take place from November 10th to November 11th 2023, at Arena2036 in Stuttgart. Here, alongside experts from project partners, you can work on a variety of use cases and challenges, developing innovative solutions. These will be presented as prototypes by the assembled developer crew at the conclusion of the event. 

What else can you find here?  

Of course, a lot of fun! Furthermore, you not only have the opportunity to test your own skills in competition with other teams but also to expand your network and engage in direct discussions with experts from both industry and academia on current topics related to the software-defined vehicle. 

On Saturday, we also provide you with a direct point of contact with the respective HR representatives of partner companies and institutes through the “SofDCar Marketplace.” 

Who should participate?

We are looking forward to the participation of young and experienced developers from the fields of computer science / business informatics – in addition, we are also open to all participants from other disciplines. 

You can gain experience and improve your skills in the following topics: 

  • Design & coding of frontend & backend solutions around real use cases of software-defined car 
  • Advanced data analytics / machine learning 
  • Development of new user experiences  
  • Application of different programming languages (Python, …) 
  • Creation of a proof of concept (PoC) for real use cases / demonstrators (e.g. vehicles) 
  • Pitch presentation in front of a large auditorium of subject matter experts from industry & science 

Are you in?

You want to participate in the SofDCar Hackathon II? Then apply right here for your free participation …  

Your ticket includes: 

  • Participation in the Hackathon (2-day ticket) 
  • Catering  
  • Participation in the partner marketplace  
  • Pitches in the auditorium 

Why you should be there?

  • Develop your prototype and innovative solutions for real use cases 
  • Present your ideas to the experts and project managers of our partners 
  • Get inspired by the other teams and experts 
  • Discuss with developers & experts from industry and science in a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere  
  • Participate in the marketplace and use the direct line to the HR departments of our partners 
  • Expand your personal network to make new contacts with other students 
  • Have fun and learn new things! 

The schedule

Tuesday – 10.11.2023

12:00 | Participant registration 

13:00 | Opening 

13:30 | Pitches of the challenges & team building 

22:00 | Closing Hack-Space 

Wednesday – 11.11.2023 

08:00 | Opening Hack-Space

09:00 | Marketplace of consortium partners 

19:00 | Pitches of the results 

21:00+ | Networking  

Location:

ARENA2036 e.V. 

Pfaffenwaldring 19 

70569 Stuttgart 

Teilen:

Erkunde mehr:

Associated Partner

e-mobil BW GmbH is the central innovation agency of the State of Baden-Württemberg for New Mobility Solutions and Automotive. Working in a network with partners from industry, science and the public sector, e-mobil BW is shaping the change to automated, connected and electric mobility in a sustainable energy system. e-mobil BW drives the industrialization, market launch and application of sustainable, climate-friendly and locally emission-free mobility solutions in Baden-Württemberg.

Commitment in the consortium

e-mobil BW GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of the State of Baden-Württemberg. As an associated partner, the State Agency for New Mobility Solutions and Automotive, e-mobil BW, supports the consortium on the topics of public relations, knowledge transfer and dissemination of the knowledge gained. Available for this purpose are networks such as the Cluster Electric Mobility South-West and platforms such as Transformationswissen BW, an information centre for medium-sized companies from the supplier industry and the automotive industry in Baden-Württemberg.

Research Partner

The FZI Research Center for Information Technology is a non-profit institution for applied research in information technology and technology transfer. Its task is to provide businesses and public institutions with the latest research findings in information technology. It also qualifies young researchers for their career in academics or business as well as self-employment. Research teams (https://www.fzi.de/en/about-us/organisation/research-divisions/ ) at the FZI interdisciplinarily develop and prototype concepts, software, hardware and system solutions for their clients.

Commitment in the consortium

The FZI Research Center for Information Technology conducts application and industry-oriented research in a wide range of relevant topics. In the field of mobility, the focus is on autonomous vehicles, electric mobility, intermodal and networked mobility, and the development and safeguarding of future vehicle systems through novel processes and methods.

Research Partner

As a technical university of excellence, KIT considers itself as the “research university in the Helmholtz Association”. With its focus on engineering sciences, KIT contributes significantly to the research fields of mobility and information. The “KIT Mobility Systems Center” combines the extensive competences from informatics and electrical engineering into an interdisciplinary research concept. As part of the “InnovationCampus Future Mobility”, KIT forms an on-topic research alliance with the University of Stuttgart.

Commitment in the consortium

KIT provides the consortium partners with scientifically sound and highly innovative key competencies in the field of software-intensive mobility systems. This competence is based on a large number of competition-relevant research results and is rounded off by a forward-looking range of curricula. KIT’s participation in the project aims at a knowledge transfer of development methods and quality assurance approaches to the automotive industry. For this purpose, a network of five different sub-institutes with complementary research focuses was formed, consisting of the Institute of Information Security and Dependability (KASTEL), the Institute of Applied Informatics and Formal Description Methods (AIFB), the Institute of Product Engineering (IPEK), the Institute for Information Processing Technologies (ITIV), and the Institute of Theoretical Informatics (ITI).

Research Partner

The University of Stuttgart is one of the leading technically oriented universities in Germany with global significance. It sees itself as a center of university-based, non-university, and industrial research. Furthermore, it takes a role as a guarantor of research-based teaching, focused on quality and holism. The university promotes the transfer of knowledge and technologies to society in all their profile- and competence areas as well as their emerging fields. The „Stuttgarter Weg” (Stuttgart Way) means an interdisciplinary integration of engineering, natural sciences, humanities, management, economics and social sciences based on the fundamentals of cutting-edge research at a disciplinary level. Our vision is “Intelligent systems for a sustainable society”.

Commitment in the consortium

The University of Stuttgart, which is ranked as the highest in Germany with respect to third-party funds, has extensive experience in collaborating with industrial partners – also and especially from the automotive industry. The following institutes are involved in the SofDCar project: Institute for Industrial Automation and Software Engineering (IAS), Institute for Architecture of Application Systems (IAAS), Institute for Automotive Engineering Stuttgart (IFS), Institute for Parallel and Distributed Systems (IPVS), Institute for Software Engineering (ISTE), and Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW).

Industry Partner

BooleWorks is a young, Munich based, company that specialises in applying mathematical logic to the automotive industry. The team at BooleWorks develops algorithms and methods for variant and complexity management. The resulting software helps customers to control, analyse, and visualise the enormous variability of their products. BooleWorks’ open source logic library LogicNG is integrated into companies’ central services and is used in configurator backends millions of times each day.

Commitment in the consortium

Within the consortium BooleWorks focuses on two major tasks: The first is to adapt the open source logic library LogicNG so that it can be applied within vehicles themselves. Therefore, in addition to the current Java version, the library will be reimplemented in a machine-oriented language like Rust or Go. For usage in containerised environments, service layers will be specified and implemented. The second is to extend existing algorithms for complexity management and verification of large variances from pure hardware verification to software verification. Use cases within OTA variant management and software update management are of particular interest. Integrating these algorithms into model-based description frameworks like TOSCA is also planned.

Industriepartner

Vector ist der kompetente Partner für die Entwicklung von Elektronik im Automobil. An 31 Standorten weltweit unterstützen über 3.000 Mitarbeitende, Hersteller und Zulieferer der Automobilindustrie und verwandter Branchen mit einer professionellen Plattform aus Werkzeugen, Softwarekomponenten und Dienstleistungen zur Entwicklung von eingebetteten Systemen. Angetrieben von unserer Leidenschaft für Technik entwickeln wir Lösungen, die Softwareentwickler:innen bei ihren anspruchsvollen Aufgaben entlasten.

Das Engagement im Konsortium

Mit der Entwicklung einer Ausführungsplattform will Vector die Vernetzung der Funktionsanteile im Fahrzeug möglichst transparent ins Backend, also in die Cloud erweitern. Der Entwickler einer Fahrzeugfunktion soll neben den Softwarekomponenten im Fahrzeug auch Komponenten in der Cloud entwickeln, ausführen und vernetzen können. Heißt konkret: Zukünftig muss die Elektronik im Auto nicht mehr alle Aufgaben übernehmen, sondern einen Teil übernimmt die Cloud. Außerdem beteiligt sich Vector an der Entwicklung einer Werkzeuglösung zur Verwaltung variantenreicher Software. Denn klassische Automobil-Software variiert sowohl mit den Produktvarianten als auch über die Lebensdauer des Fahrzeugs. Um Wartung und Fehlerkorrekturen jedoch langfristig sicherstellen zu können, braucht es eine zentral gepflegte Softwareplattform als eigene Softwareproduktlinie.

Industry partner

Vector is the competent partner for the development of automotive electronics. More than 3,000 employees at 31 locations worldwide support manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive industry and related sectors with a professional platform of tools, software components and services for the development of embedded systems. Driven by our passion for technology we develop solutions which relieve software developers of their demanding tasks.

Commitment in the consortium

In developing an execution platform, Vector wants to extend the networking of the functional parts in the vehicle as transparently as possible to the back end, i.e. to the cloud. In addition to the software components in the vehicle, the developer of a vehicle function should also be able to develop, execute and network components in the cloud. In concrete terms, this means that in the future, the electronics in the car will no longer have to take on all the tasks; instead, the cloud will take on some of them. Additionally, Vector supports the development of a tool solution for managing software with many variants. This is because classic automotive software varies both with the product variants and over the lifetime of the vehicle. However, in order to be able to ensure maintenance and error corrections in the long term, a centrally maintained software platform is needed as a separate software product line.

Industry Partner

P3 digital services supports its customers holistically in the digital transformation. The spectrum of services ranges from digitalisation strategy and consulting (architecture & technology, cloud, DevOps, process automation, embedded and cyber security) to software development and the operation of applications and IT solutions. For and with its customers, P3 develops future-proof solutions in the field of connected, electrified and autonomous mobility, such as innovative infotainment solutions, connected services, charging solutions, IoT and automation solutions.

Commitment in the consortium

P3’s strengths in relation to this project lie primarily in the areas of automation and virtualisation in product development, product and process conformity with regard to software updates and cyber security, as well as innovative, connected infotainment and service solutions. P3 is a leading consultancy and development partner for the automotive industry and in this capacity drives digitalisation across the entire vehicle lifecycle.

Industry Partner

ETAS‘ portfolio includes vehicle basic software, middleware, and development tools for the realization of software-defined vehicles. Our product solutions and services enable vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to develop and operate them with increased efficiency. Holistic cybersecurity solutions in the automotive sector are offered via the ESCRYPT brand.

Commitment in the consortium

For this development paradigm, ETAS GmbH offers software developers of deeply embedded ECUs a broad portfolio of products. This ranges from real-time operating systems and AUTOSAR middleware solutions to model-based development tools, prototyping tools, and verification and validation tools. ETAS is currently aligning its product portfolio to close the gap between conventional deeply embedded automotive tools and non-automotive, IT-based development tools, especially those that the automotive sector has special requirements for, such as functional safety, extended product life cycles, and the resulting security requirements.

Industry partner

Bosch is a global industrial enterprise. Some 401.300 associates work in its Mobility Solutions (58% share of sales), Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology business sectors.

As part of the Mobility Solutions business sector, the Powertrain Solutions division and its Software-defined Vehicle business unit are developing connectivity platforms for in-vehicle use and cloud-based backend solutions. In order to offer an integrated onboard and offboard portfolio from a single source, they will be working together more closely with the Bosch subsidiary ETAS in 2022.

At Bosch, IOT technology services are offered by specialist subsidiaries.

Commitment in the consortium

In recent years, Bosch has developed a variety of connected services for vehicles and offers a wide portfolio for automakers and mobility service providers. The portfolio includes software for control units and in-vehicle computers, connectivity software for telematic units, vehicle-specific cloud solutions for software management, and a variety of domain-specific digital services in the areas of recharging, parking, navigation, and fleet management.

Today Bosch is cooperating with many partners on open source solutions in this field. For further information please visit the Software-defined Vehicle working group of the Eclipse Foundation.