Champion, IoT and Hardware Mode, BUBT Brainstorming Week

It was back in 2024 when I was taking the Internet of Things course under Md. Anwar Hussen Wadud sir, with Diganta sir as the teaching assistant. As part of the course, we had to form a group for a lab project. I teamed up with one of my closest friends, Samier Uddin Ahmmad Shovo. He was a genius and insanely hardworking, while I was more of a regular programmer and problem solver back then. Together, it felt like a solid combo.

But here is the funny part. Even after almost two months into the semester, we had absolutely no clear idea what to build. Our regular lab projects were confusing, and nothing felt exciting enough.

One afternoon, while casually roaming around the Botanical Garden at Mirpur, inspiration finally struck. We came up with an idea that was honestly a pain in the ass, but also genuinely exciting.

The Original Idea

Our goal was to develop a system that could

• Use ultrasonic sensors to detect surroundings
• Generate a visual map from ultrasonic data
• Work without any camera, reducing cost significantly

In simple words, mapping the surrounding world without seeing it.

We took the idea to Diganta sir. He was honest and told us how difficult it would be, but instead of discouraging us, he inspired us. He told us to go ahead with whatever we wanted, suggested materials, and promised help whenever we needed it.

So we jumped in.

The Twist

Midway through the semester, BUBT announced a Brainstorming Week. Participation was mandatory. We registered, while continuing our ultrasonic mapping project in parallel.

But deadlines are ruthless.

Considering the limited time, Diganta sir suggested pivoting to something more feasible. After struggling to find an easy alternative, he suggested working with Raspberry Pi and encouraged us to explore TinyML.

That suggestion changed everything.

Under the supervision of Diganta sir and Wadud sir, we started fresh. We worked relentlessly.

• Shovo shaped the entire project from the ground up
• I helped as much as I could with my limited hardware knowledge

Eventually, we built something. It worked. It was real. It looked... questionable.

The Showcase Day

On the final showcase day, our project looked ugly compared to others.

• Glue was leaking
• The webcam occasionally fell off
• No decorations or polish

But inside that messy hardware lived beautifully written code.

When we presented it to the Vice Chancellor and the guest judges, they inspected everything closely. We were mentally prepared to lose. We honestly believed looks would outweigh logic.

The Moment

On the day of the final result, Diganta sir called us.

He said,

"You guys did it. You won."

We thought he was joking. There was no way that project could win. But he was serious.

He asked us to meet him in person. We did. He treated us with amazing food and congratulated us warmly.

And then it hit us.

It Was Real

We actually won.

That moment taught me something I will never forget. Good ideas, honest effort, and solid engineering always matter more than shiny looks.

I am truly grateful to

• Diganta sir for his constant guidance and belief
• Wadud sir for his support
• Shovo, my teammate and brother in struggle

This project was not just a win. It was a memory, a lesson, and a milestone.

And honestly, I will always smile when I think about it.