COAX team took 2nd place at the CASSINI Hackathon

Hey, did you hear the news? The COAX team just took second place at the recent CASSINI Hackathon. This is a huge accomplishment! We couldn't be prouder of our team's hard work and innovative thinking.

But let's back up a bit — what exactly is the CASSINI Hackathon, you ask? Well, it's part of the European Commission's CASSINI Space Entrepreneurship Initiative, supporting entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs in the space industry. The CASSINI Hackathons are competitions that challenge participants to come up with creative solutions using space data and technology.

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Data intelligence is the future of space tech

The CASSINI Hackathon is a superstar initiative by the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA), designed to empower innovative entrepreneurs and startups in the space technology ecosystem. This competition targets security-critical technologies that can make a tangible difference in challenging environments.

And when we say space tech, it’s much more than that. The EU Space market is rapidly growing, with GNSS and Earth Observation (EO) transforming a wide range of sectors through satellite communications, advanced machine learning and AI technologies:

• Agriculture — EO for crop monitoring, GNSS for precision farming and automation.
• Aviation & Drones — GNSS for efficient flights, EO for weather monitoring.
• Climate & Environment — EO for climate modeling, GNSS for forest management.
• Consumer Solutions — GNSS for fitness tracking, EO for air quality monitoring.
• Emergency Response — Copernicus, Galileo, and GOVSATCOM for crisis management.
• Energy & Mining — GNSS for monitoring, EO for resource identification.
• Maritime — EO for ocean monitoring, GNSS for vessel tracking and navigation.
• Transportation — GNSS for traffic management, EO for infrastructure planning.
• Urban Development — EO for urban planning, GNSS for cultural heritage preservation.

This year’s hackathon was dedicated to security issues utilizing space technologies. As a company deeply committed to supporting the Ukrainian Army through our dedicated Help Fund and the Rehabilitation Center we created, we see this as more than a competition – it's a mission to develop technologies that protect lives and infrastructure. How exactly did the Hackathon go, and what was the challenge?

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The challenge: Implementing data intelligence technologies

Over the weekend, the team went from an idea to a real product and successfully presented the system for analyzing and collecting intelligence data. The competition was fierce, with 12 talented teams battling it out — many of them seasoned experts and returning champions of this event.

Participants worked with tools like Copernicus Earth observation data, Galileo satellite navigation, and emerging technologies. The process involves three main stages:

1. Identify the challenge: Participants must determine the social, commercial, or environmental problem they aim to address.
2. Propose solutions using space technologies: Participants can leverage satellite navigation (Galileo), Earth observation (Copernicus), satellite communications, and space surveillance and tracking to create their solutions.‍
3. Apply to the tracks and win prizes: Participants submit their ideas, prototypes, or ready-to-market products to compete in the different tracks of the hackathon, with prizes awarded for the top submissions.

The key aspects of the hackathon focus on using data intelligence, machine learning, and artificial intelligence analytics to drive innovation and address real-world challenges. Participants had the chance to test their skills and launch new ventures in the space industry.

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The solution: ML video analysis for military and civil monitoring

Our team of software engineers included Volodymyr Senko, Danylo Ispaniuk, Oleksandr Kondratiev, and UI/UI designer Oleksandr Dukhnevych. All members are Middle and Senior IT experts with backgrounds in various commercial projects. So, what did they present? We’re impressed with their solution ourselves, and we want to share it with you.

They didn’t just show up to the hackathon — they went all in, grabbing the latest data intelligence technologies by the horns. Using advanced data integration and analytics, they uncovered fresh insights and opportunities in the space sector. The resulting solution, Vidar Sense, is designed to elevate military decision-making with next-level technology.

So, how does it work? The ML video analysis system Vidar Sense performs real-time object detection and classification. This system operates independently on local servers, ensuring data security and eliminating reliance on centralized infrastructure, while the machine learning model trained on real-life data shows great precision.

Compared to real-time object detection technology solutions available on the market, Vidar stands out as the most comprehensive solution, offering features like ML video analysis, automatic mapping, and decentralized data storage. While Kropyva and Delta functionality is limited to military applications, Vidar covers both military and civilian use cases, demonstrating advanced technical capabilities and versatility. 

By leveraging data integration in business intelligence, Vidar opens the door to multiple sector applications, as it combines data from various sources like satellite imagery, field reports, and video feeds into a cohesive framework for analysis.

Our team's innovative approach to space data and machine learning model training perfectly shows our expertise in developing effective and robust ML solutions. We provide artificial intelligence development services beyond a single industry or use case. Whether you operate in travel, retail, healthcare, security, agriculture, automotive, media, or other sector, we know how to get the most out of your data. 

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How COAX fosters problem-solving mindset

At COAX, we have a great deal of experience and inspiration to tackle any challenge of yours.  With technology consulting, we open new horizons for your business transformation. And our product discovery services and MVP development ensure your ideas are turned into functional, scalable solutions tailored to your goals. From strategy to execution, we’re here to guide you every step of the way, helping you innovate, grow, and stay ahead of competitors.

It all comes from our dynamic work culture that nurtures problem-solving skills. We're critical thinkers who love diving deep into data intelligence. COAXers are constantly pushing boundaries, whether we're exploring future space technology or figuring out new data intelligence use cases. In our work, we use ML model architecture methodologies that push the boundaries of artificial intelligence data analytics. We don't just implement tech, we craft systems that extract meaningful insights from complex datasets. 

When hiring Middle and Senior engineers, we conduct System Design Interviews that put candidates through real-world project simulations. This helps us reveal their problem-solving abilities and demonstrate how they tackle not only technical but also business and communication challenges. We developed 15 tasks that help us understand candidates' thinking processes. Do they grasp the business context, and do they justify their choices?

This way, we only hire engineers able to see the big picture and ready for real challenges. It's less about having a perfect solution and more about demonstrating strategic thinking, adaptability, and the ability to convert complex concepts into simple language. 

So here’s our mix — deep technical knowledge, a culture of constant learning, and a passion for innovative design. We are grateful for this opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to creating meaningful, impactful solutions using machine learning and data intelligence tools.