Hackathon Spotlight: Student-Built Jet Engine Learning Kit & Autonomous Rover M.A.T.E.

When curiosity meets hands-on learning, magic happens. In this spotlight, our young innovators tackled two ambitious builds—an ESP32-powered Jet Engine Learning Kit with live telemetry, and a fully autonomous lunar exploration Rover M.A.T.E. From CAD and simulation to soldering, coding, and 3D printing, here’s the story of how they turned big ideas into working prototypes.

Project 1: Hackathon – How Students Built a Jet Engine Learning Kit

When curiosity meets hands-on learning, magic happens — and our latest hackathon proved it! This time, our young innovators — Shreevallabh, Nidhish, and Burhanuddin — didn’t just study jet engines… they built one — right from scratch, as a fully working Jet Engine Learning Kit.

It all began with electronics testing. Before even thinking about the turbine’s body, the team wired up an ESP32 microcontroller — the brain of the engine — to create a live dashboard. This dashboard displayed real-time engine stats: the temperature of the engine, and the RPM of the motor driving the turbine, a fire detection alert.

They added a manual lever control, so the speed of the motor could be adjusted just like a real throttle. Alongside that, a tiny OLED display was mounted directly on the engine to show on-the-spot readings — no laptop needed. This gave the kit a truly “engineering lab” feel.

Once the electronics were ready, the students moved to CAD design. Every part — from fan blades to the main casing — was modeled with precision. This wasn’t just about shapes; they had to understand how airflow, pressure, and rotation work together in a real turbine.

Next came simulation — running virtual tests to see how air would flow, whether the blades would be balanced, and how much thrust the motor could generate. It was here they learned the golden rule of engineering: Test before you build — and fix before it fails.

Finally, their designs came to life through 3D printing. Each part emerged from the printer, ready to be assembled like a high-tech puzzle. The moment they powered it on, the jet engine whirred to life — the OLED screen lit up with stats, the dashboard updated in real time, and the throttle lever brought the turbine to roaring speed.

The result? A fully functional Jet Engine Learning Kit that not only looked like the real thing but also behaved like one, giving anyone the chance to learn how turbines work — without needing an actual airport runway.

From wiring up sensors to modeling blades, from simulation to first spin, Shreevallabh, Nidhish, and Burhanuddin proved that when young minds get the right tools, they can turn complex engineering into hands-on reality.

What’s next? Maybe a supersonic upgrade. Or maybe… a rocket.

Project 2: Journey to the Moon — The Story of Rover M.A.T.E.

In our LAB, dreams don’t just stay dreams—they turn into projects that inspire. Among these creations stands a special achievement: a Full Autonomous Moon Exploration Rover designed and built by our young innovators Alabhyaa, Eklavya, and Mufaddal.

Why a Rover?

The Moon has always been a symbol of curiosity and wonder. For centuries, humans have looked up at it, imagining what lies beyond. Our kids, too, share that curiosity. When discussing projects, they asked, “What if we could send our own rover to explore the Moon?”

That simple question sparked the birth of Team Rover M.A.T.E. (Mission for Autonomous Terrain Exploration). The name itself reflects their vision—to create a companion robot capable of navigating unknown lands just like future explorers on the Moon.

Inspiration Behind the Mission

The inspiration came from real lunar missions like Chandrayaan and Perseverance. Watching rovers land on distant worlds showed the kids how science and imagination can come together to make the impossible possible. They wanted to experience that journey—right here in our lab.

They were also inspired by the idea that one day, machines built by young minds like theirs could help astronauts, discover resources, or even prepare the Moon for future human settlements.

Building the Rover

The journey wasn’t easy. From sketching the first design on paper to soldering components on a custom-made PCB, every step was filled with learning.

At its heart lies the ESP32 microcontroller, acting as the brain. Around it, they connected ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles, servo motors to steer with precision, and many other carefully chosen parts to give life to the rover.

Each child contributed something unique—coding, circuit design, mechanical assembly, or testing. Together, they made the rover think, move, and adapt, just like an explorer should.

The First Drive

The most magical moment came when the rover took its first autonomous drive. Without any remote control, it sensed the environment, avoided obstacles, and found its path. The room filled with cheers, smiles, and even a few happy tears.

It wasn’t just a machine moving across the floor—it was proof that curiosity, teamwork, and persistence can turn imagination into reality.

A Step Toward the Future

For Team Rover M.A.T.E., this is more than a project. It’s a promise to themselves—that they can dream big, solve problems, and one day contribute to missions that go beyond Earth.

Our rover may never reach the actual Moon, but in the hearts of these kids, it already has.

What Ties These Builds Together

Across both projects, students embraced the full engineering cycle—ideation, electronics, CAD, simulation, fabrication, testing, and iteration. Whether spinning up a turbine or charting an autonomous path, they proved that with the right guidance and tools, complex systems become joyful, hands-on learning.

Credits

• Hackathon Spotlight: How Students Built a Jet Engine Learning Kit using CAD, Simulation, Electronics, and 3D Printing
• Journey to the Moon — The Story of Rover M.A.T.E.