Khyati Mehra
Google
Organizer
Google Physical AI Hackathon · Onam Edition 2026
Local roots. Physical intelligence.
An overnight 24-hour build experience around Onam, Kerala's biggest cultural celebration.
Build something intelligent that interacts with the physical world. Real sensors. Real models. Real output.
Powered by Gemma, Gemini, and Google APIs.
🏁 Hackathon Concluded · Aug 29–30, 2026 · TinkerSpace Kochi
🎉 17 Physical AI Projects Successfully Shipped!
Sense → Think → Act
Gemma on Edge
Gemini API
🌾 Harvest AI
🍌 Sadya Automation
🌸 Robotic Pookalam
🛶 Vallamkali AI
🎯 Onakalikal Tech
🏡 Homecoming & Care
TinkerSpace, Kochi
Sense → Think → Act
Gemma on Edge
Gemini API
🌾 Harvest AI
🍌 Sadya Automation
🌸 Robotic Pookalam
🛶 Vallamkali AI
🎯 Onakalikal Tech
🏡 Homecoming & Care
TinkerSpace, Kochi
The Idea
AI that touches
the real world — inspired by Onam.
No toy demos. No chatbots. Real hardware, real sensors, real cultural impact.
The first Physical AI Hackathon at TinkerSpace brought developers, makers and AI builders together to build systems where AI interacts with the physical world.
For this edition, we want to build on that demand while giving the hackathon a distinctly Kerala identity.
Physical AI Hackathon: Onam Edition is a 24-hour build experience around Onam, Kerala's biggest cultural celebration. Instead of asking participants to build generic AI applications, we give them a cultural context with genuine physical constraints.
The challenge is simple: Build something intelligent that interacts with the physical world, inspired by Onam. Teams will use Gemma models, Gemini and Google APIs to create working physical prototypes where the physical system is an inseparable part of the product.
// Physical AI pipeline
Sense
Cameras, microphones, accelerometers, soil probes, ultrasonic, IMU & sensors
↓
Think
Gemma on-device/edge models, TinyML, CV, and Gemini & Google Cloud APIs
↓
Act
Motors, robotics, plotters, actuators, haptics, automated valves & displays
The Core Rule
The Physical AI Rule.
Every project must have a meaningful physical component. Sense → Think → Act.
Mandatory Technology Stack
Every participating team will build with:
Local Gemma model
Gemma can run locally on laptops, edge devices (Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, Jetson), or
constrained hardware depending on the project.
Google's Cloud APIs
Gemini API, Google AI Studio, or Google Cloud APIs can be utilized where multimodal
or cloud intelligence makes sense.
Physical Hardware as Core
Microcontrollers, sensors, cameras, motors, actuators, or custom physical interfaces
must be integral to the system's function.
6 Challenge
Themes
Rooted in Kerala. Powered by AI.
Onam gives us a set of familiar real-world environments and problems that can be translated into genuine physical AI challenges.
HARVEST·
SADYA·
POOKALAM·
VALLAMKALI·
ONAKALIKAL·
HOMECOMING·
HARVEST·
SADYA·
POOKALAM·
VALLAMKALI·
ONAKALIKAL·
HOMECOMING·
Harvest
Crop and soil sensing, automated irrigation, sorting and grading, storage monitoring,
and post-harvest loss prevention. Kerala-specific crops and agricultural problems encouraged.
AgriTech
Sadya
Automation around one of Kerala's largest food traditions. Explore portioning, serving,
food waste measurement, leaf and plate handling, cooking-state detection, and kitchen logistics.
Feast Tech
Pookalam
Physical creativity meets robotics. Flower sorting, colour and species detection, petal
handling, generative pattern creation, plotting machines, and automated pookalam construction.
Robotics & Art
Vallamkali
AI meets water, boats, and synchronisation. Explore assisted or autonomous vessels,
stroke timing telemetry, coaching systems, water quality monitoring, and backwater mapping.
Marine & Sync
Onakalikal
Technology applied to traditional games and performances. Instrumented games, automated
scoring, motion tracking, adaptive games, wearables, animatronics, and interactive systems.
Interactive Games
Homecoming
Technology for presence, care, and connection. Devices for elderly family members
living alone, remote physical check-ins, accessibility hardware, and staying connected with home.
Care & Presence
By the Numbers
The format.
24
Hours of Building
60+
Curated Builders
15–20
Teams
6
Challenge Themes
Key Milestones
Aug 29 · 12:30 PM
Registration at Entrance
Aug 29 · 2:00 PM
Kickoff & 24h Hacking Begins
Aug 30 · 12:30 AM
Onakalikal & Midnight Events
Aug 30 · 12:30 PM
Final Checkpoint
Aug 30 · 2:00 PM
Presentations, Judging & Prizes
Schedule
24 Hours.
A continuous 24-hour build schedule from kickoff to demo day — August 29 at 2 PM through August 30 at 4 PM.
Day 1 — 29 August
12:30 PM
Registration at the entrance 🌸
2:00 PM
Event Kickoff & Hacking Begins ⚡
5:00 PM
Tea & Refreshments ☕
7:00 PM
Checkpoint 1
8:30 PM
Dinner 🍽️
11:30 PM
Checkpoint 2
Day 2 — 30 August
12:30 AM
Onakalikal & Midnight Side Events 🌙
8:00 AM
Checkpoint 3
9:00 AM
Breakfast 🍳
12:30 PM
Final Checkpoint + Onasadya 🍌
1:30 PM
Submissions Close ⏱️
2:00 PM
Project Presentations & Judging 🏆
4:00 PM
Prize Distribution & Closing 🎉
Open Source
What teams ship.
After the event, outputs are compiled into a public collection of Physical AI projects that the developer community can see, use, fork, and build upon.
01 / Code
Public Repository
Complete source code, firmware, CAD/schematics, and relevant technical assets on
GitHub.
02 / Docs
Project Documentation
Problem statement, solution overview, system architecture, hardware bill, and AI
implementation.
03 / Video
Demo Video
A short video demonstration showing the working physical prototype sensing, thinking,
and acting.
04 / Meta
Project Metadata
Selected Onam theme, technologies & APIs utilized, team members, and a concise project
summary.
Judging
What makes a winner.
Projects evaluated on six key dimensions. A functioning, moving prototype counts far more than a slide deck.
01
Real-World Relevance
Does it solve a genuine problem in the Onam/Kerala context? Would people actually
use this?
02
AI + Hardware Integration
How deeply does the AI connect with physical hardware? Genuine Sense → Think → Act
execution.
03
Engineering Complexity
Technical depth, sophistication of the build, and meaningful utilization of Gemma
and Google APIs.
04
Functional Execution
It has to work in real-time. A live demo that runs beats a pitch deck that
explains.
05
Cultural Originality
Unexpected, creative, and culturally insightful application of Physical AI inspired
by Onam.
06
Clarity of Presentation
Ability to clearly explain what was built, why it matters, and how the physical AI
system works.
Win Something Real
Prizes.
A ₹50,000 cash prize pool focused on overall build quality, technical depth, and cultural creativity.
Total Cash Prize Pool
₹50,000
Direct cash awards funded to reward the strongest overall Physical AI prototypes and the most culturally inspiring Onam builds.
✨ Category & Track Prize Division — Coming Soon
Organized & Supported By
Organizer
Hardware & Community Partner
In partnership with
Location
TinkerSpace, Kochi.
TinkerSpace, Kalamassery
A 24/7 community makerspace in Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala — fully equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics labs, and high-speed networking.
Refer to the TinkerSpace accessibility & travel guide for step-by-step directions from metro, bus stops, railway stations, and Cochin International Airport (COK).
📍 Kalamassery, Kerala 🚇 Metro Accessible 🛠 24/7 Makerspace 🍌 Onasadya Feast on Day 2FAQs
Questions?
What is the Onam Edition?
Physical AI Hackathon: Onam Edition is a 24-hour build experience centered around Onam,
Kerala's biggest cultural festival. Instead of building generic AI demos, participants are given a
cultural context and real physical constraints across 6 challenge themes: Harvest, Sadya, Pookalam,
Vallamkali, Onakalikal, and Homecoming.
What is the Physical AI Rule?
Every project must follow the Sense → Think → Act paradigm and possess a
meaningful physical component. If the hardware is removed and the project behaves exactly the same way, it
does not qualify. The physical system must be an integral part of the product.
What technologies are required?
Every team must use: (1) At least one Gemma open model (running locally or on-edge), (2)
At least one Google API (Gemini API, Google AI Studio, or Cloud APIs), and (3) Physical hardware (sensors,
actuators, motors, or robotics).
Who can participate?
60+ curated builders forming cross-disciplinary teams (2–4 members per team), selected
through an
application process based on prior experience in hardware, software, or AI/ML.
Is there a registration fee?
No — Google Physical AI Hackathon: Onam Edition is completely free. There is no ticket
or participation fee for selected participants.
Will food and refreshments be provided?
Yes! Throughout the 24 hours, participants will receive tea & refreshments, dinner,
midnight refreshments during Onakalikal, breakfast, and a grand traditional Onasadya feast on Day
2.
What hardware and tools will be provided?
A shared on-site hardware inventory is provided at TinkerSpace, including XIAO
microcontrollers, Grove vision modules, sensors, motors, and lab tools. Participants are also strongly
encouraged to bring their own components.
Explore the Onam Edition Builds
Local roots. Physical intelligence.
17 physical computing prototypes built in a continuous 24-hour sprint on 29–30 August 2026 at TinkerSpace, Kochi. Powered by Gemma, Gemini, and physical hardware.