Project Hail Mary
PROJECT HAIL MARY
One Mission. One Impossible Crisis. Can You Save Humanity?
Project Hail Mary is an innovation-based technical challenge where participants take on the role of engineers working to solve humanity’s energy crisis in a universe where stars are gradually dying. Teams will develop innovative solutions using areas such as power electronics, renewable energy, energy storage, smart grids, wireless power transfer, space-based power systems, AI-driven energy management, and more.
The event challenges participants to go beyond conventional engineering. They will pitch a solution, introduce one creative physics-breaking assumption, and then defend and adapt their idea when faced with an unexpected crisis. The focus is not just on having a bold idea, but on building a technically reasoned solution that can survive changing conditions.
Cash prizes of more than 5k are awaiting for you!
For queries contact
- Sanjaynath - 81481 52203
- Yazhissai - 93609 91081
Click here to view Rulebook
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Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
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- SH 49A, SSN College of Engineering
- Kalavakkam
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- India 603110
- Building: EEE Department
- Room Number: EEE Seminar Hall
- Starts 18 September 2026 06:30 PM UTC
- Ends 07 October 2026 06:30 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Agenda
Round 1 — The Spark: “What Would You Build?”
- Open innovation pitch
- Develop a solution based on the given technology domains
- Preparation: 20–30 min
- Pitch: 5–10 min
- Q&A: 1–2 min
Round 2 — Hail Mary: “Save Humanity”
- The Project Hail Mary scenario is introduced
- Each team must break exactly one fundamental law/principle of physics
- Explain the technology, energy solution, limitations, and failure conditions
- Preparation: 20–30 min
- Pitch: 5–10 min
- Q&A: 1–2 min
Round 3 — Last Stand: “The Hail Mary Protocol”
- Receive an unexpected crisis live
- Adapt and redesign the Round 2 solution
- Present the modified solution
- Face judge interrogation and defend the engineering decisions
- Crisis Reveal: 2 min
- Emergency Engineering: 10–15 min
- Final Mission Briefing: 5 min
- Judge Interrogation: 3–5 min
The three-round structure and timings are specified in the rulebook.