Huskie Hackers had the opportunity to travel to UIUC to participate in Hackillinois 2026—their first in-person hackathon. The team competed in the Caterpillar – Best AI Inspection track, where they set out to build a tool to assist inspectors with vehicle inspections through thoughtful AI integration.

The challenge focused on addressing a shortage of inspectors while improving the efficiency of the inspection process. To tackle this, Huskie Hackers developed an app that enables inspectors to conduct manual inspections digitally. Behind the scenes, an AI system analyzes historical inspection data and provides estimated timelines for when rusted or deteriorating parts may need replacement.

Rather than relying entirely on automation, the team intentionally preserved the human element of inspections, recognizing that a fully AI-driven approach could introduce unnecessary risk and error. This hybrid solution aimed to enhance, not replace, expert judgment.

Overall, the experience was incredibly rewarding—filled with engaging events, collaboration, and a meaningful technical challenge.

You can also check out the Devpost submission!