Case examples

1. AGRI-PV forecasting tool (GEDES e.V)
2. Charging with the sun - practical solution cargo bike (bidirectional storage approach) (Kraut & Rüben e.V.)
3. Chatbot, user-friendly, RAG chatbot (Arnio)
4. Here I am - platform for the three-country region ("Youth Vision Action")
5. Blue-green infrastructure - concept for the Mandau for flood protection - quality of life - biodiversity (Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft)
6. Solar potential old town (Zittau, Bogatynia, Liberec) - concept & user tool (KARR, urban development company)
7. Regional food & logistics - concept & add-on logistics connection via API (Openfoodnetwork.de)
8. Sensor-coupled user tool for air heat exchangers in small rooms such as tiny house, camper (Pundmann)

Brief Description

Self-sufficiency in agriculture—is it technically feasible? Is it economically viable and practical? And what opportunities and challenges does it present? Powering your own electric tractor with solar energy and having charging stations located right next to where you’re working. The forecasting tool is designed to support decision-making and implementation.

Initial Situation & Background

Agri-PV modules offer an innovative solution for the dual use of agricultural land by enabling both crop cultivation and the generation of solar power. Vertical modules are installed perpendicular to rows of posts, allowing agricultural work to continue between the rows. Particularly in Lausitz, a region with extensive agricultural land, agri-PV systems could make a significant contribution to sustainable land use and the promotion of regional value creation, and have now become established in farmers’ minds as a viable business model. So why not also power the energy-intensive processes of agricultural value creation with self-generated energy? This prospect should be made accessible to farmers through reliable forecasts.

Targeted Scope of Work

• Integrate historical weather data (DWD)
• Collect real-world data (system data, orientation, location)
• Derive and store characteristic curves
• Generate forecast data
• Derive predictions for system performance based on operational routines, preferably using machine learning
• What solutions are already available? What could be adapted?
• Which charging systems are relevant here? (bidirectional?)
• Forecasting—develop a self-learning forecasting tool? (weather data, work routines)
• Consumption simulator (energy demand, work cycles – duration) -> to assess whether an electric or diesel engine makes sense: for advising and convincing farmers
• Ratio of charging points to minimum area required for PV modules (charging a swappable battery while working)
• Complex model for evaluating different concepts with the goal of achieving the highest possible solar coverage rates (green strip, rooftop, or ground-mounted PV; with/without storage; …)

Thoughts

• Varying energy requirements (kWh/ha) depending on the work routine typical for the vegetation (e.g., no-till seeding, harrowing, fertilizing, harvesting, rotary tilling, etc.)
• E.g., high energy demand—therefore: a swappable battery? Where does the swap take place (in the field or on the farm)?
• Competition with agricultural use: Agri-PV as a source of income, dual harvest (on par with food production)
• Increasing biodiversity: hedgerows, wildflower strips for greater species diversity (subsidized)
• Consideration of tire pressure

Practical Application

In Reichenbach in Upper Lusatia, a YTO Yangdong (4-cylinder diesel engine) is currently being converted into an electric tractor. (see data sheet) It is scheduled to make its first tour through Saxony and Brandenburg this fall, after which it will be put to use on a 12-hectare organic farm in Melchow.

This prototype is also intended to be produced in Lausitz in the future and used in small-scale (organic) farming. It will be powered by solar energy harvested from the immediately adjacent fields or from the roof of the farm buildings.

Brief description
Converts an electric cargo bike so that it can be charged both with a permanently installed solar cell and from the power grid.

Initial situation & background
Our association uses an electric cargo bike from Bullitt for the weekly transportation of regional fruit, vegetables and bulky goods. This is equipped with a commercially available battery, which
is currently charged from the normal power grid. We want to make our mobility even greener and more independent in the future. To this end, the cargo bike is to be converted as part of the hackathon so that a solar cell charges the battery. We have prepared the design of most of the components. Whether we are right will only become clear at the end.

Task description
Convert the cargo bike so that it can be charged both with a permanently installed solar cell and from the power grid. Make sure that the parts are installed stably and that the construction can withstand vibrations and the effects of the weather (at least IP 43).

1) Gain access to device data and check the design first.
2) Consider how the design can be implemented. Procure any missing components.
3) Try to implement the following objective: The cargo bike is ready to ride and the transport box is watertight. The bike can be charged via solar cell at least while standing.

Challenges:
- Charging while riding may require hacking the battery control system (BMS battery management system).
- Consider what a universal/mobile solution that can be easily adapted to common battery systems might look like. Estimates the costs and defines possible savings potential. Carry out market research and consider whether a development
can offer economic potential.

Links:
Cargo bike: https://www.bullitt-bike.de/steps-ebullitt-bike/steps-ebullitt-bike-6100-alfine-11-gang-di2.html

MPPT: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DG5KXVR2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

DC/DC converter: https://www.victronenergy.com/dc-dc-converters/orion-tr-smart#downloads

Brief Description

Development of an intelligent, energy-efficient customer chatbot demonstrator capable of communicating in various languages in accordance with the specified requirements. The chatbot is to be created using low-code tools.

Initial Situation & Background

The release of ChatGPT has drawn attention to the possibilities of intelligent chatbots. As part of the “Perspektive Arbeit Lausitz” research project, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and Arnio are developing a local, easy-to-implement, and efficient customer chatbot that understands and responds to inquiries in various languages.

Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has tested various low-code tools for developing the chatbot framework, as well as various language models. The requirements for the chatbot were developed in collaboration with Arnio.

Task Description

Development of an intelligent, energy-efficient customer chatbot demonstrator (using Flowise) capable of communicating in German, English, Czech, and Polish in accordance with the requirements outlined above.

• The chatbot is intended to serve as a demonstrator that, following further development, could theoretically be deployed as a customer chatbot at Arnio:

Requirements:

• An intelligent language model (open source) that operates in a resource-efficient and intelligent manner
• Creation of a chatbot framework with a vector database, open-source LLM integration, and a memory buffer
• The chatbot must be able to function locally and offline
• Compliant with data protection regulations
• Energy-efficient and secure
• User-friendly—intuitive front end
• Support for Polish, Czech, German, and English
• Chatbot intelligence/training based on provided documents (Retrieval Augmented Generation)
• Descriptions of degree programs in various languages, some of which include images (image interpretation required)

Documents / Help:

• JSON file with an example chatbot framework
• Overview of high-performance chatbots (language models) in Europe
• Overview – How Does a RAG Chatbot Work?

Brief Description

The “Youth Vision Action” project aims to promote, facilitate, and implement youth participation in shaping an attractive model region for sustainability in the economy, society, and culture. The participation of young people in structural change is intended to develop prospects for staying in or returning to the Lausitz and Euro-Neisse regions and to serve as a unifying and integrative force.

Initial Situation & Background

Demographic challenges in the Lausitz region: A shrinking workforce and a shortage of skilled workers; a lack of cross-border (professional) opportunities for young people; the ongoing outmigration of young people and only limited motivation to return; changing notions of professional fulfillment among the younger generation; a near-absence of youth participation in sociopolitical life, a lack of civic spirit and social cohesion, and a lack of basic education on political issues, etc.

What already exists?

A three-year project featuring the annual event cycles Future Camp – Future Production – Future Festival (for a description of the events, see https://yva.rocks/), and a core group of approximately 30 people (high school students, college students, artists, and the project team).

Based on what data?

The young people’s visions and guiding principles

Task Description

What might a youth-friendly digital solution for information, collaboration, and participation among young people in the Tri-Border Region look like?

Challenge: Trilingualism and the “Three-Country Region” context; adaptation to use by young people

Links

https://yva.rocks/

https://www.instagram.com/yva_rocks/

https://www.lanternafuturi.net/de/

Tips

There are already similar platforms that can serve as inspiration, but for various reasons, they are hardly used—so how can we do better?

The area around the Heilige-Geist Bridge near the student canteen offers great potential for improving the quality of the public space while integrating aspects of climate, environmental, and flood protection.

We are seeking innovative ideas that address these aspects and develop implementation proposals. These proposals should be designed in such a way that they can be applied to other waterways in Poland and the Czech Republic (the Neisse River).

1. Challenge

The Mandau is a significant waterway that not only plays a vital role in the natural ecosystem but also serves as a recreational area for the region. In light of flood events, increasing urban development, and the challenges of climate change, the use of the Mandau River must be managed in a way that ensures both flood protection and the promotion of ecosystem services in the long term.

1. Study Area

The study area extends between the “Heiliger-Geist-Brücke” and the “Brücke-Südstraße.”

1. Objective

The goal of the hackathon is to develop innovative usage concepts that enable young people, particularly students, to engage with the Mandau River in a sustainable and active way. These concepts should take into account both the ecological protection of the waterway and the promotion of flood protection measures.

The focus should be on enhancing the quality of the recreational experience and on climate, environmental, and flood protection.

1. Evaluation and Support

Creativity and Innovation:

• Develop creative concepts that foster dialogue between young people and nature (education and participation).
• Incorporate innovative approaches to combining flood protection with nature-based recreational and educational opportunities.
• Develop various stations along the Mandau River (study area), using different approaches: quality of life, water retention, …
• Also consider opportunities for collaboration with local communities, businesses, or scientific institutions that could support the implementation of the concepts.

1. Presentation

The results should be presented graphically. Posters, maps, or a digital visualization of the results may be used for this purpose.

Brief Description

The potential for photovoltaic use is often limited in historic neighborhoods. This example aims to explore the options available to homeowners and to develop a tool that takes technical, legal, and design aspects into account.

Initial Situation & Background

Zittau’s downtown area is protected as a historic district. Individual buildings are classified as historic landmarks. This entails requirements designed to preserve the cityscape. At the same time, national climate protection goals must be implemented. The goal is to develop a (digital) guide that empowers private homeowners to determine the potential for photovoltaics on their own roofs while simultaneously taking historic preservation criteria into account.

The guide should be transferable to other historic cities. It would be interesting to examine the differences in heritage protection policies between Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

The energy transition requires increased use of renewable energy, particularly through photovoltaic systems. However, historic buildings pose particular challenges, as the installation of photovoltaic systems is complex from a technical, aesthetic, and legal standpoint. Nevertheless, these roofs in particular often offer potential for energy generation and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Task Description

The study area is the historic city center. Ideally, the analysis should consider roof surfaces with different orientations relative to the sky.

The goal of the hackathon is, on the one hand, to develop a practical guide that takes into account the technical, legal, and design aspects of installing photovoltaic systems on historic, protected roofs. In addition, the teams should estimate the solar potential of these roofs to demonstrate the economic and environmental relevance of the project. This could result in a digital tool that allows roof owners to assess the potential of their own roofs.

The SAENA solar cadastre, among other resources, can be used to assess this potential.

Case study of the city of Konstanz:

https://www.konstanz.de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/altstadt-solarkataster+vorgestellt

This could be done in digital form, such as a PDF. Another option would be to develop a digital version as an app or an interactive map.

Brief description

Improve regional logistics, support producers, promote networking.

Use of existing platforms to integrate an easy-to-use logistics concept.

Initial situation & background

The Lausitz region and the district of Görlitz in particular have a large number of small businesses in the Saxon agricultural and food industry. Farms, manufactories, pond farms and many more - they produce high-quality food and are important for regional value creation and a positive and constructive local identity(ies) in the natural and cultural landscape of Lausitz.

Direct marketing from the farm, village stores and markets are just as important for the sale of these goods as digital platforms through which producers and interested parties can come into contact online. As an open source platform, the Open Food Network connects all stakeholders in a low-threshold manner. The "Sohlandkorb" is the first food hub (since 2018) in the district of Görlitz. The participating producers have also made their data available in the network. From this constellation, we would like to derive a task that will help us to jointly improve regional logistics, network producers and improve communication and networking overall.

Task description

How can producers' delivery journeys be made visible and how can synergies be developed from them? As part of the hackathon, the data from the Open Food Network (OFN) in the district of Görlitz will be evaluated. Potential expansion of the use of the OFN across national borders is under discussion and should be pursued.

• Who produces which goods and delivers them when and in what quantities to which locations?
• Who orders goods in a food hub in a particular region and could possibly transport goods as a "prosumer"? How do you use existing carpooling options?
• Addresses from an order cycle are available. A logarithm can be used to analyze which routes make sense

• Idea approach: Export all delivery addresses, use data list for a carpool (possibly fictitious data)

This example envisages the creation of a web application or app (add-on application for openfoodnetwork.de) as a task: the following criteria should be taken into account: Type of products, quantities, locations, time, confirmation of trips, cycle, possibly also storage requirements (such as refrigeration)

• Via programming interface API (General Programming Interface)

Pundmann, previously known in the RV industry as a heating and water specialist, is currently developing the first product designed to improve air quality in small spaces.

The problem
Many motorhome owners and vanlifers struggle with moisture in their vehicles. In most cases, ventilation is insufficient—either because people forget to ventilate, because they can’t leave the windows open while they’re away, or because gas consumption for heating increases significantly when there is a constant exchange of air. However, this would be desirable not only while staying in the vehicle but also, for example, when it is in winter storage or is not used for an extended period. The air exchange then prevents a musty smell inside.

The Solution
Based on a counterflow heat exchanger, we are currently making adjustments to offer a device that is as compact as possible—with a footprint no larger than DIN A4—for installation in the camper.

A counterflow heat exchanger is a device that directs fresh outside air and warm exhaust air past each other in opposite directions. The exhaust air transfers its heat very efficiently to the cool fresh air without the air currents mixing.

This technology enables continuous air exchange with a heat recovery rate of up to 90%.