Recent IDF Hackathon Presented Impressive Output 

Recent IDF Hackathon Presented Impressive Output 

IDF Hackathon - IDF Spokesperson

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A military bot for human resources and a robotic security system are only a few examples to the innovative products of an extraordinary hackathon, designed to offer practical solutions to various problems and needs in the IDF. The event was part of the IDF Officer Course completion specializing in the computer professions which focuses on the technological officer, and included courses in computers, cybersecurity and engineering. The 10-week completion stage is held at the IDF city of training bases.

In a special interview to iHLS, first lt. Ma’ayan Sidon, a crew commander at computers and technology completion courses at the IDF training base 7, elaborated on the event and its intriguing products.

The 24-hour hackathon, a development, cyber and engineering marathon held on September 15-16, was designed to detect a problem, both at the operational and office fields, and develop a solution. 

Planning and development groups were set. The hackathon encompassed the execution, proof of concept for the end-to-end solutions. The best solution was chosen by a judge panel that included LOTEM commander, and a RAFAEL representative, among others.

The solutions developed during the hackathon included:

  • The winner  – a human resources bot. The bot replaces the human resources NCOs in responding to the many questions they are asked. The bot can read natural language and is based on a reply database.

  • An automatic security array that detects the enemy and responds – the system includes a drone and a robot operating in synchronization, equipped with cameras and facial identification capabilities.
  • Military Linkedin – application for sharing knowledge through units and fields. It is designed for connecting people with shared technologies and fields of interest, and also for job finding within the military ranks. The application allocates a profile and fields of interest to each use or unit.
  • An application that identifies fake Instagram profiles for the purposes of information security.
  • The IDF Booking – this application grades service quality and rate at military bases, as a feedback and information source for the soldiers.

The fascinating event was held at RAFAEL’s new facilities in Be’er-Sheva, which also supplied mentors support. 

Rotem, Head of RAFAEL’s development center in Be’er Sheva, praised the fruitful collaboration and added: “We at RAFAEL are pleased with the collaboration with the IDF Computer Service Directorate, especially towards its move to the digital city being built in Be’er-Sheva adjacent to our development center. The Hackathon which was held at our office enhanced the technological and inter-personal connections and enabled a direct dialog between the Directorate’s needs and RAFAEL’s capabilities.

The company is looking forward to the arrival of the Directorate’s task force to the city, and will be happy to extend any assistance required for the fulfillment of this Zionist mission of creating a leading technological center here at southern Israel”.

Photo IDF Spokesperson