// RULEBOOK & BUILDER HANDBOOK

Rules, Eligibility & Checklists

Everything you need to know about participating in VAYUTHON 2026 at Chalapathi University (Mothdaka, Guntur). Review team formation guidelines, development rules, what to bring, and our evaluation rubric.

👥 Squads of 1 to 5 Builders

🎓 Open to All Colleges & Universities

🛡️ 100% Student IP Ownership

SECTION 01

Eligibility & Squad Formation

Who can participate: All enrolled undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral students across India. Fresh graduates (Batch of 2024 onwards) are also eligible.
Squad Size: Minimum 1 member (solo builder), maximum 5 members per squad.
Cross-College Squads Allowed: Team members do NOT need to belong to the same college, department, or year. Inter-institutional teams are enthusiastically welcomed!
Team Lead: Every squad must appoint a Team Leader who handles registration, primary communication, and project check-in.

SECTION 02

Code, Hardware & AI Usage Policy

Fresh Work Rule: All primary code, circuit wiring, and cad files must be developed during the hackathon period.
Open Source Libraries & Packages: You are free and encouraged to use third-party open source frameworks, SDKs, npm packages, PyPI modules, and cloud APIs.
Hardware & Devboards: Squads must bring their own target hardware (Arduinos, ESP32, Raspberry Pis, sensors, wiring, devboards). Wiring and assembly must be done during the sprint.
Generative AI & Coding Tools: You may use AI coding tools (Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor) for syntax assistance, boilerplate, or debugging. During evaluations, judges will verify that your squad understands the core architecture.
Version Control: Every squad must push regular git commits to a public/private GitHub repository throughout the hackathon.

SECTION 03

Evaluation Rubric & Scoring Weights

30%

Technical Feasibility & Execution

Architecture quality, hardware/software integration, handling edge cases, and code elegance.

25%

Originality & Innovation

Novel approach to the problem vs. standard template clones.

25%

Real-World Practical Impact

Viability in industry or society, cost efficiency, and scalability of the solution.

20%

Live Demo & Pitch Quality

Clarity of problem definition, working proof-of-concept, and confident Q&A defense.

Note: In addition to the scoring weights above, additional checks will also be conducted by the evaluation committee during the event.

SECTION 04

100% Intellectual Property (IP) Ownership

All ideas, code, hardware designs, circuits, and prototypes created at VAYUTHON remain the 100% sole intellectual property of the participating squad members. Neither GenMitra Innovations LLP nor Chalapathi University claims any rights, patents, or royalties over your inventions.

What to Bring Checklist

CHECKLIST

Laptops & Chargers: Ensure dev machines have working Wi-Fi (no wired LAN cables supplied).Power Strip / Spike Guard: 1 extension board per squad is strongly recommended.College Student Photo ID: Required at check-in for physical identity verification.Hardware & Microcontrollers: Bring all devboards, jumper wires, and sensors you plan to use.Warm Layer / Hoodie: Workspaces are air-conditioned throughout the night.Personal Toiletries: Hand towel, toothbrush, and personal essentials.

Meals & Concluding Timing

Food is provided for Saturday Lunch and Saturday Dinner. The event ends on Sunday morning, so no Sunday breakfast is provided.

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