The AI Sensor Challenge invites students to design a temperature sensor that uses artificial intelligence to optimize its performance and signal analysis.
Participants will receive free, hands-on training from experts in sensor design and AI, mentorship from academia and industry, and the opportunity to turn their ideas into real semiconductor solutions. The best teams will move forward into Semicon Desert’s startup programs.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Don’t have a full team yet? Join our official WhatsApp community to connect with other participants before completing your pre-registration.
In this space, you can meet potential teammates, share ideas, and build interdisciplinary teams. We encourage combining skills in electronics, AI, data science, and system design to strengthen your project through every stage of the challenge.
HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Open to students from any university in Sonora, as well as graduate students and recent graduates (up to two years). Fields of study may include:
Electronics
Mechatronics
Physics
Computer Science
Data Science
Systems Engineering
or any related area in technology and innovation.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Hands-on design training using LTSpice for sensor simulation and modeling.
Practical applications of AI for signal processing and optimization.
Real collaboration with industry and academic mentors.
Experience designing solutions for real-world industrial needs.
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW
Teams of 1–5 participants will design and present an AI-enabled temperature sensor. The project will be developed through stages:
Training Phase: Two weeks of guided workshops in LTSpice and AI fundamentals.
Project Development: Teams create their conceptual design, simulation, and technical justification.
Evaluation and Final Presentation: The top five teams present to a panel of experts from academia and industry.
TRAINING PROGRAM
All selected teams will receive free, hands-on training before developing their project.
The training lasts two weeks (30 hours total, 3 hours per day) and combines circuit modeling with AI signal processing. Participants will learn to:
Simulate and analyze temperature sensors in LTSpice.
Apply AI techniques for performance improvement and signal conditioning.
Develop a validated proposal with mentor feedback to prepare for the project phase.
The training is taught by certified instructors and mentors from academia and industry.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Projects will be evaluated by experts from academia and industry according to the following criteria:
Innovation and originality of the design — 20%
Integration of AI for signal processing — 25%
Industrial applicability and feasibility — 20%
Technical clarity and design validation — 20%
Presentation and teamwork — 15%
Teams will receive constructive feedback after the evaluation to support continued learning and development.
TIMELINE
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October 27 – November 16, 2025
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November 17 – November 28, 2025
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December 1, 2025 – January 30, 2026
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February 2 – 20, 2026
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February 25, 2026
AWARDS & NEXT STEPS
The top three teams will receive financial prizes and official recognition.
All participants who complete the program will earn certificates of participation.
Selected teams will also be invited to continue developing their projects through the Semicon Desert Accelerator 2026, where they’ll receive mentoring, connections, and support to turn their prototypes into startups ready for the semiconductor industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For questions about the AI Sensor Design Challenge, you can contact the coordinators directly:
Dra. Aned de León — aned.deleon@unison.mx
Dr. Rafael Sabory — rafael.sabory@unison.mx