Sergey Balaba and Bogdan Gromov, students at the Innovative University of Eurasia (InEU), secured second place at the "AI&Arduino Hack 2026" national hackathon. Their achievement demonstrated a high level of engineering proficiency, strong programming skills, and the ability to apply artificial intelligence technologies to solve practical problems.
The national hackathon took place in Pavlodar at Toraighyrov University, bringing together 32 students from five higher education institutions across Kazakhstan. Within a limited timeframe, participants were tasked with developing a functional device prototype by integrating artificial intelligence, microcontrollers, and various electronic components.
The InEU team presented a project titled "Smart Barrier"—an intelligent access control and management system based on computer vision and automated object recognition technologies.
Over the course of two days, Sergey Balaba and Bogdan Gromov designed and assembled a working prototype. A camera connected to the barrier transmitted visual data to the computer vision system, which then analyzed approaching objects to categorize them—identifying whether an individual was a VIP, a guest, or an unauthorized person.
Based on the recognition results, the system automatically determined access permissions: VIP users were granted automatic entry, guests were permitted access, and the barrier remained closed if an unauthorized person was detected. The results of the identification process were displayed via a software interface for the operator.
The software component of the project was developed using Python and the OpenCV library. The hardware infrastructure was built around an Arduino microcontroller, which managed the barrier's actuating mechanism and coordinated the various electronic components.
Ultimately, the participants successfully integrated software-based recognition algorithms with hardware control systems to create a unified, intelligent solution. The practical significance of this development lies in its potential for automating access control systems at university campuses, industrial facilities, residential complexes, parking areas, and other restricted-access sites. Implementing such solutions helps expedite entry procedures, reduces the workload on security personnel, and enhances overall security.
During the final stage of the hackathon, the teams presented their projects to an expert jury and demonstrated the functionality of their prototypes. The project developed by the InEU students received high praise for its technical execution, the seamless integration of software and hardware components, and its potential for practical application.
Securing second place at the national "AI&Arduino Hack 2026" hackathon is a significant achievement for the students of the Innovative University of Eurasia (InEU). It underscores the high demand for engineering expertise, creative problem-solving, and interdisciplinary knowledge in an era of rapid digital advancement.
Congratulations to Sergey Balaba and Bogdan Gromov on their well-deserved success! We wish them many more innovative ideas, promising projects, and future victories!

InEU takes great pride in the achievements of its students!