HackUMass Victory: Penn State Students Redefine Electronics Education with VR

Penn State Team Triumphs at HackUMass with Innovative VR Project
Penn State Engineering students Kartikey Pandey, Parth Kshirsagar, and Shreyansh O. earned the Best AR/VR Hack award at HackUMass for their innovative project, VR Breadboard—a groundbreaking virtual reality application for the Meta Quest 3 that has the potential to transform electronics education. This trip was funded by the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program.

What is VR Breadboard?
VR Breadboard is a fully immersive virtual reality experience designed to help students and makers learn electronics in a safe, risk-free environment. Using Unity and C#, the team developed a virtual electronics lab that allows users to:

• Experiment with virtual breadboards, wires, and electronic components.
• Simulate circuits in real-time with accurate component behavior.
• Navigate through the experience with intuitive VR controls for seamless interaction.

By removing the need for physical components and the risk of damaging equipment, VR Breadboard offers a valuable educational tool for users of all skill levels.

Innovation in 24 Hours
In a mere 24 hours, the team built a fully functional VR application from the ground up, integrating a lifelike real-time circuit simulation and a user-friendly experience. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand VR Breadboard with:

• A broader component library.
• Guided tutorials for beginners.
• Collaborative features for multi-user interaction.
• Advanced circuit analysis tools.

Their vision is to integrate VR Breadboard into educational curricula and maker spaces, ultimately reshaping how electronics are taught and learned.

Making Penn State Proud
This win at HackUMass highlights not only the technical skill of Team Penn State but also the power of innovation and collaboration. By demonstrating what can be accomplished through hard work and determination, the team has reinforced Penn State’s reputation as a hub for aspiring engineers and entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to Team Penn State on this outstanding achievement.