OmniAir Consortium® will host its first-ever connected vehicle student hackathon on Wednesday, June 3 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. This exciting, first-of-its-kind event is taking place as part of the OmniAir Maryland Plugfest, is designed to foster hands-on experience and real-world problem solving in connected vehicle and infrastructure security.
This student hackathon focuses on a critical challenge in connected vehicle deployment: misbehavior detection and prevention in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems. As V2X technologies continue to evolve, they depend on trusted, standards-based communication to support safety and mobility. However, trust alone is not sufficient. Even authenticated messages that comply with standards can lead to unexpected, unsafe, or disruptive system behavior.
This event is designed to explore that gap. Student teams will develop and demonstrate realistic misbehavior scenarios in which systems respond incorrectly to information that appears valid. The goal is not only to identify vulnerabilities, but also to encourage practical discussion around how to detect and prevent these issues in future deployments.
Student teams from the University of Windsor, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, and Morgan State University are developing their own solutions to V2X misbehavior detection, analysis, and mitigation during the month of May. Each student team has been paired with a mentor, a V2X professional from government or industry, who is helping to advise them on the project.
On June 3rd, student team will be invited to present their work. Each team will demonstrate a misbehavior scenario, evaluate its real-world impact, and propose approaches to strengthen system resilience. A panel of independent judges from the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) industry will select winning team (or teams!)
The program brings together emerging talent and industry leadership. Angela Foster, Traffic Anchor/Reporter for CBS News, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for this exciting event! OmniTrust' Brian Romansky, Chair of OmniAir's Cybersecurity Working Group, will offer remarks on the challenge of V2X security and William Whyte of Qualcomm, and Chair of the SAE Cybersecurity Committee, will provide perspective on current standards and industry practices.
Industry participants, including Qualcomm, Leidos, OmniTrust, SaesolTech, and Noblis, will contribute expertise in misbehavior detection and analysis, highlighting the importance of collaboration between academia and industry.
More than a competition, the OmniAir Hackathon is an opportunity to examine assumptions, identify risks, and advance solutions that support secure and reliable deployment of connected vehicle technologies.
Participant in the June 2nd OmniAir CAV Workshop, and the OmniAir Maryland Plugfest, will be to the OmniAir Hackathon and the broader conversation on misbehavior detection in V2X systems. Attendees will gain direct access to student demonstrations, expert insights, and industry discussions shaping the future of secure connected vehicle deployment.
Groups or individual students interested in attending the Hackathon, or those with questions about the event should contact Berkenda Cantlo, OmniAir's Vice President for Member Engagement & Operations.
