Congratulations to the University of Windsor team for taking first place in the inaugural OmniAir Hackathon, held June 3 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore as part of the OmniAir Maryland Spring Plugfest.
The hackathon brought together student teams from the University of Windsor, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Morgan State University, and North Carolina State University to tackle one of the most important challenges in connected vehicle technology: V2X Misbehavior Detection.
Over several months, each team developed realistic examples of how V2X misbehavior can occur, demonstrated methods for detecting it, and presented strategies for mitigating its impact. The final presentations showcased not only strong technical work but also thoughtful simulations illustrating how misbehavior could affect real-world transportation systems.
The competition was highly engaging, with every team bringing creative thinking, practical engineering, and a clear commitment to improving the safety and reliability of connected mobility systems.
Sponsored by OmniTrust, the event drew a strong audience of industry supporters, educators, and transportation technology leaders. CBS News Baltimore traffic reporter Angela Foster emceed the event and helped bring energy and visibility to the student presentations.
University of Windsor's Dr. Ikjot Saini, Co-Director of the SHIELD Automotive Security Centre of Excellence, and Assistant Professor of Computer Science helped to guide the student team during the project. She said of the hackathon:
"What I enjoyed most about the OmniAir Hackathon wasn't just the competition - it was the people. Throughout the event, I saw researchers, students, industry experts, and standards leaders openly sharing their experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned, all with a common goal of advancing the future of connected mobility.
Our team's project explored a V2X misbehavior scenario in which BSMs were cryptographically valid and compliant with IEEE 1609.2 and SAE J2735 standards yet contained incorrect brake-status information. The false braking indication triggered Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL) warnings, consistent with SAE J2945/1 application behavior, causing surrounding vehicles to react unnecessarily. The project demonstrated how trusted but incorrect safety messages can create cascading effects, including urban traffic gridlock, highway disruptions, and broader impacts on transportation efficiency and economic activity.
As someone deeply invested in secure and trustworthy V2X communications, it was inspiring to see how collaboration across academia, industry, and standards organizations can help address these complex challenges. Events like this remind us that meaningful progress happens when diverse perspectives come together to solve real-world problems."
OmniAir’s goal in hosting the hackathon was to inspire and engage the next generation of connected vehicle engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and V2X developers—giving students the opportunity to work on real-world problems that will shape the future of transportation safety.
Thank you to all participating universities, mentors, judges, sponsors, and supporters who helped make the first OmniAir Hackathon a success Anyone interested in helping shape or host future OmniAir hackathons is encouraged to contact Berkenda Cantlo at bcantlo@omniair.org.
About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.
