Itesca students win Innovation Hack 2026 for smart irrigation system

A multidisciplinary team of six students from the Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Cajeme (Itesca), known as Team Halcones, secured first place in the AgroH2O challenge during the third edition of Innovation Hack 2026. Organized by Tecnológico de Monterrey, the competition focuses on engineering and business students developing solutions for regional problems.

The winning project, titled Smart Irrigation System (SIS), is an automated irrigation prototype that utilizes moisture sensors to determine the specific water needs of crops. This technology aims to improve water efficiency by allowing for precise irrigation decisions based on real-time data rather than fixed schedules. The team also conducted an agricultural market analysis to ensure competitive pricing and implementation viability.

The team members include Lidia Guadalupe Ortiz Angulo, Ángel Esteban Tabardillo Briones, and Rodolfo Uribe Barrera from Mechanical Engineering; Grecia Madai Osorio Santos from Environmental Engineering; Elizabeth Millán Escalante from Industrial Engineering; and Ángel Gabriel Uribe Valdez from Business Administration. They worked under the guidance of instructor Albina Arévalo Félix.