TE AI Cup is an annual international collegiate competition with over 40 universities competing. Teams work with professionals from TE Connectivity to fix a real-world issue and have an impact on their business, with the opportunity to patent the team’s work. This is a year-long commitment, with a presentation to TE’s executives in May.

ML@Purdue has competed every year since 2021, with a history of excellence in this competition — annually reaching the top-3 podium and receiving large scholarship and monetary prizes. Because a new team enters each cycle, this page covers the program as a whole rather than any single year.

Typical project tracks

The topic changes every year, but projects generally fall into one of three areas.

AI Machine Vision (AIMV) — AI sorting, defect inspection, defect location, dimensional measurement, vision guidance, 3D vision.

AI Process Control & Optimization — manufacturing process variation minimization, anomaly detection and prevention for manufacturing processes, EHS, power consumption monitoring and control, AI-based process control and optimization.

General AI Applications — AI for product design, business execution, planning, demand forecasting, inventory control, tooling management, quality improvement, SAP, logistics, and marketing.