Maker Faire Shenzhen connects innovative minds

From an AI-powered detector that spots stray cats under vehicles to a robot-like man wearing a monitor-shaped helmet and an oral cancer detection device powered by AI, Maker Faire Shenzhen 2024 offered no shortage of innovative gadgets and prototypes over the weekend.

With the theme “Enchant Everything With AI,” the event — organized by Chaihuo Maker Space in partnership with Seeed Studio, Make Community, and Shenzhen Polytechnic University and co-organized by Vanke Cloud City — brought together over 120 exhibitors from nearly 20 countries and regions. In its 13th year, Maker Faire Shenzhen is widely recognized for connecting makers around the world and showcasing Shenzhen’s identity as a city of innovation. 

A glance at Maker Faire Shenzhen 2024 at Design Commune at Vanke Cloud City in Nanshan District. Photo by Cao Zhen

Booths at Maker Faire Shenzhen 2024 bustle with tech enthusiasts. Photos courtesy of the event organizer unless otherwise stated

Held at Design Commune in Nanshan District, the event showcased innovations across more than 30 sectors, including AI, robotics, smart manufacturing, education, entertainment, smart cities, and smart agriculture. Exhibitors ranged from well-known firms like NVIDIA, Raspberry Pi, Seeed Studio, and Ultralytics to 18 universities, such as Shenzhen University, the Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Technology University, and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

Paul Kwiatkowski, an American design teacher at the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen, presented gadgets created by himself and his students. Teaching 3D printing and modeling, product design, rapid prototyping, and more to grades 6-10, he hoped to connect with local companies to bring new technologies to his students.

Paul Kwiatkowski poses for a photo at his booth.

Attendees participate in a workshop during Maker Faire Shenzhen 2024. 

Arijit Das, an 18-year-old university freshman from India, presented OraCan, an AI-powered device that detects three common types of oral cancer using Edge Impulse, NVIDIA Jetson Nano, and an intraoral camera. Although he hasn't sought business partners yet, Das plans to enhance the device with a portable 3D-printed enclosure for ease of use in remote areas.

“We are interested in meeting some universities and joining in communities for educational project exchanges. We have attended the Maker Faire Moscow for four years, and now we come to Shenzhen to broaden our horizons,” said Anna Vakulik from Fablab Moscow, a digital production lab at Russia's National University of Science and Technology MISIS. The lab exhibited its computer numerical control (CNC) machine for making printed circuit board (PCB) components, robot kits for students, and 3D-printed clay products.

Exhibitors from Fablab Moscow, the National University of Science and Technology MISIS, introduce their products to visitors.

A Japanese exhibitor wearing Stack-san, a monitor-shaped robot helmet, greets visitors. The helmet can display facial expressions and, when paired with other wearables, enable interactive, real-time conversations.  Photo by Cao Zhen

The event also featured inspiring talks, including “The AI-Driven Maker Era” session with Eric Pan, founder of Seeed Studio and Chaihuo Maker Space, and Eric Migicovsky, founder of Pebble and co-founder of Beeper. Pan, Migicovsky, and others discussed the use of AI by makers, highlighting its vast potential, opportunities, and challenges. Pan compared AI to a library with countless ways to engage, emphasizing its role as a crucial link across various industries.

The “AI for Science” session saw biology and engineering experts from research institutes and companies come together to discuss AI integration in interdisciplinary research. The “AI for Good” session highlighted how AI contributes to the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. The “Cyber Farms” session showcased how technology enhances productivity and creates new opportunities in rural areas.

Eric Pan (L) and Eric Migicovsky engage in a talk in “The AI-Driven Maker Era” session.

A girl from Hong Kong smiles as she introduces prototypes from her school. One standout gadget is the AI Cat Scanner, which can detect cats under vehicles and prevent accidents. Photo by Cao Zhen

The fair also included 21 workshops and 11 activities. Some workshops offered hands-on experiences for children in welding, programming, 3D-printed wearables, and basic robotics, while those for professionals covered advanced topics such as perception systems, TinyML, Arduino, and AI models. Some activities focused on how AI provides makers with more automation tools and open-source resources, allowing them to explore new possibilities and create customized products and solutions.