The power of adaptability: RMIT students build safety system in 72 hours

Bosch Code Race 2025 was a hackathon that pushed students to design autonomous driving solutions in just 72 hours. Three RMIT Vietnam Software Engineering students, Ngo Van Tai, Huynh Thai Duong, and Le Nguyen Khuong Duy, formed the team The LIEMS with a bold ambition: None of them had worked with autonomous systems before, yet they decided to step into one of the most anticipated tech challenges in the region. 

“When we walked into the competition, we really knew nothing about CAN (Controller Area Network) bus or how autonomous systems actually work,” said Duong. “But instead of being afraid, we told ourselves this was our chance to prove that we could learn fast and still deliver.” 

Despite starting from zero in this field, The LIEMS still wanted to create something that could make a real difference. Their idea, the Intelligent Mountain Pass Safety Assist System (IMPSAS), focused on preventing accidents on dangerous mountain roads. The system monitored brake integrity, detected hazards in blind spots, and warned drivers about slippery conditions. 

“Mountains are beautiful, but the roads can be unforgiving,” Tai explained. “We wanted to design something that could genuinely protect drivers, even if we had to learn the technology from scratch.” 

“It felt like drinking from a firehose for those 3 days,” Duy recalled. “We were reading documentation, watching tutorials, testing, and coding almost at the same time. It was chaotic, but it forced us to absorb knowledge at a speed we did not think was possible.” 

The hackathon tested much more than coding. It demanded clear communication, trust, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Before the competition began, the team sat together to discuss potential problems and strategies. That preparation gave them structure when stress mounted. 

“Going through those difficulties really taught us how to work together, especially under pressure,” Duong said. “We got much better at communicating, figuring out who should do what, and trusting each other to get our parts done on time.” 

Each member took on a primary role: Tai focused on hardware integration, Duy handled data communication, and Duong developed the pitch and presentation. Yet these roles never stayed rigid. When one member hit a barrier, the others stepped in to help. “Adaptability was our strongest skill,” Tai reflected. “Even if one of us hit a wall, the others were ready to back him up.” 

Despite their preparation, exhaustion and frustration often tested their resilience. Long nights of debugging drained their energy, and at times, progress seemed impossible. “There was one point where our code just would not run,” Duy remembered. “We were tired, frustrated, and running out of time. Instead of panicking, we decided to step back, take a short break, and rethink the problem. That small reset changed everything. Within an hour, we had it working.” 

Their biggest challenge came when they had to move beyond simulations and connect their hardware to a real car’s CAN network. None of them had ever attempted it before, and the gap between theory and practice quickly became clear. “Our main difficulty was bridging that gap between what looked perfect in simulation and what actually worked on a live vehicle,” Duy explained. 

Fortunately, Bosch provided an opportunity to test their system on an actual car before the final day. The team worked through the night to fix those issues and refine their code. The experience became a turning point, pushing them to deliver a solution that was not only functional but reliable under real conditions. 

Their 2nd Runner-Up finish felt like a victory, but the deeper reward came in the confidence they carried away from the event. “We learned how to dive in and figure things out,” said Duy. “That experience showed us that uncertainty is not a barrier. It can actually push you to innovate faster than you thought possible.” 

The hackathon transformed how they saw learning itself. Challenges no longer appeared as obstacles. Instead, they became opportunities to adapt and grow. The team proved to themselves that they could step into any unfamiliar field and find a way forward. 

Looking back, the team admitted there were things they could have done differently. “We should have spent more time on the ideation phase,” the team reflected. “IMPSAS had strong potential, but complications meant we couldn’t push it as far as we wanted. In the end, our code could only go as far as the idea allowed.” They also recognised the need to better understand the CAN signals before jumping into development.  

Yet those setbacks became stepping stones. The hackathon gave them more than a prize; it gave them the confidence to take on any challenge with adaptability as their guide. “We want to keep this momentum,” Tai said. “The hackathon showed us that adaptability is our most valuable skill. Whatever comes next, we know we can learn, adjust, and innovate.”  

At RMIT, students are encouraged to take risks and try new things. As Duong shared, “That freedom gave us the courage to step into Code Race without hesitation.” In just a few days, the team had to master unfamiliar technologies, pushing beyond their limits. “The biggest growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone,” Duong reflected. With mentors’ guidance and the support of the RMIT community, challenges became opportunities, and Code Race became more than a competition. 

 In just three days, they transformed uncertainty into progress, showing that challenges can ignite creativity. What started as a leap into the unknown ended with a working safety solution and a deeper confidence in their abilities. Their journey revealed a powerful truth: in times of change, adaptability unlocks innovation. 

Story: Written by Pham Thanh Thao, Professional Communication student. This article does not reflect the views of RMIT Vietnam as an institution.