Hacking For Defense H4D Course
Hacking For Defense H4D Course
3-credit course
DSB 49000HD (CRN 30767) Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30-11:45 Mann Hall Room 153
What is H4D?
Hacking for Defense (H4D) is a Defense Innovation Unit sponsored program that brings real-world Department of Defense problems to the classroom for students to work on. “Hacking” does not refer to cybersecurity but “hacking through government bureaucracy.” During the semester, students form groups of 4-6 multi-disciplinary teams and engage in problem discovery by interviewing over 100 subject matter experts. Each week, the students will brief a small faculty team on what they discovered during the week and get feedback. Through this rapid iteration process the groups refine the most viable, feasible and desirable solution. At the end of the semester, the student groups will present their final solution to their project sponsor. There is a funded travel opportunity with this course. If approved, students can visit sponsors or attend conferences to interview subject matter experts.
Student Demographics:
The H4D at Purdue course seeks students willing to work hard and be a good teammate. There are no prerequisites for this course. The course has a mix of undergraduate and graduate students and is multi-disciplinary. Your major does not matter, only your willingness to work hard and engage in the learning process.
Fall '26 Problem Statements:
• Rapid Air Missile Defense System Repair
• Safe Storage to Store and Transport Alternative Fuels
• Building Better Batteries for Demanding Environments
• Counter UAS Coverage for Forward Arming and Refueling Points
• Autonomous Wet Gap Crossings
• Enhanced Telemetry for Unmanned Systems
• Swarming Without Strings