‍

Racing, Learning, and Building Together: Hubble at the AWS DeepRacer Championship

In late 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosted the DeepRacer Regional League Championship in Adelaide, bringing together over 20 competitors from across  Australia. 🇦🇺

For those unfamiliar, DeepRacer is AWS’s global competition where teams train and race autonomous vehicles on virtual tracks using reinforcement learning. It’s a fun, hands-on way to explore the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).

Taking AI for a Spin

At Hubble, we’re always looking for new ways to apply AI to real-world challenges. DeepRacer was the perfect chance to put our skills to the test.

Our team trained a model to navigate a fast, unforgiving virtual track — balancing strategy, speed, and adaptability. What began as an experiment quickly turned into an exciting test of creativity and collaboration.

We’re proud to share that the Hubble team finished second overall 🏆, right behind the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) 🥇, and ahead of Cassie Hames from SAGE Automation 🥉.

Special kudos to Matias Peralta and Marco Salinas, who proudly represented Hubble on the day and brought home the result. 🙌

A huge thanks also goes to #AWS, Ian Falconer, and Rob Absalom for organising such a fantastic event, and to the Premier of South Australia, Hon. Steven Marshall, for presenting the trophies.

‍

‍

‍

More Than Just a Race

DeepRacer wasn’t only about the leaderboard — it was about the journey. For our team, the event highlighted three key themes:

• Learning by Doing – Experimenting with different models, testing strategies, and seeing results in real time gave us fresh insights into machine learning beyond the office.
• Team Bonding – From brainstorming approaches to celebrating small wins, the process strengthened our collaboration and communication.
• Fun Outside Work – The competition reminded us how valuable it is to step out of routine, explore something new, and enjoy the process together.

Why Team Building Matters

At Hubble, our mission is serious: using AI to accelerate the transition to sustainable, comfortable, low-carbon homes. But events like DeepRacer show that innovation thrives when people are also having fun.

Team-building activities give us space to:

• Build trust and resilience.
• Foster creativity in unexpected ways.
• Recharge energy that flows back into client projects and research.

Looking Ahead

We walked away from DeepRacer with more than a trophy. We gained stronger bonds as a team, fresh ideas about applying AI, and a reminder that learning outside the day-to-day is essential for long-term success.

As we continue to grow, we’ll keep looking for ways to combine serious innovation with playful exploration — because the best solutions often come from teams who enjoy the journey together.

#TeamHubble #MachineLearning #AI #LotFourteen #TeamBuilding #Culture

‍