RhinoShieldDepin

Decentralized wildlife protection network using DePIN sensors, AI, and blockchain to track rhinos and stop poaching in real-time.

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🦏 Inspiration

Every 15 hours, a Black Rhino is killed by poachers. Traditional anti-poaching systems are centralized, slow to respond, and vulnerable to tampering or corruption. Rangers operate with incomplete data, and evidence chains are weak.

I wanted to build something that actually matters - using DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) and blockchain to create a tamper-proof, real-time threat detection system for endangered wildlife in Southern Africa.

💡 What It Does

RhinoShield DePIN is a decentralized wildlife protection network that:

  • Simulates distributed sensor nodes across conservation reserves (audio, motion, environmental)
  • Uses AI to classify events in real-time (gunshot vs. wildlife sound, suspicious movement patterns)
  • Logs confirmed threats immutably on-chain as verifiable evidence for law enforcement
  • Provides rangers with a live threat map dashboard showing active nodes and alerts
  • Lays the foundation for tokenized incentives where local communities earn rewards for running nodes

🔨 How I Built It

Frontend:

  • Next.js + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS
  • Leaflet.js for interactive threat mapping
  • Wagmi + Viem for Web3 wallet connection
  • Real-time threat feed UI with on-chain verification links

Backend:

  • FastAPI (Python) for event processing and threat analysis
  • Web3.py for smart contract interaction
  • Simulated Lilypad AI integration for audio classification
  • RESTful API endpoints for node status and threat logging

Blockchain:

  • Solidity smart contract deployed on Polygon Amoy testnet
  • RhinoShieldRegistry contract stores threat events with timestamps, coordinates, and threat type
  • Each alert is permanently recorded on-chain as evidence

Deployment:

  • Frontend: Vercel
  • Backend: Railway
  • Smart Contract: Polygon Amoy (testnet)

🚧 Challenges I Ran Into

  • Time constraints: Built the entire stack in 48 hours while managing other commitments
  • Web3 integration: Getting wallet connection + transaction signing working smoothly across the stack
  • DePIN simulation: Creating realistic sensor node behavior without physical hardware
  • Smart contract gas optimization: Keeping on-chain storage costs low while maintaining data integrity

🎓 What I Learned

  • How to architect a full-stack DePIN application from scratch
  • Real-world blockchain use cases beyond DeFi and NFTs
  • Integrating decentralized AI compute (Lilypad) into a production workflow
  • The power of hackathons to rapidly prototype solutions for urgent problems

🚀 What's Next for RhinoShield DePIN

Phase 1 (Next 3 months):

  • Pilot deployment with a real reserve using acoustic sensors
  • Full Lilypad integration for on-chain AI inference
  • IPFS/Filecoin storage for audio evidence

Phase 2 (6-12 months):

  • Token economics: rewards for node operators and community rangers
  • Mobile app for field rangers with offline-first capability
  • Partnership with conservation NGOs across Southern Africa

Phase 3 (Long-term vision):

  • Expand to other endangered species (elephants, pangolins, etc.)
  • Open-source hardware kit for DIY sensor deployment
  • Cross-border DePIN network covering major wildlife corridors

This isn't just a hackathon project - it's a blueprint for African-led, tech-driven conservation.

📍 Built in Johannesburg, South Africa 🌍 Protecting wildlife across Africa through decentralized technology

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