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Software gets a lot of attention in the Seattle area, but how about a hand for hardware and gadgets that you can actually touch, with your hands?

The Hardware/Gadget of the Year at the GeekWire Awards is meant to honor a specific device that demonstrated innovative engineering and an exemplary user experience, and has left a unique mark on the technology landscape.

This year’s nominees are Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for its Acoustic Gunshot Detection system; Wyze, for its Wyze Cam v3; Carbon Robotics, for its Autonomous Weeder; Pallet, for its tiny house shelters; and Picnic, for its robotic Pizza System.

Last year’s winner was Seattle-based Deako, whose “plug and play” light switches allow homebuilders and homeowners to easily swap in high-tech, remotely controlled lighting.

The GeekWire Awards recognize the top innovators and companies in Pacific Northwest technology. Finalists in this category and others were selected based on community nominations, along with input from GeekWire Awards judges. Community voting across all categories will continue until April 22, combined with feedback from judges to determine the winner in each category.

We’ll announce the winners on May 12 at the GeekWire Awards, presented by Astound Business Solutions. Contact [email protected] for more information.

You can vote for your picks across all categories in the GeekWire Awards ballot below, and read on to learn more about the finalists for Hardware/Gadget of the Year.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The makers: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., collaborates with academic institutions and with commercial industries to advance scientific and technological research and innovation.

The hardware/gadget: The Acoustic Gunshot Detection system can detect a gunshot indoors, identifying the weapon type (caliber) and potentially the location of the gunshot. The information, coupled with a notification, enables first responders to take swift action and possibly limit the loss of life during mass shooting events.

Wyze

The makers: Bothell, Wash.-based Wyze produces low-cost smart-home products ranging from security cameras to robot vacuums to thermostats.

The hardware/gadget: The Wyze Cam v3 is the latest iteration of the startup’s original product. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the camera has 1080p color night vision and sells for $29.99.

Carbon Robotics

The makers: Seattle-based Carbon Robotics is leveraging artificial intelligence and laser technology to revolutionize the agriculture industry.

The hardware/gadget: The self-driving Autonomous LaserWeeder is about the size of a medium tractor and can cover up to 16 acres of cropland a day, zapping as many as 100,000 weeds an hour. The practice is intended to increase crop yield, reduce overall costs, and enable sustainable organic farming practices.

Pallet

The makers: Pallet is an Everett, Wash.-based social purpose corporation working to end unsheltered homelessness.

The hardware/gadget: Pallet shelters are made of easy to assemble hard plastic panels. A single unit can be erected in an hour and a 50-cabin village can be built in a day. The structures are easy to clean and resistant to mildew and water damage.

Picnic

The makers: Seattle-based Picnic is a food automation startup designing technology to address cost, productivity and worker shortages in the food service industry.

The hardware/gadget: The Picnic Pizza System is a pizza-assembly machine on which a single employee can churn out up to 100 12-inch customized pizzas per hour. Fresh ingredients are dispensed onto dough that is made by hand and the recipe can be tweaked to suit the restaurant, commercial kitchen, or whoever owns the machine.

A big thanks to Astound Business Solutions, the presenting sponsor of the 2022 GeekWire Awards.

Also, thanks to gold-level and category sponsors: Wilson Sonsini, ALLtech, JLL, DreamBox Learning, Blink UX, BECU, Baird, Fuel Talent, RSM, Aon, Meridian Capital, and WTIA. And thanks to silver level sponsors: J.P. Morgan Chase, Material+, and Tomo.

If interested in sponsoring a category or purchasing a table sponsorship for the event, contact us at [email protected].