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SF Bay ACM Chapter

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Sunnyvale, CA, US

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About us

This Meetup group supports the SF Bay ACM Chapter. You can join the actual SF Bay Chapter by coming to a meeting - most meetings are free, and our membership is only $20/year !
The chapter has both educational and scientific purposes:
- the science, design, development, construction, languages, management and applications of modern computing.
- communication between persons interested in computing.
- cooperation with other professional groups
Our official bylaws will be available soon at the About Us page on our web site. See below for out Code of Conduct.
Videos of past meetings can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/sfbayacm
Official web site of SF Bay ACM:
http://www.sfbayacm.org/
Click here to Join or Renew

Article IX: Code of Conduct - from the ACM Professional Chapter Code of Conduct
Harassment or hostile behavior is unwelcome, including speech that intimidates,creates discomfort, or interferes with a person’s participation or opportunity for participation, in a Chapter meeting or Chapter event.Harassment in any form, including but not limited to harassment based on alienage or citizenship, age, color, creed, disability, marital status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, childbirth- and pregnancy-related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, gender,veteran status, sexual orientation or any other status protected by laws in which the Chapter meeting or Chapter event is being held, will not be tolerated. Harassment includes the use of abusive or degrading language, intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording,inappropriate physical contact, sexual imagery and unwelcome sexualattention. A response that the participant was “just joking,” or “teasing,”or being “playful,” will not be accepted.2. Anyone witnessing or subject to unacceptable behavior should notify a chapter officer or ACM Headquarters.3. Individuals violating these standards may be sanctioned or excluded from further participation at the discretion of the Chapter officers or responsible committee members.

Upcoming events

6

Closing the Loop: Using Comp Vision to Auto PCB E-Waste Sorting (Student Proj)
Mon, May 18 · 6:30 PM PDT
Valley Research Park, 319 North Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA, US
TALK LOGISTICS:
Monday, May 18, 2026
(remote penelists, audience can be either in person or remote on Zoom. Please RSVP and indicate if you will be local or remote)

6:30 registration, food sponsored by Neo4j, networking.
7:00 SFbayACM upcoming events, introduce the speakers
7:10 Speaker team presentation
8:15 or 8:30 based on Q and A

Zoom link:
(updated 2 days before the event)
YouTube:
(updated 2 days before the event)

SFbayACM will support a local audience at VRP in Mountain View

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TALK DESCRIPTION:
Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, yet most recycling processes destroy valuable components through industrial shredding. This talk walks through our project building a low-cost, AI-powered system that identifies and physically sorts reusable components from discarded printed circuit boards (PCBs) — recovering more value at the component level rather than treating boards as bulk scrap.

A key advantage of our system is cost. Our full build came in at roughly $350, compared to approximately $5,000–$6,000 for a tumbler-based solution — which only recovers lower-value bulk material — and $20,000+ for a commercial pick-and-place system.

Proposed Talk Structure:
1. The Problem — Scale of PCB e-waste globally and in the Bay Area, why industrial shredding leaves recoverable value on the table, and the circular economy opportunity at the component level.

2. Technical Approach — Dataset construction: merging FPIC and Dataset Ninja (~6,000+ annotated images, 18 component classes). Model selection: YOLOv11 instance segmentation and why it fits a centroid-based picking system. Training pipeline challenges — class mapping inconsistencies across merged datasets. Results: ~91% mAP across component classes.

3. Mechanical Design — Gantry hardware selection and why a repurposed CR10 3D printer frame made sense. Stepper motor control and coordinate mapping from vision output to physical space. Tradeoffs in the mechanical design — precision vs. cost vs. complexity.

4. The Physical System in Action — Integrating vision model output with the gantry. Video walkthrough of end-to-end component sorting.

5. Lessons Learned & Broader Implications — What broke, what surprised us, and what we'd do differently. Potential applications — PCB recyclers, repair shops, maker spaces. Where AI fits in sustainable hardware reuse pipelines.

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SPEAKER's BIO:
Vighnesh is a junior at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California. He recently competed in his first science fair, the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science & Technology Championship, where he and his teammates placed 2nd in the engineering category. His interests span computer vision, robotics, and AI, and he has experience as a junior developer working with TypeScript, React, and SQL. He is also a member of his school's FRC robotics team.

Lalit is a junior at Archbishop Mitty High School specializing in computer vision, robotics, and embedded systems, with hands-on experience spanning Arduino and Raspberry Pi integration, YOLOv11-based object detection, and competitive robotics programming in C++. He serves as the lead programmer for his school's VEX Robotics team and co-president of the Data Science Club, where he has developed expertise in autonomous systems and real-time control. Along with Vighnesh and Vrishank, he competed in his first science fair, the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science & Technology Championship, where they placed 2nd in the engineering category.

Vrishank is a junior at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California. He conducted research at UC Santa Cruz's COSMOS program in photonics, working on SPR biosensing and Fresnel lens optimization for solar sails. He competed at the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science & Technology Championship, where his team placed 2nd in the engineering category with an automated e-waste sorting system. He developed a CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing QC system for the BioHESC bioengineering competition, where his team placed 1st. His other projects include high voltage electronics such as nixie tube clocks and flyback transformer circuits. His interests are in electrical engineering, photonics, and semiconductors, and he has experience in FRC and FLL robotics.
18 attendees
Latest & Unique Tech Innovations from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
Wed, May 27 · 7:00 PM PDT
Valley Research Park, 319 North Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA, US
LOCATION ADDRESS (Hybrid, in person or by zoom, you choose)
Valley Research Park
319 North Bernardo Avenue
Mountain View, CA CA 93043
If you want to join remotely, you can submit questions via Zoom Q&A. The zoom link:
https://acm-org.zoom.us/
Join via YouTube:
https://youtube.com/live/sJ38lsfLfeU

AGENDA
6:30 Door opens, SFBAY ACM 69 anniversary Cake and networking (we invite honor system contributions)
7:00 SFBay ACM 2025 Slate of board members and annual election, upcoming events.
7:15 Speaker presents
8:25- 8:40 finish, depending on Q&A

Join SF Bay ACM Chapter for an insightful discussion on:

Abstract
This is a summary of the latest and unique tech innovations from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. CES's focus has expanded beyond consumer electronic devices to many categories including wearables, smart homes, robotics, drones, medical and healthcare devices, etc.

Speaker Bio:
Avery Lu is one of the leaders in the Valley in tech business development, and is current Chair of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section.
As Partner & Head of Business Development, Investments for Aventurine Capital Group, LLC (www.aventurine.com), Avery Lu leverages his
30+ year’s experience as a high-tech business executive in both large corporations and startups. He works directly with
partners in venture capital, universities and startups as well as scientists to identify high value intellectual property for
investment and commercialization. Avery is also Senior Director of Program Development and Interest Groups at the
Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) (www.gsaglobal.org), a global platform “Where Leaders Meet” to establish an efficient, profitable, and
sustainable high technology global ecosystem encompassing semiconductors, software, solutions, systems, and services.

He has previously co-founded 3 startups; Palo Alto Scientific (AI sports analytics/ wearables/IoT), ActionSpot Startup Studio
(venture studio & co-working space) and WBGlobalSemi (SiC power management solutions). Early in his career, Avery held
various senior level roles in Business Development, Segment Marketing, Product Marketing, Global Account Management
and Field Applications Engineering at NXP Semiconductor, Infineon Technologies, Toshiba Semiconductor, Winbond Electronics,
American Microsystems Incorporated, Cypress Semiconductor, Viewlogic Systems and Xilinx.

Avery is a Senior Member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers) and Professional Member of IEEE Eta
Kappa Nu Honor Society who is the current Chair of IEEE Santa Clara Valley (SCV) Section in Silicon Valley, a former
2015-2016 Chair of IEEE SCV Consumer Technology Society Chapter and an Executive Committee Member of IEEE SCV
Startup Special Interest Group. Since 2011, he has served on the Board of Directors of CASPA (Chinese American
Semiconductor Professional Association), and has served on the Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship at his alma mater, Santa Clara University, where he earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
www.linkedin.com/in/averylu
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Valley Research Park is a coworking research campus of 104,000 square feet hosting 30+ life science and technology companies. VRP has over 100 dry labs, wet labs, and high power labs sized from 125-15,000 square feet. VRP manages all of the traditional office elements: break rooms, conference rooms, outdoor dining spaces, and recreational spaces.

As a plug-and-play lab space, once companies have secured their next milestone and are ready to expand, VRP has 100+ labs ready to expand into.
https://www.valleyresearchpark.com/
8 attendees
The IEEE Mass Storage Roadmap 2026 Update
Wed, Jun 10 · 7:00 PM PDT
Valley Research Park, 319 North Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA, US
LOCATION ADDRESS (Hybrid, in person or by zoom, you choose)
Valley Research Park
319 North Bernardo Avenue
Mountain View, CA CA 93043
If you want to join remotely, you can submit questions via Zoom Q&A. The zoom link:
https://acm-org.zoom.us/j/
Join via YouTube:
https://youtube.com/live/sJ38lsfLfeU

AGENDA
6:30 Door opens, SFBAY ACM 68 anniversary Cake and networking (we invite honor system contributions)
7:00 SFBay ACM 2026 Slate of board members and annual election, upcoming events.
7:15 Dr. Tom Coughlin :"The IEEE Mass Storage Roadmap 2026 Update"
8:25- 8:40 finish, depending on Q&A

Join SF Bay ACM Chapter for an insightful discussion on:

Abstract
A group of experts recently completed a roadmap for all types of digital storage technology out 15 years into the future. This includes NAND flash and new non-volatile memories, hard disk drives, magnetic tape, optical storage and DNA storage. Come to this talk to get a glimpse of the future of something that people can’t get enough of, digital storage technology.

Speaker Bio:
Tom Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates is a digital storage analyst and business/ technology consultant. He has over 40 years in the data storage industry with engineering and senior management positions. Coughlin Associates consults, publishes books and market and technology reports and puts on digital storage and memory-oriented events. He is a regular contributor for forbes.com and M&E organization websites. He is an IEEE Fellow, an ACM Senior Member, 2024 IEEE President, Past-President IEEE-USA, Past Director IEEE Region 6 and Past Chair Santa Clara Valley IEEE Section, and is also active with SNIA, SMPTE and CNSV. For more information on Tom Coughlin go to www.tomcoughlin.com.

---

Valley Research Park is a coworking research campus of 104,000 square feet hosting 30+ life science and technology companies. VRP has over 100 dry labs, wet labs, and high power labs sized from 125-15,000 square feet. VRP manages all of the traditional office elements: break rooms, conference rooms, outdoor dining spaces, and recreational spaces.

As a plug-and-play lab space, once companies have secured their next milestone and are ready to expand, VRP has 100+ labs ready to expand into.
https://www.valleyresearchpark.com/
23 attendees
Search 360°: From Query Understanding to LLM-Enhanced Retrieval
Mon, Jun 22 · 7:00 PM PDT
·
Online
Online
Hybrid event on Zoom and YouTube

If you want to join discussion remotely, you can submit questions via Zoom Q&A. The zoom link:
https://acm-org.zoom.us/j/94932457090?pwd=SzCaJbWEJpzEpJl7wYa1aSrHa8G15r.1
Join via YouTube:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=t15Ca-KblbE

AGENDA
6:30 pre-sign in to test and chat
7:00 SFBayACM upcoming events, introduce the speaker
7:15 speaker presentation starts
8:15 - 8:30 finish, depending on Q&A

Join SF Bay ACM Chapter for an insightful discussion in person at VRP

Description:
Search systems are evolving rapidly, powered by advances in deep learning, embeddings, and now large language models. This talk offers a 360° view of modern search architectures: from query understanding and candidate generation to pre-ranking, ranking, and re-ranking. We’ll explore how hybrid retrieval (sparse + dense), multi-task learning, and LLM-assisted query understanding are redefining search quality and personalization. Attendees will gain a systems-level understanding of how each layer contributes to relevance, diversity, and user satisfaction, and where to focus next for scalable innovation.

Audience:
AI practitioners interested in understanding how modern search systems work end-to-end. Also suitable for product engineers and researchers. Beginner to intermediate level: designed for attendees familiar with basic ML and data concepts, but not requiring deep expertise in search or ranking systems.

Speaker Bio:
Gauri Sarode is a Machine Learning Engineer at foodtech where she builds large-scale personalization and search systems that shape the customer discovery experience. With an M.S. in Computer Science from New York University, Gauri combines academic depth with real-world production experience. She holds multiple certifications in Generative AI and Retrieval-Augmented Generation.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurisarode/
---

Valley Research Park is a coworking research campus of 104,000 square feet hosting 60+ life science and technology companies. VRP has over 100 dry labs, wet labs, and high power labs sized from 125-15,000 square feet. VRP manages all of the traditional office elements: break rooms, conference rooms, outdoor dining spaces, and recreational spaces.

As a plug-and-play lab space, once companies have secured their next milestone and are ready to expand, VRP has 100+ labs ready to expand into.
https://www.valleyresearchpark.com/
4 attendees

Past events

401

Organizers

Bill and 7 others

Bill and 1 other are Super Organizers

Members

13,228

www.sfbayacm.org

Related topics

Data Visualization

Software Development

Computer Programming

Interaction Design

Machine Learning

Neural Networks

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