Students create next-gen mist guard for smarter, safer cooling anywhere

India Today

5 days ago

In a forward-thinking step toward healthier, sustainable cooling for all, a dynamic team from Alliance University's Centre of Excellence Makerspace has created the Smart Mist Guard, a versatile, affordable, and intelligent cooling system designed for everyday spaces and underserved communities. The invention is an outstanding example of student-driven innovation under the thoughtful mentorship of Dr. Harinath Aireddy, Director of Makerspace.Traditional cooling solutions often leave much to be desired: fans are basic, air conditioners are costly and energy-intensive, and even conventional mist fans lack automation, wasting water and electricity. Observing these challenges in real community settings, Dr. Aireddy notes, 'The idea for the Smart Mist Guard came from a real-world problem I observed.advertisementMany communities still lack access to intelligent, affordable cooling solutions that also address health concerns.' With his guidance, a diverse group of students and technical officers embarked on a journey to not only bridge this gap but do so with a sustainable, socially relevant product.COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION
The project, led by Dr. Aireddy, is the fruit of dedicated teamwork involving students Marriwada Harshavardhan and Sudhir R for hardware integration, Nanditha D N and Gurramkonda Venkata Sai for software, and technical officers Joel Jaimon (design), Sheshadri K, and Namitha Papishetty (hardware). Together, these young innovators turned an ambitious concept into a fully functional prototype through relentless experimentation, feedback, and iterative improvement.As Harshavardhan reflects, 'The vision introduced at Makerspace, Alliance University, for a smart, health-conscious cooling system served as a strong source of inspiration for our team. This initiative gave us valuable hands-on experience.The project deepened our understanding of how innovation, when rooted in real-world community challenges, can lead to meaningful impact. Contributing to a solution that blends comfort, sustainability, and social relevance has been a truly rewarding experience.'SMART, EFFICIENT AND USER-CENTRICWhat sets the Smart Mist Guard apart? Unlike regular fans or mist coolers, this device uses intelligent sensors to activate only when people are present, adjusting mist delivery to the surrounding temperature and humidity. This not only saves energy and water but also ensures optimal comfort without resource wastage.Going further, the system features built-in mosquito-repellent dispersion a crucial benefit for communities vulnerable to vector-borne diseases-and an odour-detection air-freshening feature for a healthier indoor environment. Accessibility was made a priority; the device can be controlled remotely via a web application, and an intuitive digital display enables easy real-time monitoring and adjustment, ideal for elderly or differently-abled users.DESIGNED FOR INCLUSION AND IMPACTA defining strength of the Smart Mist Guard is its commitment to affordability. By leveraging clever design and cost-effective components, the team aimed to make smart cooling available to a much wider demographic, including rural homes, clinics, classrooms, and semi-open spaces where traditional AC systems are impractical.As Dr. Aireddy emphasises, 'Through consistent guidance, technical mentoring, and review sessions, the team successfully transformed the concept into a functional solution. This project stands as a strong example of how purposeful mentorship and student-led innovation can effectively respond to real societal needs.'advertisementThe Smart Mist Guard stands as a testament to Alliance University's ethos of experiential learning, encouraging students to tackle real societal challenges. The project is currently being evaluated for commercialisation, with upgrades underway to make the device even more robust, user-friendly, and ready for widespread use.- Ends