A Student Innovation in Smart Kitchen Safety Using IoT

In many households, kitchens are places of creativity and warmth. Yet they can also be environments where unnoticed hazards develop quietly. Gas leaks, rising temperatures, or poor ventilation can escalate into dangerous situations if they are not detected early. For engineering students exploring the potential of connected technologies, these everyday risks present an opportunity to design practical solutions that improve safety and awareness.

One such example comes from Priyadarshani Mahapatra, an undergraduate in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla. Through her recent project, she developed a Smart Kitchen Monitoring System using Internet of Things technology, demonstrating how connected sensors and cloud platforms can help monitor kitchen conditions in real time.

Addressing Safety Challenges in Domestic Environments

Kitchen accidents often occur due to delayed detection of hazardous conditions. Gas leaks, excessive heat, and poor air quality can go unnoticed until they become serious problems. Traditional safety methods rely heavily on manual checks or standalone alarms that provide limited information.

Priyadarshani’s project tackles this issue by introducing a connected monitoring system that continuously observes key environmental conditions. By combining embedded electronics with cloud-based monitoring, the system provides both local alerts and remote visibility, allowing users to respond quickly when abnormal conditions appear.

System Architecture and Components

At the heart of the system is the ESP32 microcontroller, a widely used platform in IoT development due to its integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and flexible processing capabilities. The ESP32 collects data from multiple sensors installed in the kitchen.

Two primary sensors are used:

DHT11 Sensor
Measures temperature and humidity levels, providing insight into environmental conditions that may indicate overheating or poor ventilation.
MQ-2 Gas Sensor
Detects combustible gases such as LPG and methane, which are common in cooking environments that rely on gas stoves.

These sensors continuously transmit readings to the ESP32, which processes the information before sending it to a cloud platform for monitoring.

To provide immediate feedback within the kitchen itself, the system also includes:

A 16×2 LCD display that shows real-time sensor readings
LED indicators that visually signal the system status
- Green LED indicates normal operating conditions
- Red LED activates when gas levels exceed a defined safety threshold

This dual-feedback approach ensures that users can quickly notice issues, even without accessing a remote dashboard.

Real-Time Monitoring with the Favoriot Platform

A key element of the project is its integration with the Favoriot IoT platform, which acts as the cloud infrastructure for device connectivity and data visualisation.

Through the platform, the ESP32 transmits sensor readings to the cloud, where the data can be:

Stored and managed in real time
Visualised through dashboards
Accessed remotely through web-based interfaces

This capability allows users to monitor kitchen conditions even when they are not physically present in the house. For example, a homeowner could check the kitchen’s environmental status via a dashboard and identify potential risks early.

The platform simplifies the process of connecting devices, managing telemetry data, and building monitoring dashboards. For students and developers, it offers a practical environment for experimenting with IoT applications without having to build complex backend systems from scratch.

Learning Through Practical Engineering

Projects like this demonstrate how engineering education can bridge theory with real-world applications. By working with sensors, microcontrollers, and cloud platforms, students gain exposure to several important areas of modern technology development:

Embedded systems design
Wireless communication using microcontrollers
Sensor integration and data acquisition
Cloud-based data visualization
Safety monitoring applications

For Priyadarshani, the project represents not only a technical exercise but also an exploration of how connected technologies can address everyday challenges. Kitchen monitoring is a practical use case where IoT can provide tangible benefits to households and communities.

Encouraging Student Innovation in IoT

Across universities worldwide, students are increasingly experimenting with IoT to build prototypes that address real-life problems. These projects range from smart agriculture and environmental monitoring to smart homes and industrial applications.

The accessibility of development boards like ESP32, combined with cloud platforms that simplify device connectivity, has lowered the barrier for experimentation. As a result, students can move from concept to a working prototype in a relatively short time.

Priyadarshani Mahapatra’s Smart Kitchen Monitoring System is a good illustration of how student-led projects can translate classroom knowledge into meaningful technological solutions.

Looking Ahead

Connected safety systems in homes and buildings are becoming more common as IoT technologies continue to mature. Future versions of systems like this could incorporate additional capabilities, such as:

Automated gas shut-off mechanisms
Mobile notifications and alerts
Integration with smart home ecosystems
Predictive analysis of environmental patterns

By expanding the system with additional sensors or AI-based analysis, students and researchers can further explore how connected environments improve safety and awareness.

Recognising Emerging Engineering Talent

Projects like this highlight the creativity and determination of engineering students who are exploring how technology can solve practical problems. By building a working system that combines sensors, embedded computing, and cloud monitoring, Priyadarshani Mahapatra has demonstrated both technical competence and a strong understanding of real-world applications.

Her work reflects the growing enthusiasm among young engineers to experiment with IoT systems and develop solutions that contribute to safer and smarter living environments.

As more students continue to explore connected technologies, initiatives like this will play an important role in shaping the next generation of IoT innovators.