College start-up develops affordable home automation module

Product allows one to control and schedule any home appliance, and optimises energy use by 40% by analysing and prompting change in usage patterns

A start-up by two college students has developed a compact home automation module claiming it to be the most affordable in the market.

The 'Smitch' module, which is priced between Rs 2,999 and Rs 13,499 and focuses on savings and comfort, will be launched at a consumer fair here on April 21, H R Sanathkumar of PSG College of Technology said.

Sanathkumar, also Chief Executive Officer of start up firm Karsan Technologies Pvt Ltd, said the compact smitch module can be placed comfortably behind any existing switchboard and does not require rewiring or change in existing wiring.

The product, with its interactive mobile app and on-board timers allows customers to control and schedule any home appliance, he said, adding that it also allows users to optimise energy consumption by 40 per cent by analysing and prompting change in usage patterns.

The home automation market is at a nascent stage and the average cost of automation for a home is still very high, Sanatkumar said.

Pragadheesh Raj, Chief Technical Officer of the company, said they would launch the products in eight cities, including Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, with initial capacity of 6,000 pieces.