A smart fridge with AI, observes contents of the fridge to make meal plans using user info such as weight and height. This is useful for calorie tracking and promoting healthy eating.
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505
Innovation Fest 2025
About 505
UN SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Empowered and Driven:
Delivering Solutions for Global Issues
Coolio, the smart AI fridge, supports key Sustainable Development Goals by promoting efficient food use and healthier living. Aligned with Zero Hunger (SDG 2), it reduces food waste through expiry tracking, smart recipe suggestions, and donation prompts. For Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), it encourages mindful shopping and sustainable food habits by analyzing usage patterns. Supporting Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Coolio offers nutritional insights and meal suggestions tailored to users’ health goals, fostering better diets and overall wellness.
THE STORY BEGAN
DESIGN STORY
Challenges
1)Ensuring accurate food recognition and tracking
2)Protecting user privacy and data
3)Managing hardware and software integration
4)Encouraging consistent user engagement
5)Keeping costs low while maintaining quality
Solution
1)Food Recognition: Use machine learning with continuous updates to improve item detection and expiry tracking.
2)Privacy: Implement strong data encryption and give users full control over their data settings.
3)Integration: Design modular hardware and use reliable APIs for smooth communication between components.
4)User Engagement: Create a simple, intuitive interface with helpful notifications and personalized features.
5) Cost Management: Use cost-effective materials and scalable production methods without compromising key functionality.
Use Case
There is a single mother of 5, ages 47, she relies on Coolio to meal prep for her children, since she doesn’t have the time or facilities to organise her fridge. Since acquiring this fridge her life has changed and cooking has become a lot more efficient when she is on short notice.
TECHNOLOGIES
List of Essential Tools and Technologies
THE PROCESS
PROTOTYPE DESIGN
The prototype of Coolio, the smart AI fridge, combines fun design with powerful technology to support food sustainability, health, and smart home integration. The external design is visually appealing, including a basic version and a character-themed version (like the Hello Kitty style shown), making it ideal for both functionality and user engagement.
Coolio is powered by a Raspberry Pi as the central control unit, supported by a Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2 to identify stored food items using OpenCV and YOLO/TensorFlow Lite for object detection. A Mini USB Microphone paired with PocketSphinx or DeepSpeech enables voice commands, while a Temperature & Humidity Sensor monitors the internal environment. An ESP32 may optionally be used for wireless communication or IoT features. The system is programmed and managed via VS Code, with Node.js or Flask running the backend, and a web app interface for users to interact remotely. For secure remote access and networking, Ollama and Tailscale are used.
This prototype also connects to a host laptop for data training and real-time monitoring. The result is a smart, AI-driven fridge that’s interactive, health-conscious, and sustainability-focused.
Online Marketing
Creative agency
Web development
PLEDGE
Impact on the market
Coolio has the potential to significantly disrupt and innovate the home appliance market by merging AI, IoT, and sustainability. As consumer demand grows for smart, health-conscious, and eco-friendly technologies, Coolio fills a unique niche by addressing real-world issues like food waste, dietary health, and responsible consumption. Its intelligent food tracking and voice-enabled interface offer a more interactive and efficient user experience compared to traditional fridges. With its ability to reduce household food waste and promote healthier eating habits, Coolio appeals to both environmentally conscious and tech-savvy consumers. Additionally, its compatibility with mobile and web apps opens the door to integration with smart homes and health platforms, making it attractive in both consumer and commercial sectors (e.g., small cafés, co-living spaces). Over time, Coolio could influence the broader appliance industry to adopt more AI-driven, sustainable features as a standard.
RESULTS
FINAL PRODUCT
The development of Coolio, the smart AI fridge, involved a multi-phase process combining hardware integration, software development, and user-centered design. The goal was to create a prototype that supports sustainable living, healthy eating, and food waste reduction using artificial intelligence and IoT.
The process began with research and planning, where we identified the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to target: Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, and Responsible Consumption and Production. We then selected essential hardware components including a Raspberry Pi, Camera Module V2, Mini USB Microphone, Temperature & Humidity Sensor, and optionally an ESP32 for wireless communication. These were assembled and wired to form the physical structure of the system.
Next, the software development phase involved setting up a backend using Node.js or Flask, integrating image processing with OpenCV and YOLO/TensorFlow Lite for object detection, and enabling voice commands using PyAudio and DeepSpeech or PocketSphinx. A web application was developed to allow remote access, inventory monitoring, and recipe suggestions. Tools like VS Code, Tailscale, and Ollama were used for coding, secure networking, and AI testing.
In the testing and refinement stage, we validated the system’s ability to detect food items, monitor environmental conditions, respond to voice input, and sync data to the app. Adjustments were made based on performance and user feedback to improve functionality and ease of use.
Finally, a user-friendly design was added, including a touchscreen interface and themed exterior options like the Hello Kitty variant, making Coolio both practical and appealing. The result is a working prototype that demonstrates the potential of AI in everyday appliances, aiming to create a positive impact on households and the environment.
