GT Nest SHAS is a fun, student-designed smart home system that turns regular homes into efficient, intelligent spaces. With easy and automated control over lights, heating, and water, it solves everyday problems like energy waste, overheated/freezing rooms, and forgotten taps—using affordable, wireless tech to make homes smarter, safer, and more eco-friendly.
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GT
Innovation Fest 2025
About GT
UN SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Empowered and Driven:
Delivering Solutions for Global Issues
Goal 7 promotes energy efficiency and affordable energy access. GT Nest SHAS supports this by reducing unnecessary energy consumption through automation.
Goal 9 encourages sustainable infrastructure and innovation. Our system integrates modern technology into homes to make them smarter and more efficient, aligning with this global push for innovation.
Goal 12 aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. GT Nest SHAS contributes to this by minimizing waste, promoting responsible use of electricity and water, and helping households monitor and reduce their environmental footprint.
THE STORY BEGAN
DESIGN STORY
Challenges
During the development process, we encountered several challenges. On the component side, we struggled with sourcing reliable and affordable sensors, as well as ensuring compatibility between the ESP32 and Raspberry Pi. Some devices had limited documentation, which made integration more difficult. On the team front, we had a mix of skill levels, leading to significant learning curves in Python, MQTT, and circuit design. This required additional time and collaboration. Furthermore, we faced occasional setbacks when debugging wireless communication issues, managing power efficiently, and setting up automation with Home Assistant.
Solution
We overcame these obstacles through teamwork, research, and resourcefulness. Our team divided tasks according to individual strengths, allowing us to help each other learn and troubleshoot along the way. Online tutorials, simulators, forums, and documentation became invaluable resources, while regular team meetings ensured that our progress stayed on track. By experimenting with mock circuits on online simulators like Tinkercad and testing in stages, we gradually built our confidence and improved the design, turning challenges into valuable learning milestones..
Use Case
GT Nest SHAS is designed for everyday users—students, families, and anyone aiming to make their home smarter without breaking the bank. The system allows for automated control of lighting, temperature, and water usage, helping reduce utility bills and environmental impact. Its remote-access features are especially useful for busy individuals or those who travel frequently, offering peace of mind through real-time monitoring and automation. Additionally, the project supports green living by reducing unnecessary energy and water consumption through smart scheduling and responsive sensors.
TECHNOLOGIES
List of Essential Tools and Technologies
THE PROCESS
PROTOTYPE DESIGN
Our prototype includes automation for three rooms: lighting with motion sensors and dimmable LEDs, temperature control with thermostats and heaters, and water management with flow sensors and actuators. These features are prioritized because they tackle the most common areas of waste in everyday homes.
Online Marketing
Creative agency
Web development
PLEDGE
Impact on the market
The smart home market is expanding, but many products tend to be expensive and not very user-friendly. GT Nest SHAS provides an affordable, modular solution that is perfect for students, renters, and budget-conscious users. Our product stands out due to its simplicity, flexibility, and a fun, friendly approach to automation.
RESULTS
FINAL PRODUCT
We started with brainstorming and identifying pain points in daily home usage. We moved to wireframing the interface for our system and specifying the functions we want to provide, selecting components like Arduino UNO R4 and Raspberry Pi to integrate wireless communication, sensor automation, and smart control systems. Tools like the Autodesk Tinkercad and Arduino IDE helped us perform test automations. The result: a friendly, functional smart home system ready for the future.
