Client

A health-focused home appliance startup envisioned Homa, an IoT-enabled smart flour mill designed to encourage healthy living by promoting the use of freshly ground flour at home. Unlike conventional flour mills, Homa goes beyond simple milling it records operational metrics, rewards user engagement, and integrates seamlessly with a connected mobile app to create a smart kitchen experience.

Problem Statement

The client came to us with a manually operated, pre-built flour mill and a vision to transform it into a cloud-connected, production-ready smart device. The goal was to monitor usage data such as run-time, current consumption, and flour output, and relay this to a cloud server. In turn, users would be rewarded with redeemable loyalty points via the mobile app. However, the challenge was building a scalable, production-ready IoT device with robust electronics, real-time data communication, and seamless integration with their app ecosystem.

Solution

To bring this concept to life, Techshlok delivered a complete electronic transformation designing the hardware, firmware, and system architecture to make the mill intelligent, responsive, and cloud-connected. With deep expertise in embedded systems, power electronics, and real-time communication protocols, we built a single-PCB IoT solution capable of smart sensing, secure communication, and multi-interface control laying the foundation for a connected home appliance that's both innovative and manufacturable at scale.

Approach

Controller Selection & PCB Development: We selected a controller capable of handling real-time communication and control. A single-sided PCB was designed to minimize cost and simplify fabrication. The board handled power to the motor and feeder, as well as interfacing with input controls and sensors.

Analog & Protection Circuitry:

Integrated analog protection circuits to handle input irregularities.
Implemented AC noise suppression filters using varistors and impactors for electromagnetic interference mitigation.
Designed and tested current sensing circuits to monitor machine load in real time.

Communication & Protocol Stack:

MQTT Protocol with Broker Integration:
We implemented MQTT for lightweight, reliable device-to-cloud and cloud-to-device messaging. This allowed real-time remote control of the machine, mode selection (e.g., wheat, millet, corn)and execution of features such as AutoClean, AutoCut, and timer-based grinding
Security & Server-Side Message Handling:
With thousands of devices expected to run concurrently, we designed a unique device ID schema and secure message queueing mechanism to prevent collisions on the broker server.

Multimodal Control Interfaces:

The machine could be operated via:

Physical buttons
Touch display interface
Mobile application via Wi-Fi provisioning

RTOS Integration:

To ensure responsiveness and reliability, we embedded an RTOS (Real-Time Operating System). It handled:

Fault detection and error handling
Prioritized task execution (e.g., stopping the motor if grain runs out)
Event queuing and state recovery

App Collaboration & System Architecture:

Worked closely with the client’s app development team to:

Define a clear IoT stack and architecture
Implement Wi-Fi provisioning for onboarding new devices
Sync operational data to the cloud and link it to user accounts
Set up reward points calculation based on machine usage
Enable audio feedback and voice alerts

Audio System & Flash Memory Handling:

We embedded audio playback support (e.g., alert tones, mode confirmation), and provided firmware variations including:

Multiple buzzer tones and music files
Flashable firmware build files and programming guides

Testing, Debugging & Mass Production Support

Supported client during field testing and validation, identifying and resolving:

Inconsistent audio playback across different hardware units
Bugs in mobile app-device synchronization
Faulty provisioning under certain network conditions

Provided detailed testing documentation, along with fabrication files and instructions for bulk firmware flashing and debugging.

Business Value & Impact

The Homa Smart Flour Mill is now successfully deployed in over 5000 homes, helping the client promote healthy food habits while offering a modern, app-connected user experience. Techshlok's full-stack involvement from electronics to real-time IoT architecture empowered the client to transform a basic concept into a mass-producible, reliable, and feature-rich smart appliance. This project not only showcases our ability to engineer intelligent consumer devices but also demonstrates how meaningful hardware-software synergy can drive innovation and customer loyalty in everyday products.

Architecting the "Smart Kitchen" Ecosystem