On July 22, TASS reported that Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University has developed a microcontroller-based automation control system for household appliances aimed at enhancing home safety.

According to the university's press service, the distinctive feature of this smart home system is its cross-platform capability, which allows easy integration of various devices and sensors into a single ecosystem and enables autonomous decision-making to perform certain tasks without human intervention. The university notes that current smart home solutions on the market are typically expensive and complex, with significant integration difficulties between devices and sensors from different manufacturers. For example, Yandex smart home systems work best with the company's own products and services, while Rostelecom's "Security" or AJAX StarterKit black come with proprietary equipment, creating inconvenience and additional costs. Therefore, the university aims to create an affordable, modular, and flexible autonomous solution. The final result is a system capable of energy saving, remote control of lighting, heating, and household appliances, and issuing alerts in emergency situations.

This development features a high degree of automation and supports complex scenarios, with pre-installed configurations operating under a unified logic. The developers state that this means users can easily set up a smart home without connecting all system components from scratch or spending significant time on installation. The invention review was completed with support from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the "Decade of Science and Technology" initiative.

The system consists of a microcontroller, control platform, motion, leak, gas, smoke, door/window opening, and temperature sensors, as well as modules for smart sockets or switches. Compared to competitors, the development focuses on simplifying integration with devices from different manufacturers.

As the developers point out, the microcontroller-based smart home system may appeal not only to homeowners, apartment residents, and families with children—who can gain additional safety and control when parents are away—but also to businesses. Smart homes can automate security systems in offices, small hotels, and guesthouses, enable remote venue control, and optimize energy costs.