Design and Empirical Evaluation of an Offline-Resilient Embedded Safety System for Electric Cooking Appliances in Developing Regions
Cooking-related accidents from unattended electric stoves, overheating, and power restoration after load shedding are a growing safety concern in Zimbabwean households. Most stoves lack intelligent safety mechanisms, and existing smart technologies are often expensive, internet-dependent, or unsuitable for unstable electricity supplies. This project developed and evaluated a low-cost stove for the Zimbabwean context. The system utilises an Arduino-based architecture integrated with LM35 temperature sensors, PIR motion sensors, relay modules, and GSM modules for SMS alerts via local networks. The system continuously monitors for overheating, prolonged usage, and human presence, automatically disconnecting power when hazards are detected. A critical safety feature prevents the stove from automatically restarting after load-shedding power restoration. Adopting a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, the prototype underwent component, integration, and field testing in five Bindura households. Results indicate the system achieved 91.7% hazard detection reliability with an average response time of 7.3 seconds, successfully meeting the project target of under 10 seconds. At a cost of USD $42.30, the system is significantly more affordable than commercial alternatives. User feedback confirmed high satisfaction, particularly regarding the automatic shutdown and load-shedding protection features, despite minor challenges with false alarms and motion detection sensitivity. The study concludes that a low-cost, embedded safety system is technically feasible and appropriate for Zimbabwean households. This project highlights the necessity of designing technology solutions that prioritize local environmental and economic conditions over imported smart home systems. Future work will focus on improving sensor sensitivity, reducing false alarms, and expanding compatibility with various stove types.