Inspiration
In many Kenyan households, the standard LPG cylinder is a black box. Families live with two constant, low-level anxieties: the frustration of unexpectedly running out of gas mid-cooking, and the unspoken fear of a dangerous, undetected gas leak.
Inspired by the Green Wells Innovation Challenge's theme of 'Smart Operation & Management,' we decided to solve this. We asked: What if we could give the simple gas cylinder a voice, a brain, and a shield? Our goal was to design a complete solution that not only brings peace of mind to families but also provides powerful, data-driven efficiencies for energy providers like Green Wells.
What it does
Cylinder's Smart Guardian (CSG) is a fully designed IoT ecosystem that transforms any standard LPG cylinder into a smart, connected device. Our submission consists of a high-fidelity, interactive prototype and a video demonstration that showcases the system's full functionality. ✍️For the Consumer: The designed CSG Smart Hub attaches to the cylinder, measuring the exact fuel level and monitoring for leaks. This data is visualized in our mobile app prototype, which translates the fuel level into an intuitive "Lighting Minutes" metric, sends proactive refill reminders, and triggers a critical, loud alert design if a gas leak is ever detected. ✍️For Green Wells: We designed a powerful Corporate Dashboard mockup that provides the logistics team with a real-time, city-wide map of customer demand.
This enables a shift from an inefficient, reactive model to a highly efficient, data-driven, predictive delivery system, while also tracking cylinder health for proactive maintenance. Further the emergency alerts of leaks will be sent to Green Wells and the location.
How we built it
From Idea to Interactive Prototype Our entire project was brought to life using Figma. We didn't just create static images; we built a comprehensive, high-fidelity, and interactive prototype that simulates the complete user journey for both the consumer and the corporate user. We then recorded our prototype using Loom to create a clear video that demonstrates the full potential of CSG.
Our Technical Blueprint for Implementation
While the current submission is a design prototype, we have a complete and clear technical plan for development:
✍️Hardware (The CSG Smart Hub): The physical device will be built with an ESP32 microcontroller, a JSN-SR04T ultrasonic sensor, and an MQ-6 gas sensor. ✍️Cloud Backend: The system will be powered by Google Firebase, using Firestore for the database, Cloud Functions for the AI logic, and Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) for notifications. ✍️App Development: Our Figma designs will be developed into a functional mobile app using Flutter and a web dashboard using standard web technologies.
Challenges we ran into
Our primary challenge was designing for two very different users: the everyday consumer and a corporate logistics manager. For the consumer app, the focus was on simplicity and reassurance. For the corporate dashboard, the focus was on data density and efficiency. Balancing these two design philosophies within one cohesive system required big planning and iteration.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
First we are proud of our idea and vision, it solves the problems we all encounter in daily live. Secondly, we are incredibly proud of creating a comprehensive and visually compelling design prototype that clearly communicates a complex, full-stack idea.
We didn't just design an app; we designed an entire service ecosystem. The "Lighting Minutes" concept is a core UX innovation we believe truly redefines the user experience by providing a practical answer, not just data.
What we learned
This project was a deep dive into human-centered design and product thinking. We learned how to translate a high-level business need into a pixel-perfect, user-friendly interface. We mastered advanced prototyping techniques in Figma and learned how to craft a compelling product story visually, even before development begins.
What's next for Cylinder's Smart Guardian (CSG)
With a validated design and a clear technical blueprint, our next steps are to bring CSG to life: ✍️Build the Physical Prototype: Assemble and program the hardware hub. ✍️Develop the Software: Build the functional mobile and web applications based on our Figma designs. ✍️Launch a Pilot Program: Partner with Green Wells to deploy CSG in 50 homes to test our solution in the real world.
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