EXTRA by Eeishu Mithun

Founder: Eeishu Mithun:

School: Year 7 Student At All Saints College

Eeishu at the 2024 Next Gen National Awards Evening.

Business Name: EXTRA Automated Garage Door

Tell Us About Your Project?

My project focuses on simplifying how we currently access our garage. I integrate a camera capable of reading license plates with an app and the garage module. This solution not only automates but enhances home security by allowing homeowners to monitor vehicle arrivals in real-time.

As a car approaches, the camera captures its image, reads the rego number, and sends the data to the app. The app checks against a pre-configured list. If recognised, the app instructs the garage door to open, enabling convenient access without needing a remote. Additionally, the system can send alerts to homeowners’ smartphones to notify them of arrivals. By merging security features with ease of use, this project aims to create a smarter and safer home environment. Ultimately, it offers peace of mind by ensuring homeowners are aware of who is entering their property.

What Inspired Your Innovative Idea?

My innovative idea was inspired by the everyday challenges my parents and others around me face. Each morning on my bus ride to school, I often notice people pausing outside their homes, searching for their garage keys. This common sight made me realise how frustrating and time-consuming it can be.

Motivated by this, I wanted a solution to help make their mornings a bit easier. By tackling this small yet significant issue, I aim to create a tool that saves time and reduces stress, allowing people to start their day on a better note. Ultimately, my goal is to develop something that truly improves their daily routines.

What Is Your Long-Term Vision For Your Project?

My long-term vision for this project is to establish a solution that automates various aspects of our life.

As part of my main goal is to amend our lifestyles with simple yet effective solutions. our current solution only detects numbers and letters but going forward, we are planning to expand this to recognise faces, animals, pets, and more. This system will eliminate the need for physical garage keys, using license plate recognition to provide seamless access.

By enhancing the camera with facial and object detection/recognition, homeowners will be able to control their entire property from a single app, making daily routines more manageable. Additionally, I plan to generate profit by offering subscription services for enhanced features and collaborating with homebuilders and security companies to broaden our market presence. By innovating and refining the system, I will ensure its competitiveness while delivering genuine value to customers.

What Lessons Did You Learn About Teamwork And Collaboration Through The Process Of Developing And Implementing Your Innovative Solution?

While developing and implementing my innovative solution, I learnt how crucial effective communication and collaboration with my team members is. My team consists of a freelancer as our tech specialist, my dad, and I. Together we have created (almost) a working prototype for my solution.

During this time, I learnt how to pay attention to everyone’s perspective as they all have their own unique points to make and share. Learning about working on a team is one thing, but learning about your team members is vital to the team's success.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we support one another where we struggle while celebrating our victories together. I realised how essential it is for each team member to stick to their role and contribute effectively, Developing a balanced and productive team culture.

Can You Describe A Moment During The Development Of Your Project Where You Had To Think Creatively To Overcome A Particular Obstacle Or Challenge? During the development of our project, we encountered several challenges that required creative solutions. So we brainstormed ways to use materials to keep our budget in check.

Another challenge was finding skilled individuals familiar with the Internet of Things (IoT). To address this, I spent time on LinkedIn connecting with freelancers and industry experts. Instead of just posting job ads, I sent personalised messages highlighting our project’s mission, which helped attract people who were excited to collaborate at a lower rate. These steps assisted us to find our current freelancer whom we collaborated with to develop our prototype

What Advice Would You Give To Other Young Students Who Are Eager To Pursue Their Own Innovative Ideas?

If you're a young student with innovative ideas, here's some advice I would give you. First, pay attention to everyday problems; they can inspire your ideas. Break down the problem into smaller parts to ensure your solution is thorough—research topics related to your idea to gain new insights. Start with small experiments instead of a big project.

Share your ideas with friends, family, or teachers for helpful feedback. Stay persistent; innovation often involves trial and error. Teaming up with others who share your interests can bring fresh perspectives and skills. Most importantly, pursue what genuinely excites you, and your enthusiasm will keep you motivated and inspire those around you.

Eeishu Mithun participated in our Next Gen Awards 2024 program and was a finalist for the Young Innovator Of The Year award. To find out more about the Next Gen Awards and how your projects and initiatives can be showcased head to: www.nextgenoftheyear.com