KUET’s Clever Washing: Campus Innovation for Clothes
To ease the hassle of laundry in dormitories, a group of students at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) has developed a self-operated solution. In their spare time, the students added a “custom control system” to a washing machine, effectively creating an automatic laundry system. The machine has already been installed in one dormitory hall, allowing resident students to book slots and make payments for laundry services automatically, hassle-free. Over the past nine days, 90 students have used the machine.
According to sources, on October 21, the automatic washing machine was installed on a trial basis in Shahid Smriti Hall with the approval of the hall’s provost, Professor Dr. A. B. M. Mamun Jamal. Since then, there has been widespread enthusiasm among users. Fourth-year student Sudipto Haldar said, “I can put my clothes in the washing machine and do other work during that time. The user process is also very easy. I can wash clothes at low cost conveniently. As a student, this is a plus point for me.” Project member Rakibuzzaman Robin added, “For now, we have implemented this system experimentally in Shahid Smriti Hall. Our batchmates and juniors have responded very positively.”
About the Innovators
The initiative was implemented by KUET’s student-driven innovation team, Firefly Hi-Tech. The team has long been working on automation and control systems. Alongside various research and development projects at KUET IT Park, they have developed automation systems for multiple organizations, including Hamko Battery and Methen Plastic Industries.
The project is led by fourth-year Mechatronics Engineering student Md. Rabbi Molla and Electronics and Communication Engineering student Rakibuzzaman Robin. Other team members include Electronics and Communication Engineering student Tahsin Twaha Arhan and Biomedical Engineering student Kawsar Ahmed. The team independently handled the funding, system design, software development, web design, and payment gateway integration.
The team stated that, with the university administration’s approval, they plan to install similar automatic washing machines in all dormitories in the future. Their goal is to create a smart, cost-effective, and technology-driven laundry system that promotes a culture of self-reliant technology within the university.
DBTech/ Rubaba Tasnim Rahman / IH
