IoT Projects and My Experience
I wanted to share some details about my previous projects and experience in the IoT industry, particularly in the realm of smart home automation.
Firstly, I want to highlight EZLO Smart Home Automation, a project I founded and dedicated approximately five years to. You can learn more about it at www.ezlo.com. Our primary focus was on developing gateways for multi-radio communication, including WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and Zigbee. Through this project, we were granted two patents. Initially, I established a small team in Odessa, Ukraine, and eventually expanded the development to over 100 individuals in Kharkiv City, Ukraine.
One of our most challenging achievements was the development of the EZLO ATOM, a gateway with a remarkable $5 production cost. We successfully adapted it to work with ESP32, a low-cost, low-power system on a chip (SoC). We rewrote the firmware from a Linux-based platform to the ESP32 platform. Many doubted our ability to create a Z-Wave firmware, as Silab only provided Z-Wave gateway firmware for Linux platforms compatible with ARM-based CPUs. Nevertheless, we defied expectations and achieved success. You can find the ESP32-powered Z-Wave gateway hub at the following link: https://shop.ezlo.com/products/ezlo-plughub-2/.
Following my work on gateway development for three years, I embarked on another exciting venture called EZVIDOO (https://www.ezvidoo.com/), similar to the Google Nest camera project. We leveraged AI technology to detect human presence, understand gestures, and perform object detection, among other functions. Our breakthrough was the development of an Edge AI solution, eliminating the need for cloud connectivity to perform these AI tasks. By harnessing the power of edge computing, we drastically reduced cloud computation costs. Moreover, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the EDGE hardware only cost $45. Allow me to share a couple of photos with you:
In addition to gateways and AI-powered cameras, my team and I developed several other smart home end devices utilizing Z-Wave and WiFi protocols. Unfortunately, these products are not yet available on the market, and I am unable to disclose further details or share any photos. However, I can mention that they include a door sensor, smart plug, temperature and humidity sensor, a smart lock, and a few other innovative IoT devices that are currently on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions. I decided to step away from EZLO following the war in Ukraine, which impacted my ability to continue working on those projects.
Another notable project I worked on was for DELOS (www.delos.com). Under the guidance of DELOS’ CTO, I focused on the concept and development of a gateway. We created the hardware and enclosure, deployed our firmware, and incorporated their proprietary AI application for their internal projects.
Please find enclosed a few photos below. I regret that I am unable to provide further details due to the constraints of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that I am bound by.
Lastly, after resigning from EZLO and leaving the war zone, I had the opportunity to work part-time for Custos Water Leak Prevention Company in Hong Kong. In this role, I primarily focused on branding, marketing, and the successful Kickstarter launch of their product. Additionally, I assembled a small team to handle mobile app UI/UX design, website design, content creation, and website launch. Although the owner did not allocate a budget for advertising, I estimated that investing three months and $2-3K in Facebook advertising could have generated around $100K in funding. Nonetheless, we managed to achieve a successful Kickstarter campaign, securing the support of 65 real customers. To learn more about Custos, you can visit their website at custos.homes and their Kickstarter page at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/custos/custos-starter-kit
In conclusion, I have been fortunate to work for a New Jersey based IT company, reporting directly to the owner/CEO/Chairman for nearly nine years. Following the conflict in Ukraine, I made the decision to relocate to California and pursue new opportunities here. I am currently in the process of arranging immigration papers for my Ukrainian wife and daughter, who will join me in a few months. I am a dedicated and passionate professional.
Furthermore, I would like to share details about a recent project that I worked on related to LED bulb. Unfortunately, due to limited resources and the new CEO’s decision not to allocate a dedicated team for this initiative, the company opted not to invest in it. However, they did express interest in me spearheading the project and establishing a new startup. However, as I mentioned earlier, I am eager to embark on a fresh start.
some photos from the project
also here are some UI/UX works
you can check the left menu Landing page and App UI section from the below figma link.
Thank you for considering my experience and the potential I bring to your company. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this opportunity further.
Benjamin Bilgehan