Design and Development of a Compact Hybrid Demisting System for Automotive Front Windshields

This paper presents the design and preliminary development of a compact hybrid demisting system intended for automotive front windshields, initially targeting auto-rickshaws. The prototype combines a Nichrome-wire heating element with forced airflow from a blower. Preliminary qualitative tests examined heating-only, airflow-only, and combined operation. Mist clearing was observed during the combined test, but quantitative performance measurements were not recorded. The paper also proposes an improved architecture using an ESP32 microcontroller, temperature and humidity sensing, and smartphone connectivity. These proposed features have not yet been fully implemented or validated. Further controlled experiments are required to assess demisting performance, energy consumption, and electrical and thermal safety.