From Theory to Prototype: Building a Smart Thermal Mug Using Nichrome Heating Elements and Microcontrollers.

Standard vacuum-insulated mugs are inherently limited by their passive nature; they can only slow down heat loss, not reverse it. This paper details the development of a smart mug designed to maintain a consistent liquid temperature through active thermal regulation. The core of the system is a 60 cm Nichrome-80 heating element, precisely calibrated to provide steady thermal output from a 12V DC source. Control is managed via a feedback loop utilizing a DS18B20 digital sensor and a microcontroller. Experimental data shows that this integration effectively counteracts environmental cooling, keeping the beverage at a stable 70°C. The study focuses on the practical engineering challenges of element calibration, thermal insulation, and safe electronic integration.