Daniel Epler Nuñez

Work / Smart Temperature Probe

Smart Temperature Probe

A slim, magnetic temperature sensor that snaps onto the bottom of any pot or pan — bringing Ztove's precise, automated cooking to the cookware people already own.

Year
2025
Collaborator
Ztove
Role
Research, prototyping, 3D CAD
Render of the temperature probe resting in its frosted storage tray
Close-up render of the probe's knurled knob attached to a potThe magnetic probe attached to the base of a black potDetail render of the probe clipped to cookwareSteel pot on the induction cooktop next to the probe's storage tray

The challenge

Ztove’s induction cooktops can hold a pan at an exact temperature automatically — but only with Ztove’s own proprietary cookware. That locks the smartest features away from the pots and pans people already own and love.

This master’s thesis project asked a simple question: what if any pan could become a smart pan?

A home cook holding their favorite pan in their kitchen

Exploration & ideation

I started in real kitchens — observing people cook and talking through their routines. Two things stood out:

  • Cooks rely on familiar tools and their senses — smell, sound, and touch — far more than on displays or apps.
  • A smart device would only fit in if it demanded no extra attention and no extra space.

Early sketches therefore focused on something small and self-effacing: a sensor that quietly joins the cookware instead of replacing it.

Induction cooktop in a home kitchen used during the exploration phase

Prototyping

The concept became a magnetic temperature probe that attaches to the bottom of any pot or pan. I built and tested several working versions — varying the shape, size, and attachment mechanism — using thermocouples, 3D-printed housings, and plenty of real cooking.

Collage of prototype iterations: thermocouple rigs, 3D-printed housings, and magnet tests

Testing with home cooks

I put the prototypes in the hands of home cooks and let them cook. The feedback was consistent:

  • Small enough to ignore — the probe never got in the way of stirring, flipping, or moving pans.
  • Quiet by default — users preferred it working in the background, only signalling when something needed attention, like a sauce reaching the right temperature.

The probe magnetically attached to the underside of a cast-iron pan

3D CAD model

To refine the design, I modelled the probe and its charging tray in detail — resolving internals, tolerances, and how it would look and feel in a real kitchen. The model also became the key tool for communicating the concept to Ztove and test participants.

CAD cross-section of the probe showing internal components

Outcome & next steps

The result is a concept that unlocks Ztove’s precise temperature control for any cookware — no special pots needed. The next step is deeper integration with Ztove’s system and exploring a family of smart kitchen tools that support natural cooking behavior: technology that helps, without taking over.

Final render: the probe system in context on the cooktop, beside a plated steak

Next project Smart Cooktop