After much slacking, I have concluded that it is not worth the effort to try to build a product around this idea, to then produce, market, and sell.
In the spirit of open-source, I intend to document here my progress in creating a simple, inexpensive yet powerful tool for hobbyists to build.
The automation controller is a device which allows the user to log and view sensor readings (temperature, humidity, etc) and use those inputs to control attached appliances (heater, humidifier, etc) automatically. This device can be built using parts bought from common online electronics distributors, with a low to moderate amount of soldering and assembly.
This device is based upon a microcontroller (“MCU”) which is a small computer for all intents and purposes. This MCU I have written software for, which I will make available here, free of charge.
The device runs independent of a computer, however at present a graphical frontend is used to display logs and set parameters. This software will be available here, free of charge, and requires Windows 98 or higher. In the future there will be available software for other OSes.