Researchers from VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering & Technology (VNRVJIET), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), have been granted an industrial design patent for an indigenous automated roti-making machine developed specifically for millet-based rotis.The research aims to address the time-consuming and labour-intensive nature of millet-roti preparation.“The innovation aims to make the preparation of millet-based rotis faster, more convenient and accessible for Indian households, addressing a key challenge in the wider adoption of nutritious millet-based foods,” Pranavanand Satyamurthy, Lead Researcher & Head of the Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, VNR VJIET, said.“Despite growing interest in millet-based diets, the time- and labour-intensive process of preparing millet rotis has been one of the biggest barriers to everyday adoption. With young Indians increasingly embracing healthier lifestyles and food choices, the patented innovation seeks to bring greater convenience to millet consumption while advancing home-grown food-processing technology,” he said.NUTRI-Hub, the incubation hub of the IIMR provided Rs 3 lakh in funding towards prototype development and design development.The researchers aim to lower the machine’s cost to approximately ₹40,000, compared to current models priced at ₹1.5 lakh.Published on August 21, 2026