I am submitting this instructable to the Arduino challenge. Please remember to vote!
My neighbor had a little problem with his cat. It want's to go out and back inside too frequently. Usually he opens just his kitchen window and let's the cat in/out. Usually the cat stays only short periods outside and want's soon to come back inside. And then again out and back in. Okay, he could just let the window open, but here in Finland it can be easily -30 C (-22 F) in winter, so this is not a good solution.
We decided to build a microcontroller to the window to open and close the window automatically. Arduino controls a strong servo motor, which moves the window. It has three proximity sensors to sense where the is cat is.
My neighbor had a little problem with his cat. It want's to go out and back inside too frequently. Usually he opens just his kitchen window and let's the cat in/out. Usually the cat stays only short periods outside and want's soon to come back inside. And then again out and back in. Okay, he could just let the window open, but here in Finland it can be easily -30 C (-22 F) in winter, so this is not a good solution.
We decided to build a microcontroller to the window to open and close the window automatically. Arduino controls a strong servo motor, which moves the window. It has three proximity sensors to sense where the is cat is.
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Signing UpStep 1: Parts list
Main parts:
1 pc suitable power adaptor to juice the Arduino (input voltage 7-12V dc)
1 pc Arduino microcontroller (or equivalent *duino)
1 pc strong servo motor to move the window. I used Towerpro MG995 Metal Servo with Gears (10kg Torque).
3 pc Pololu 1134 carrier board with Sharp GP2Y0D810Z0F Digital distance sensor 10 cm
1 pc "Third hand" to hold the sensors
1 pc cat (operator)
Misc. parts:
some wire
suitable casing
small window hinge
some metal parts to fix the servo to the window frame, screws, etc
Tools etc:
Solder & soldering iron
Computer & usb cable to program the Arduino
1 pc suitable power adaptor to juice the Arduino (input voltage 7-12V dc)
1 pc Arduino microcontroller (or equivalent *duino)
1 pc strong servo motor to move the window. I used Towerpro MG995 Metal Servo with Gears (10kg Torque).
3 pc Pololu 1134 carrier board with Sharp GP2Y0D810Z0F Digital distance sensor 10 cm
1 pc "Third hand" to hold the sensors
1 pc cat (operator)
Misc. parts:
some wire
suitable casing
small window hinge
some metal parts to fix the servo to the window frame, screws, etc
Tools etc:
Solder & soldering iron
Computer & usb cable to program the Arduino
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can you post a video working?
What happens when a varmit shows up at the window? I guess they don't have raccoons or possums in Finland, but what about neighbor cats & magpies?
If needed, it could be arranged that the cat cas a RFID tag and then the window opens only when right RFID is around. In our case this was not an issue. Good point, though.
A video would be great !
I'm new with this arduino thing.
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Arduino-or-The-DIY-Duino/
Awesome project!