Did ever wonder how your cat or dog is being treated when you board it? Pete Cross decided to answer that question with technology.
He created the PetInspect gadget, which records data on how a pet is being treated while it is boarded. The data-logger and wireless communications device lets you track your pet's environment -- hot or cold -- and whether the pet is getting exercise. This gadget consists of a 16-bit microcontroller with 256K of flash memory and sensors for pressure, temperature, activity, light, and proximity.
Pete Cross' cat Elmo shows off the PetInspect, a data-logger and wireless communications device that lets you discover what environment your pet experiences and how it behaves while you're not around.
The PCB has dedicated power and ground planes on each board. The electronics package, including batteries, fits into a cylinder 28mm (1.1 inches) in diameter and 23mm (0.9 inches) in length.
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Our cat has lost several collars over the years. I'm not sure if the collars were of break-away design, but we don't put the collar on too tight.
The gadget does seem like it would have appeal to many pet owners. There may be a good market for such an item, especially for the folks with smart phones (with app for that).
I think I would find-out what I already know...my cat is sleeping all day while I am working.
Coyotes have been a problem lately where I live, many have lost cats and small dogs that were out at night. The gadget may help resolve some losses, but frequently a collar and a bloody mess is left behind by the coyotes.
I agree that this would be a great product to launch on Kickstarter.com. It's amazingly complex and can be commercialized. Of course, you have to have a business plan and the will to work the plan. Go for it.
I'm overwhelmed by the thought of all the work that went into this project. It almost seems to me to be a "make work project."
I tend to be a lot lazier and spend a significant amount of time looking for easy and hopefully elegant solutions. Why bother re-inventing the wheel?
The first thing that came to mind for me for this application was TI's eZ430-Chronos Development tool. The MPS430 16 bit low power processor based tool is housed in a watch body and features a wireless link to its PC USB port as well as built-in temperature, pressure and 3-axis accelerometer with 5 buttons as well as a comprehensive digital display thrown in to boot. The coupon I got after attending a free TI MPS430 seminar allowed me to purchase the whole development kit and caboodle for less than $2 on my MasterCard. It seems hardware-wise all you'd have to add for this project would be a light sensor.
But then of course a project this simplified would hardly qualify for a Master of Philosophy thesis. But for you guys out there wanting to build a similar functioning device, you have a very attractive alternative.
Hi, Cookiejar. I read the literature on the Texas Instruments eZ430-Chronos Development tool. I'll have to agree that it would sure make this project simpler. Thanks; it's cool.
Yet, I'm still inspired by the fact that one guy designed and soldered together and programmed the Wearable Computer. Before the days of us geeks and robot dweebs, guys cusomized cars and built furniture even though they could just buy the stuff. Maybe Elon Musk will market a kit for a space ship -- or we could just build our own.
Rick, we have the same problem with coyotes where I live in New Mexico. Most of the car owners I know keep their cats inside at night to avoid the problem. Owls here are a similar problem.
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