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Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

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Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#51

As human intervention is required anyway to open the door, why have inside box and outside box? There can be just one big box with pet detection and an SMS that says 'Pet at door'. Nevertheless, this is a cool project, and the explanation in the YouTube video is even nicer, informative, and succinct. One addition could be to have a motion sensor outside the door to turn on the light outside, so that this project can…

Perhaps he forgot if the cat is inside or out and he prefers to know directionality so that he can think "nah, it's about to rain so the cat shouldn't go out."

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#52
post #51

As human intervention is required anyway to open the door, why have inside box and outside box? There can be just one big box with pet detection and an SMS that says 'Pet at door'. Nevertheless, this is a cool project, and the explanation in the YouTube video is even nicer, informative, and succinct. One addition could be to have a motion sensor outside the door to turn on the light outside, so that this project can…

Perhaps he forgot if the cat is inside or out and he prefers to know directionality so that he can think "nah, it's about to rain so the cat shouldn't go out."

Great thought. Possibly can also use a weather API to monitor weather conditions to decide whether or not to send SMS.

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#53

If it texted my wife I know in my heart of hearts the cats would quickly figure out how to abuse it for food. Neat video linked from the article https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGqVNuYol6o

That's the truth. I had a cat for a total of a week and she basically had me trained fully to do her bidding within that time.

A 'cat sms' would put humans into full servitude!

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#54
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've noticed that a lot of cat behavior can be explained by realizing that they have an incredibly short attention span and any change in their sensory environment can distract them for the half second required to drop their entire mental state. So for the cat it's like "UGHHH I want in... Oh, there's the human! ... What's going on, why are you looking at me?"

I don't know if its so much that they have a short attention span. My cat definitely, however, is unaware of the idea that the environment around him can be changed, and isn't static. He can figure out how to open doors, and that if something is playing dead it will run when he knocks it from a shelf, but those are the limitations of his ability to interact with the environment. He's smart enough to know his treats a…

When my cat asks to go outside, I open the door, and he stands in the open door for a few moments as if he's frozen, then he runs outside. It's as if he is assessing the outdoor environment for threats.

But when he is outside asking to come in, as soon as I open the door, he runs right inside. Perhaps it is because the inside environment is very stable for him with no threats ever so he trusts it.

He does this freezing behavior when guests enter the house. My housemate's cousin brought a huge dog for an afternoon visit. My cat froze entering the living room, detecting an unknown threat, and turned around again and went back to my room.

Gwern published a nice article about cats recently: https://www.gwern.net/Book-reviews#cat-sense-bradshaw-2013-a...

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#55
post #30

What if you're not home? It is for such occasions that cat flaps were invented. However, today's cat flaps either open for any cat, or they're RFID-based, and for that to work, you implant a chip into your cat, which I find utterly barbaric. Now what could be a great improvement is a cat flap identifying your cat(s) and letting them in based on computer vision, instead of relying on implants. I'd pay good money for i…

> which I find utterly barbaric.

Your threshold for “barbaric” sounds pretty low, but I guess it’s all relative.

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#56
I have a capacitive touch button that my dogs press when they need/want to go outside that makes a noise and sends me an SMS. They used to have all hours access to it and when they expected me home at the end of the day, I would start receiving texts in rapid succession. Access was removed shortly thereafter. The novelty of getting drinks after work and receiving a "Where are you?" text from my dogs every three minutes wore off quickly.

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#57
post #55
post #30

What if you're not home? It is for such occasions that cat flaps were invented. However, today's cat flaps either open for any cat, or they're RFID-based, and for that to work, you implant a chip into your cat, which I find utterly barbaric. Now what could be a great improvement is a cat flap identifying your cat(s) and letting them in based on computer vision, instead of relying on implants. I'd pay good money for i…

> which I find utterly barbaric. Your threshold for “barbaric” sounds pretty low, but I guess it’s all relative.

I agree, not much "barbaric" about it... :

https://youtu.be/57Fh9Zo_nfM?t=159

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#58
post #30

What if you're not home? It is for such occasions that cat flaps were invented. However, today's cat flaps either open for any cat, or they're RFID-based, and for that to work, you implant a chip into your cat, which I find utterly barbaric. Now what could be a great improvement is a cat flap identifying your cat(s) and letting them in based on computer vision, instead of relying on implants. I'd pay good money for i…

Implanting RFIDs in pets is extremely common, as a method for identifying them to return them to their owners if they are lost or injured[1]. I agree it would a little silly to get an implant strictly to open a pet door, but given that they are already often present, leveraging that to open the door seems like a pragmatic choice. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(animal)#Use...

Could also have the tag on a necklace if the pet doesn't mind.

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#59
Cool twist on an old problem.

Here are two others, using different tech to automatically open the door for the pet.

Facial recognition: https://www.hackster.io/windowsiot/cat-door-with-pet-recogni...

Pattern recognition: https://hackaday.com/2010/05/14/cat-door-unlocks-via-facial-...

Re: Raspberry Pi Pet Detector Camera Using Python, TensorFlow, and Twilio [video]

#60
post #30

What if you're not home? It is for such occasions that cat flaps were invented. However, today's cat flaps either open for any cat, or they're RFID-based, and for that to work, you implant a chip into your cat, which I find utterly barbaric. Now what could be a great improvement is a cat flap identifying your cat(s) and letting them in based on computer vision, instead of relying on implants. I'd pay good money for i…

Sorry if this sounds idiot, but can't you put the RFID chip into the leash or something like that? Why it needs to be "inside" the animal?

A few years ago our dog got out (Stupid power company went though our back yard and opened our gate and let the dogs out). We put up signs and were looking for him. Someone took him to the vet to get him checked out and told the vet he had the dog for years and was just able to afford to take him in to get checked out. The vet scanned his chip and our information came up. They called us. The guy left the vet and left our dog there. He is a purebred pekingeses.

That is why it needs to be inside the animal. And yes that is a true story. And yes he was also wearing a collar with a nameplate and address on him, the guy replaced it with a different collar.

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