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Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

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Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#11

Post by stavros »

mschuster91 wrote: post #7

> Complex in that they built so much more functionality into the device than was really needed. This thing is covered in sensors; it's got two scales, ostensibly for measuring the weight of the hopper and the weight of food dispensed, a pair of infrared sensors to detect when the hooper is empty, sensors that monitor the motor's turning, and others that I haven't figured out the purpose of. I'd love if Surefeed, a co…

A current sensor is much better than a position sensor, as you don't want to keep trying to close the lid if it catches on anything.

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#12

Post by mschuster91 »

stavros wrote: post #11
mschuster91 wrote: post #7

> Complex in that they built so much more functionality into the device than was really needed. This thing is covered in sensors; it's got two scales, ostensibly for measuring the weight of the hopper and the weight of food dispensed, a pair of infrared sensors to detect when the hooper is empty, sensors that monitor the motor's turning, and others that I haven't figured out the purpose of. I'd love if Surefeed, a co…

A current sensor is much better than a position sensor, as you don't want to keep trying to close the lid if it catches on anything.

A rotation sensor would detect a blocked gear just as fine, maybe even faster than a current monitor - with the advantage of the rotation sensor being unimpeded by slack in the gear train.

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#13

Post by stavros »

mschuster91 wrote: post #12
stavros wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A current sensor is much better than a position sensor, as you don't want to keep trying to close the lid if it catches on anything.

A rotation sensor would detect a blocked gear just as fine, maybe even faster than a current monitor - with the advantage of the rotation sensor being unimpeded by slack in the gear train.

Why is the current sensor impeded by slack? It's also much cheaper and more reliable.

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#15

Post by baby_souffle »

MPSimmons wrote: post #3

I haven't done as much with it, but I've also been very impressed with ESPhome. Seems like a really great piece of software, and super extensible. The list of supported components is extensive: https://esphome.io/components/index.html

I use it extensively and it really is awesome. It’s not perfect, but the limits I run into aren’t what 80+% of users will ever hit. Even if hacky and ugly, you can work around most of the limitations

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#16

Post by mft_ »

invertigo wrote: post #4

I love Home Assistant but I have yet to venture into the ESP32 board route of things. Can someone point to a good guide to getting started with these boards? How much soldering and/or microcontroller experience is needed?

You can easily get ESP8266/ESP32 boards with header pins already soldered on; combine this with some DuPont cables (as I’ve just learned they’re called) and you can start messing around with things without much soldering at all. You can also connect to e.g. LED strips and simple sensors in the same way.

See this kit for example: https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyZhdw5

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#17

Post by bigyikes »

I built a smart treat dispenser for my cat using an ESP32.

The best feature is the little speaker inside that plays the Meowmix jingle when dispensing. My cat is now conditioned to come running when she hears that sound.

I connected it to my Apple Home network via Home Assistant, and it works great. I can tell Siri to give the cat a snack, and off she goes.

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#18

Post by shiroiuma »

bigyikes wrote: post #17

I built a smart treat dispenser for my cat using an ESP32. The best feature is the little speaker inside that plays the Meowmix jingle when dispensing. My cat is now conditioned to come running when she hears that sound. I connected it to my Apple Home network via Home Assistant, and it works great. I can tell Siri to give the cat a snack, and off she goes.

>The best feature is the little speaker inside that plays the Meowmix jingle when dispensing. My cat is now conditioned to come running when she hears that sound.

Are you sure you don't have that backwards? Maybe she conditioned you to spend your time building a gadget to play her favorite tune.

Re: Fixing a broken smart cat feeder with ESP32

#19

Post by XorNot »

invertigo wrote: post #4

I love Home Assistant but I have yet to venture into the ESP32 board route of things. Can someone point to a good guide to getting started with these boards? How much soldering and/or microcontroller experience is needed?

https://www.athom.tech/ are selling a lot of pre-flashed gear in nice casings which is essentially "plug and play ready to go" - out of the box you can wirelessly flash them.

So depending on what you're doing, they're an excellent place to start.

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