I require your help regarding a problem I’m encountering.
I am new to this robotic world, but have some electronics training from the navy.
I want to build a dog food dispenser where I can control the amount of kibble being released remotely? I thought using a fob to send a signal to a receiver, that would actuate a servo unit to move a trap door type device which would dispense a piece of dog food kibble . I am looking for direction on what parts i would need to build this device. The smaller the size the better. Thank you for all suggestions.
How “remote” do you want to use it? 10 feet? 100 feet? 100 miles? What you need will depend a lot on that.
Do you want to be able to dispense varying amounts of food? How do you want to determine how much is dispensed? By how many times you press a button? How long a button is held down? pressing different buttons for different amounts? typing in an amount on a keyboard? Watching a live video of how much is dispensed and pressing a “stop” button? Something else?
There are lots of possibilities. More details of what you are planning will help us guide you.
Welcome to robotics!
Hey thanks for the response.
OK I need to be more specific.
Range 30 - 50ft.
I want to be able to dispense one piece of food (Kibble) at a time. Meaning each time I would push a button. I envision using something similar to gate opener fob that would be on a key chain etc. I would like to keep it as small as reasonable possible . Something like a 2"x 4"x 2" box?
Thank you for your patience. I am an old guy too!
No problem!
This is a fairly simple requirement. What I would recommend is to get a keyfob transmitter with associated receiver and use a low rpm gearmotor with a switch. Some additional electronics would start the motor when the signal from the keyfob transmitter is detected and the switch would cut it off after one revolution… The electronics should all fit in the dimensions you list. If you think you might want to go that way I can look up some parts that might work.
Would probably work. Connect the shaft to the mechanics so that one revolution (which takes about 1 sec) would dispense the kibble and have a switch that is connected to the mechanics that cuts the power back off after that single revolution. The power gets turned on when the button is pressed. I can give details how to do that if you need help.
Hey Old Guy… You 're the best.
That’s pretty close to what I am thinking of.
So how would I power this unit? 12v /6v ? Battery?
Can the gear motor be operated so that it would automatically close?
Any details you can offer to put this unit together would be great.
I can order all the parts once we have a list?
Than you!
A 12V battery, or something close, would be needed. The motor is rated at 6V, but running it for short periods of time shouldn’t hurt it at 12V. The voltage could be dropped by a few different methods if needed. Or you could look for a similar motor rated for 12V. It’ls likely the radio reciever unit would work on a little lower voltage, too. Maybe 9V or so. You could find a compromise (8 nicad or NiMH batteries together.)
I would build a box with a rotating door so that it opened and closed again in one revolution. Much like a gumball machine. The output of the reciever would turn on power to the motor (overriding the switch that turns it off) long enough for the switch to close again. Then the motor keeps turning for a complete revolution until the switch closes again, cutting off power to the motor. Similar to a windshield wiper system.
When I get more time I can draw up a simple diagram or two of what I mean. I will draw up the electronics, too. Might take a couple days before I get to it. Got lots going on this weekend.
