CatDogFoxBot #1 : My Initial Idea

RE: CatDogFoxBot #1 : My Initial Idea

gecoz — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 12:42:35 GMT

Hi Dubbie,

Very interesting project, and useful, as I have the same wandering little friends running about in my back garden too!

My only concern is about the GridEye sensor giving you reliable readings while used in outdoor areas. The sensor specifically targets indoor environments, as the thermopile sensor if heavily influenced by the changing conditions you find when in the open, affecting also the detection range. I did some testing some time ago, and I have to say that I had problems with the readings when trying to use it in the garden.

I hope you won't experience the same issues. Looking forward to see your progresses.

Fabio

RE: CatDogFoxBot #1 : My Initial Idea

aspork42 — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 01:14:31 GMT

I love it! I used the GridEye as well in the Smart Range Hood project. I had pretty decent luck using an open source PCB file and getting the boards made and sent to me. I'm pretty bad at SMT soldering, but it all worked out. I started with the AMG8833 Grid Eye but later upgrade to the 8834 to get a greater temerature range (0 to 80C versus -20 to +100 C). But the upgrade required doing the surface mount soldering myself. I even reached out to a company selling the 8833 breakouts to ask about getting a one-off but couldn't convince them... Sounds like you've found the same limitations.

I'd be more than willing to send you my Gerber files so all you have to do is solder if you'd like (and also supply some 0805 resistors and caps). Best of luck! Can't wait to see the results.

RE: CatDogFoxBot #1 : My Initial Idea

genebren — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 17:43:24 GMT

Dubbie,

Sounds like an interesting project!

This summer my wife has been trying to discourage whatever creature that has been sampling all of her tomatoes (we have had squirrels, foxes, raccoons, skunks and opossum running through the garden in the past). She has tried a lot of different repellents and such, but to no avail. Finally she just harvested the majority of the green tomatoes to beat the creature to the punch. Strange, but this has not been a real problem in the past. Maybe I need to come up with a similar project to better understand what we are up against.

Good luck!

Gene