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Blog Cat Detector Using Sand #1 : The Idea
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  • Author Author: dubbie
  • Date Created: 23 Sep 2020 2:13 PM Date Created
  • Views 3157 views
  • Likes 12 likes
  • Comments 17 comments
  • cat detector
  • sensorsch
  • sensorch
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Cat Detector Using Sand #1 : The Idea

dubbie
dubbie
23 Sep 2020

I have tried to detect cats in my garden previously (CatDogFoxBot #6 : Trying out an Artificial Neural Network ) without much success so I was  quite excited to discover that I had accidentally created a cat detector yesterday. I am part way through installing a path through my lawn when I had to stop as I had run out of brick pavers as for some reason it now takes three weeks to deliver them instead of one. I had put down the sharp sand ready for the bricks (whenever they might appear) and packed up. I was surprised - and delighted - to discover this morning that I had created a cat detector!

 

image

 

With this cat detector I can measure how many cats have passed this way (one!), how many legs it had (four) and which direction it was going (West). It is also possible to detect if it had rained as well (it had).. With a bit of calibration I am sure it would also be possible to measure how heavy the cat was.

 

There are some drawbacks to this system. It does need re-smoothing after every measurement but I'm sure some sort of mobile robot sweeper could be constructed to do that, ?Nor does it give an accurate indication of the time at which the cat passed by - only that it was some time last night. Maybe I could install some sort of pressure plate connected to a data logger.

 

I think I will go out and re-smooth it now and see if any more cats pass by.

 

Dubbie

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Top Comments

  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 4 years ago +7
    My dog can detect cats and has a very effective acoustic alert system which can wake up anyone - including my son. Unfortunately she suffers from a large number of false alarms, and has been set off several…
  • dougw
    dougw over 4 years ago in reply to DAB +5
    Is that one of those Heisenberg corollaries? The measurement system affects the measurement...in this case cats get attracted to the sensor because it is a good place to do some business....
  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 4 years ago +3
    For a second there I thought you had created a version of Tim Hunkin's 'Common Ground' animated collection box. I can't seem to find a good video of it on-line, I think the video must be on his DVD https…
  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 4 years ago in reply to dubbie

    That orange one looked quite modern compared with the 1930's Electrolux/Goblin cylinder on sleds complete with knitted hose that my folks had lying around. image

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  • dubbie
    dubbie over 4 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    Dave,

     

    My parents had one of those orange cylinder vacuum cleaners! I must be getting old.

     

    Dubbie

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 4 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    Hi Dave,

    Nice clip and a good 5/4 Dave Brubeck tune "Take Five" at the end too.

    John

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 4 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    Ok, the video I was thinking of wasn't on his DVD but instead featured in one of his TV programmes...

     

    Secret Life Of Machines S01E01 The Vacuum Cleaner 1988

    https://youtu.be/LS_WcIAPSzU?t=1256

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  • dubbie
    dubbie over 4 years ago in reply to dougw

    Douglas,

     

    I did wonder about this possibility last night. Did the cat wander over the path because it was just passing, or was the cat curious about this new feature of the garden? Does a cat find walking on sand attractive? (I do, especially when it is located next to the sea.).

     

    It looks likely that the brick pavers will not be delivered for several days yet so there should be more data on which to make some assumptions.

     

    Dubbie

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