Internet of Things Sensors

RFID Keyfob on a collar to activate the cat flap is a project in the works

Hardest thing at the moment is getting a big enough coil for the cat to walk through and still sense the keyfob, that and building a flap that works at 20 below in 3 feet of snow (Well maybe a foot)

I've done a bit of work on this.

The bigger coil isn't the answer, its improving the Q of the coil which gives the 'gain' you need.

Frederick has done a 'cat detector' in his Forget Me Not challenge

fvan

[CaTS] ForgetMeNot - Week 9: RFID Cat detection and identification

If your cat's are micro-chipped, its usually in their shoulder, so aiming to have a 'veranda' to rub against is the best location of the coil.

they will soon learn they need to rub against it and when it beeps, they can get in.

Mark

Was thinking along the same lines with chipped pets.

Then you don't have a struggle on your hands trying to attach something.

Our cats were notoriously efficient at removing collars.

gadget.iom

Our cats were notoriously efficient at removing collars

You also need to have collars that will detach if the cat gets caught.

Therefore chipping them is the easiest way, plus if they ever get lost they can be returned quickly.

Mark

That was also the other avenue I was looking at for the cat flap, the RFID chips embedded in them though are not the same as the cheapo ones from eBay (125Khz or 13Mhz) so will take a little more investigation and hardware to decode the data

You can but flaps already for this purpose but there expensive ($250 ish) and probably won’t handle the -20 deg temperature and covered with snow requirements of here in Canada

There seems to have been a few different frequencies employed in these tags. I found some basic information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(animal) and here: http://blog.adoptandshop.org/5-things-you-didnt-know-microchips/

Peter

The tags use a similar data format, but they are 134KHz rather than 125KHz.

Obviously the antenna in the implanted chip is smaller, so therefore its affect on the reader is less, hence why you need a higher Q antenna.

(They work by shorting the antenna which then detunes the reader antenna)

There is an Australian supplier who can supply the whole reader or the chips, and Robert Accardi is a great guy to converse with.

http://www.priority1design.com.au/shopfront/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=24

Texas Instruments has these

http://www.ti.com/tool/mrd2evm

They also have some IC's that are -40 degC and remote antenna options.

http://www.ti.com/lsds/ti/wireless_connectivity/nfc_rfid/products.page#p1507=134.2%20kHz&p199=I/O%20Logic

OreganRFID have tags, but so does any vet

http://www.oregonrfid.com/

I agree the commercial ones can be expensive, but one design had a porch like extension, which may be an idea to keep out the snow.

http://intl.petsafe.net/en-gb/support/doors/cat/big-cat-small-dog/petporte-smart-flap-microchip-cat-flap

@fvan

Looks like this is a very nice feeder.

https://www.sureflap.com/en-gb/pet-feeder/microchip-pet-feeder

You guys are making me want to resurect my project ...

Mark

What was your project Mark?

gadget.iom

I was asked to look at making an RFID door using one of these. (keeping with the NZ manufacturer)

http://www.transcat.co.nz/products.html

It came about through my articles in The Shed magazine.

The brief was to try to NOT add the 'extension' and retain the clear aspects of the door.

They already have a magnetic lock, but the magnets drop off, other cats can get in, etc.

We wanted it to be able to be made by others, rather than having to buy a particular antenna.

It might be time to resurrect the project ..... especially since TI has some chips that might be the answer.

Mark

gadget.iom

I was asked to look at making an RFID door using one of these. (keeping with the NZ manufacturer)

http://www.transcat.co.nz/products.html

It came about through my articles in The Shed magazine.

The brief was to try to NOT add the 'extension' and retain the clear aspects of the door.

They already have a magnetic lock, but the magnets drop off, other cats can get in, etc.

We wanted it to be able to be made by others, rather than having to buy a particular antenna.

It might be time to resurrect the project ..... especially since TI has some chips that might be the answer.

Mark

That does sound like a good project.