Senior Design Expo 2019

Pet-Minder: RFID Monitoring within
Automated Food, Water, and Door Modules
Benjamin Brigman, Asher Goldfinger, Anthony
Gutierrez, Moises Peña
Advisor: David Vallancourt
The idea for Pet-Minder is to create a system of
modules that can identify a pet in a multiple pet
environment, attributing a particular diet, monitor
movements, and relay information about each
one to a phone application. This is achieved by
the construction of automated food and water
dispenser and a “doggy-door” module alongside
RFID tag communication multiple
microcontrollers. Below includes explanations of
each component of the design project.
RFID, Pet Identification:
RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification,
technology comprises of a digital label that is
transmitted by means of a range of radio wave
frequencies. Much like a barcode scanner, the
typical usage of RFID is based in inventory
tracking or iD security, such as the locking
mechanism in student dormitory doors.
The RFID system we are using requires a UHF,
or Ultra High Frequency, reader module. For this
design, an Arduino device is utilized as the
reading mechanism for the sensor and the
identification data is used across the system as a
whole.
Each individual pet would have a collar outfitted
with a n RFID tag, where a long-range UHF
RFID antenna would be able to detect and
identify a n animal 1 0 -1 5 feet from the base
module.
Once a pet is identified, the automated modules
are able to track the movement and health of the
animal.
Diet Implementation:
Diet monitoring is regulated through automated
food and water modules. Food regulation is
predetermined by setting the amount and time of
day for each mealtime. It is then dispensed at a
given time and the bowl is moved out of the
device when the RFID sensor finds a dog with a
10 ft radius of the device. The water module is
programmed to continually have water available.
Weight scales are implemented in both devices to
monitor food and water consumption, which is
then transferred to the phone application.
Monitoring which pet is eating or drinking a t any
time is done using a combination of data from
movement sensors and the RFID scanner.
A food cover is included to discourage
consumption from a pet that was not recognized
for the mealtime as well. For example, if one dog
has consumed all their food for the day, if they
are with 10 feet of the device the food will be
retracted into the device.
Pet Movement:
An electronic pet door is implemented to monitor
pet movement in and out of the house, while also
allowing the owner to lock the door in either, or
both, directions. This is done through multiple
linear actuators that place a bar to block the pet
door’s pathway, locking the door to any
traversing animal.
Each dog collar is equipped with a radio that
listens on an interrupt for a certain frequency. The
door is constantly sending a signal on this
frequency directionally to outside the house. If
the radio gets a response, meaning a dog is
outside, the door will unlock from the outside.
Otherwise the door will only be unlocked from
the inside. The owner has manual control through
the phone application of the indoor lock, limiting
when their pets can go outside.
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