DIY Smart PetFeeder

I’ll start by sharing a bit about me and my family. We are a small family that has always had pets, mainly dogs and cats. All of our pets were found on the streets when they were very young and in fucked up conditions, and we adopted them. Right now, we have one dog and two cats, and they are the reason we created this type of pet feeder.

Even though most of the time we are at home, there are times when we are not. In this kind of interconnected world, I thought about whether there was a way to feed them and look after them remotely, which would be a good thing.

Looking at them can be done using typical internet-connected CCTV cameras. These days, they are very cheap and easy to install, so that part is covered. But when it comes to remote feeding, that is tough. Currently, there are some pet feeders on the market, but many of them cannot be controlled remotely. Most are based on timers, which are not suitable for unexpected situations when no one is home. Most of the feeders can be easily broken by smart dogs, and they figure out a way to get all the food.

So that’s why I built this pet feeder. It has the ability to integrate with my Alexa and allows me to control everything remotely from anywhere. Even if you don’t have Alexa, you can still use the “SmartLife” app to control it via the internet.

So, how did I build this?

Here are the materials I used:

• Three 1.5-foot long, 1.5-inch PVC pipes (used as feeding pipes).
• 1.5-inch PVC End-caps and holder brackets.
• Three servos (I used basic and inexpensive SG90 servos, but higher torque and speed provide better reliability).
• A PVC gutter, about ½ foot long (to create the movable parts).
• PVC pipes with a larger diameter (to make enclosures for the electronics).
• An Arduino Uno (any microcontroller will work).
• 12V and 5V power supplies (extracted from an old phone charger and a WiFi router power brick).
• A smart relay/switch (I salvaged the circuit from an old 2-gang smart switch, but a smart relay would also be a great option).
• Wood for the enclosure.

Additionally, I used some basic electronic components such as LEDs, a buzzer, wires, heat shrinks, zip ties, a project board, hot glue, etc.

Here is the basic architecture of the electronics.

Here is the interior of the PetFeeder:

Here is a close-up of how the feeder pipes work,

Here is a close up of High Voltage Section

This is a close-up image of the Servo Power Distribution Board:

This is a close-up of how the overall electronics are attached:

Here is how the plastic enclosures are made(Heated PVC pipes with a larger diameter ):

Here is how the wooden enclosure is made:

Completed PetFeeder

Here are a few things you need to consider:

• The microcontroller is programmed to be simple; it only handles food dispensing when it gets power. It doesn’t perform any smart functions.
• If you plan to change the food dispensing method, prioritize the reliability of the design.
• I placed the pet feeder at least ⅘ from the ground since dogs can’t reach it. (If they can, they will probably figure out a way to get all the food).
• Use at least two feeder pipes, as it increases reliability.
• You can use 3D printed parts for the enclosures and dispensing mechanism to enhance the look.
• Try to minimize the open spaces in the food container, as this greatly helps maintain the quality of the food.

Yep, that’s all about it.