DIY Robot Lets You Watch (and Treat) Your Pet From Afar

While on vacation, hackers Kousheek Chakraborty and Satya Schiavina of Technovation Projects realized they lacked a connection with their beagle. While pet monitoring cameras are available that let you talk to your pet, they lack versatility, and require multiple cameras if you want to monitor different areas. Naturally, they developed their own Raspberry Pi and Arduino-based robot that can follow doggo throughout their home.

The device is controlled remotely from a smartphone app made in MIT App Inventor, and uses Firebase to allow communication worldwide. Movement is via a pair of NEMA 17 stepper motors which drive the bot around the house using differential control, along with a pair of casters that keep it from tipping over. These are in turn driven by an Arduino Uno board with a CNC shield, while the Raspberry Pi provides higher-level control and communication functions. The system uses a Pi Camera to enable viewing of its environment, and has an ultrasonic sensor onboard that it can use for autonomous navigation.

Perhaps the coolest feature, however — and certainly the one most appreciated by the dog — is that it mounts a bowl on top for treats. This is actuated by a smaller 28BYJ-48-style stepper, which pulls a nylon line tight to open the lid. As seen in the video below, the dog is at first hesitant about taking treats from this mechanical stranger, but soon gets over this fear and starts following it around the house!