Smart Anti-Squirrel Bird Feeder

thingiverse

In suburban and urban areas, it is very common for households to have bird feeders, as these areas have large populations of bird species. Issues in bird feeding include the unintentional attraction of squirrels and other rodents because of their persistence and quick ability to adapt with their agile bodies in such situations. For any failed bird feeder, squirrels dominate the presence near the feeder, driving the birds out of the area. This ultimately leaves little to no food for the birds and a mess for the owners to clean. At KAMO consulting, we have proposed an innovative design to limit a squirrel's interactions with a bird feeder; if these rodents were able to reach the bird feeder, they would immediately be removed from feed access. The Anti-Squirrel Bird Feeder our design team proposes includes an active-bird feeder that is versatile and can be used in a majority of conditions and locations. The structural design of the device is tube-like, ensuring it can swing freely where accelerations and velocities are to be expected. Using electrical systems, sensors, and modern FDM 3D printing capabilities, the team’s revolutionary design to what seems to be a simple design challenge at first glance, performs optimally. The design uses a gyroscope and accelerometer sensor that can distinguish the difference between a squirrel and a bird based on angular velocity and acceleration; as well as to accommodate harsh wind conditions - to ensure feed stays inside the feeder. When a squirrel lands on the bird feeder, the platforms intended for birds will automatically retract and become flush with the entire structure to ensure no space is given to a stubborn hungry squirrel. As another measure of security, the gates where the birds access the food will also close via a rotating gear system. The team also recommends a stand system for the bird feeder which would limit the interactions with squirrels immensely using baffles and platforms. The device is carefully calibrated to accommodate the weight of common backyard birds, and to deter common backyard squirrels in Southern Ontario. This is a project I completed as my Capstone in April 2023 for my undergraduate mechatronics engineering degree. Above is the abstract of my report, I know its wordy, so basically this feeder uses two servo motors, and a MPU6050 gyroscope/accelerometer to detect acceleration and velocities which can be calibrated to a certain threshold to detect squirrel or bird. Works pretty well. Arduino UNO. Pair it with a battery of choice, or you can just jimmy rig it to attach it to house outlet with an extension cord. All fasteners are M5 screws. More details are in my github page, where you can see some drawings if needed. Thanks! If you use this let me know! GITHUB: https://github.com/MarkMattei/Smart-Anti-Squirrel-Bird-Feeder