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ESP8266-based Cat Toy

Features:

  • Servo-controlled random motion, entertaining your pet for hours
  • Web app allowing you to control the toy manually
  • Automatic motion-sensing engagement via HCSR501 passive infrared sensor
  • IFTTT notifications with play duration
  • On/off switch

Client-side code in jQuery and Bootstrap. Server-side code in LUA. Feel free to rip off the general web server and servo control code for you own projects.

Serving suggestion

Mount a feather wand like this one, a scrunchy ball at the end of monofiliment line, or whatever your cat likes, to the servo motor and your cat will go nuts. Put a webcam in front of it for added fun while at the DMV.

Web App

Modes

  • The 'Position' slider lets you change the toy's position to an arbitrary value.
  • The auto buttons include:
    • 'Fast': wiggles the toy 4 times a second. My cat goes nuts.
    • 'Slow': wiggles the toy randomly once every 3 seconds. Good for getting the cat's attention.
    • 'Bottom': moves the toy to the very bottom position and turns off.
    • 'Off': moves the toy to the top position and turns off.

Wiring it up

Serving Suggestion

Hook up GPIO1 of your ESP-8266 to a servo (I used an SG-90) and point a browser at the IP address of the ESP-8266.

Mount a cat toy with cable ties to the axes of the servo. Make sure to test the range of the servo before mounting. You can also point an old iphone running a streaming camera server app like Instant Webcam to enjoy the show remotely.

For ideas on building a USB programmer, flashing an ESP-8266 with NodeMCU, and basics of using the Esplorer IDE, check out Rui Santo's guide.

Note that my multimeter says that the ESP-01 takes around 30mA while waiting for web commands. You could run the whole device on 3 AA batteries for a while.