MouseAir launches toy mice for the amusement of cats
Analysis
After completing a functional version of MouseAir, I considered a few things I would do differently the next time. The loading mechanism is unreliable: A slanted channel with the mice positioned side by side might be a better design, perhaps with a servo that pushes the mouse into the loading position. The range of the RFID system I used was too short: I need to use bigger antennas and bigger targets.
Additionally, the control system is too limited: I'll admit I love the motors, but I would like to have better control over individual motor speeds; then, I could control the direction and distance of the mouse.
Finally, I am tired of building foam and plastic mounts for the devices I use in various projects. I need to purchase a decent 3D printer to build parts, which will be the topic of an upcoming article. Maybe I will build cat toys with it.
Infos
- MouseAir project: http://www.switchdoc.com
- iCPooch: http://www.icpooch.com
- Antenna circuit design for RFID applications: http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/AppNotes/00710c.pdf
- RasPiConnect: http://www.milocreek.com
- Source code: http://github.com/switchdoclabs
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