Automated Pet Food Dispenser
This project focuses on the creation of an automatic dog food dispenser equipped with a smart tracker. Attached to the dog's collar, the tracker analyzes data such as physical activity, distance traveled, and calories burned. Based on this information, the dispenser adjusts the food portions accordingly, ensuring a balanced diet for the pet. An aesthetic prototype of the design was also developed.
Proposition
Customer Profile
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Ensure their pet are healthy
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Feed pet when not at home
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Keep vet updated with dog lifestyle
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Gain Creators
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Dispense quantity of food needed in relation with tracker statistics
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Food automatically dispensed
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Tracker statistics sent to phone/computer and veterinary
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Brief
Design a device that will dispense food automatically for the user’s pet in relation with the dog’s physical activity and record data of pet physical activity shared with user and vet.
Ideation and concept creation
The design process began with rapid sketching to explore multiple forms and structures for the automatic pet food dispenser. These initial sketches focused on various silhouettes, usability, and potential material considerations.
As the process evolved, the sketches became more refined and detailed, incorporating functional elements such as the food tray, screen interface, and ergonomics for both the pet and the owner. Color was introduced to enhance the visualization and bring the ideas closer to a real-world product.
From this broad exploration, three key concepts were selected and further developed, each addressing different user needs and aesthetics. After evaluating feasibility, usability, and visual appeal, one final concept was chosen for full detailing. This final design incorporates a sleek form, an intuitive interface, and optimized proportions for user interaction and manufacturing feasibility.
The result is a well-thought-out pet food dispenser that blends technology, functionality, and design aesthetics to create an efficient and user-friendly product.
Concept Proposal
The Automated Pet Food Dispenser is an innovative solution designed to revolutionize pet feeding by integrating smart tracking technology with automated portion control. This device ensures pets receive the right amount of food based on their activity levels, promoting a healthier lifestyle while offering convenience to pet owners.
The exploded view of the automatic pet feeder showcases its individual components and how they assemble to form the final device. It visually dissects the structure, revealing essential parts such as the storage box, feeding system, motor, PCB (Printed Circuit Board), LCD screen, and outer casing. Each section is meticulously designed for functionality and ease of assembly, with injection-molded plastic components ensuring durability. The front and back panels snap together to enclose the inner workings, while the tray at the bottom collects the dispensed food. This detailed breakdown highlights the engineering behind the device, making it easy to understand its assembly and functionality.
The feeding system operates through a motorized rotating mechanism that dispenses food in controlled portions. At its core, a spinning gear and an opening gate regulate the food flow, ensuring precise portion control based on user settings or pet activity levels. The motor, located at the bottom, drives this mechanism, activating the feeding blades to push the food forward. This system prevents clogging and ensures a smooth feeding process, making it efficient and reliable for pet owners. Additionally, the feeding system is enclosed within the main body, minimizing mess and protecting the internal components from food debris.
Prototyping
For this project, I created an aesthetic prototype. This prototype was not functional but aimed to showcase the design, form, and finish of the final injected-molded product.
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1. Concept Development with Foam Models
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The process started with soft foam models to explore the general shape and proportions.
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Once the concept was refined, I transitioned to using hard foam, which allowed for more precise detailing and shaping.
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2. Creating the Prototype Structure
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The 3D model faces were printed and placed on each side of the foam to serve as templates for shaping.
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Using these guides, I carefully carved and sculpted the foam to achieve the desired form.
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3. Refining the Shape
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After achieving the basic shape, sanding was carried out to smooth the surfaces and refine the contours.
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Specific components, such as the bottom tray and the top hole for food dispensing, were vacuum-formed to replicate the expected plastic parts in the final product.
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4. Final Touches & Detailing
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The foam was sanded to perfection, ensuring that all surfaces were smooth and the split line (which represents how an injection-molded part would be separated) was clearly visible.
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This was crucial for presenting the prototype as an injection-molded concept, making it as realistic as possible.
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5. Painting & Finishing
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Once the form was finalized, the prototype was painted to match the intended final product appearance.
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A decal was printed and applied to the screen area, simulating the user interface design and adding a realistic touch to the model.
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This aesthetic prototype served as a visual and ergonomic representation of the product, allowing stakeholders to evaluate its design, proportions, and appearance before moving to functional prototyping or manufacturing.
The aesthetic prototype was tested in a real-life setting with the intended user—the dog—to evaluate its form, ergonomics, and interaction. Placing the prototype in the pet’s living space helped assess how the dog approached, positioned itself, and interacted with the feeder.
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Observations focused on size, accessibility, and user comfort, ensuring that the shape and height were suitable for the pet. While the prototype is non-functional, this test provided valuable insights into the physical engagement between the dog and the feeder, informing potential refinements before developing a working version.
Story Board
This storyboard illustrates the step-by-step process of how the automatic pet food dispenser functions in coordination with a pet tracker to ensure optimal feeding based on activity levels.
Final Prototype
The final prototype is an aesthetic model of the automatic pet food dispenser, designed to showcase its form, proportions, and user interaction. Built using hard foam, vacuum-formed parts, and a painted finish, it accurately represents the look of an injection-molded product. A printed decal simulates the screen interface, enhancing realism. Tested in a real environment, the prototype ensures ergonomic suitability for pets while maintaining a sleek, modern design.
