Internet of Poultry - Fully automated chicken shed

[stefaanv]

@breimann
1/ Yes, 2 standard hinges. There's plenty of different types (big, small, different materials, ...) in DIY shops. One thing to consider is if you want the open or closed type. buy the open type if you want to remove the door, else the closed type. The open type comes in left and right types. Make sure to buy the right ones or your door will fall off the hinges :-)
2/ There is a chicken crushing protection in the software : if the "door closed" end-of-run isn't read within 4 seconds after the door started closing, then it will fully open again. The end-of-run switches are primarily to stop the motor when the end position is reached. Unlike with a servo or a stepper motor, with a DC motor you don't know at which position the door is. Also the motor is really strong. If it run too far something will break (I assume the internal gears will break first).
3/ I bought the holding bracket for the motor together with the motor. I found it to be really expensive and badly designed but you can't make everything yourself. (matrimonial peace keeping, remember ;-) )

[stefaanv]

@breimann
I figured that if I connect the INA to the solar panels, I only get info about energy generation, not about consumption.
By connecting it to the battery, I get both info's + the battery voltage which is a good indication for the charging level. What I can't see is the solar voltage and the absolute consumption and generation number (I measure the difference). However, there is physical evidence that it get's dark at night at which time the panels don't generate energy. The consumption is 45mA flat unless the camera or the LED's are switched on. So I can deduce all the information I'm not measuring.
Ideally you should install 2 or even 3 INA's to measure generation, consumption and battery separately, but I found it was better to spend the money elsewhere.

[stefaanv]

@breimann
Just for fun, here is one of the evening recordings that is automatically stored on my Synology NAS every day. It provides evidence that the chickens were inside when the door closed. These recordings help me to set the correct ambient light level at which the door closes.
0_1472800935919_Evening take.mp4
It took some tuning, but this works really well now. The only times the chicks are not indoor when the door closes is on hot days when the temperature inside is still high in the evening.

[stefaanv]

@breimann
By the way, in what part of the world in a chicken called a chook ? Austalia according to Google Translate ? Correct ?

[bjacobse]

@stefaanv
In Danish a "kok" is a male chicken

[stefaanv]

@bjacobse
OK, in Dutch a "kok" is a chef in a restaurant. However, they typically behave like male chickens, so that is not so far off.

[breimann]

@stefaanv
Yes, google gets it right again... i'm in Australia, or South Australia to be a little more precise. Yep "chooks" is the commonly used word here for chickens.

[breimann]

@stefaanv
Love this recording. I love how you linked the recording to start 5 seconds before the door closes, and how you can see if there are eggs in your laying boxes and if the chooks are roosting!! Love it. Great thinking. What sort of camera are you using?

[stefaanv]

@breimann
I'm using a cheap indoor dlink camera DCS-933L with night vision. One disadvantage : it can only be powered at 5V so I had to insert a DC/DC converter and it uses a lot of power (up to 200mA). So I only have it powered on about 1 minute every day. Just long enough for the NAS to pick up the signal and take a small clip.

Great to have someone from the other side of the world interested in my project !!!
Now I'm really curious, since you walk upside-down compared to us, Do chook in Austalia sleep on top of the roost or do they hang heads-down from the roost ? :-)

[breimann]

@stefaanv
That's helpful re type of camera.
To shed light on your question re how chooks sleep on roosts in Australia... yes they do sleep upside down, a bit like a bat... but maybe bats don't sleep hanging upside down where you live?? ;)
No, gravity unfortunately (fortunately) hasn't taken a holiday here, so if they tried sleeping upside down i'm afraid their blood would all drain to their brains!!

[bjacobse]

@stefaanv said:

@bjacobse
OK, in Dutch a "kok" is a chef in a restaurant. However, they typically behave like male chickens, so that is not so far off.

Yes a kok is also a kitchen chef in DK

[stefaanv]

@breimann
Here's the pictures of the cleaning. If you make a sliding bottom, do use mechanical sliders (I only have L-profiles) like the ones that are used in kitchen furniture. That way you'll be able to fully extend and your don't have to support the front. Do take care that the whole shed doesn't tip over.

[breimann]

@stefaanv Sorry i've been busy fencing and planting trees last few days... this is a great cleaning system... although i'm planning to make a bit bigger coup so not sure how i can incorporate this but it looks fantastic. Great thinking!

[Mark Swift]

May I ask, how do you get debug remotely? I also presume you're using the MYS bootloader?

Great project!

[stefaanv]

@Mark-Swift
Nope, that's what the Fritz.box router is for. It has remote USB which I usb for the debugging. It's not ideal (always fails after computer hibernation) but it does the trick.

[Nathan Overley]

I would love to see your sensor code. I am in the process building an automated door for my coop as well.

[stefaanv]

@Nathan-Overley
Hi Nathan, it's not nice code, been written too quickly. I have to rewrite it some day. Still, here it is, it may give you idea's. Let me know if you improve it.
0_1477377889434_Kippenhok_3.ino

[Nathan Overley]

@stefaanv
Thank you! I will definitely post my version when I get it done. I really appreciate you posting the code!

[PGustias]

Hello Stefaan,

Thanks for sharing your nice project !
How is it with the automatic door and your MySensors controller after 2 years ?

Do you improved the code in the meanwhile and do you want to share it again ?

I made also an automatic (horizontal sliding) door on my coop with a barebone Arduino and a LDR as sensor, but I want the same functionalities like yours, so I ordered today all the extra necessary parts.

Kind regards and thanks in advance,
Peter.