Pet Exercise Device with Sensor-Controlled Projectile Launch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet exercise devices require human involvement for loading and initiating activities, leading to inefficient use of power, potential safety hazards, and loss of pet interest due to untimed and uncontrolled projectile launches, as well as instability and mess.
Innovation Solution
A pet-controlled interactive fetching device with a housing that includes a feeder, chute, and sensors to automatically launch projectiles after a predetermined time, allowing pets to control the exercise activity by placing projectiles into the feeder, thus reducing human involvement and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the device continuously launches projectiles until all loaded projectiles are depleted, then the device ensures complete utilization of loaded projectiles, but the pet may lose interest before all projectiles are launched and power is unnecessarily depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates sensors that detect the pet's presence and activity level to provide feedback on whether to continue launching projectiles. This feedback mechanism allows the device to stop launching when the pet loses interest or becomes tired, preventing unnecessary power depletion while ensuring complete utilization of projectiles when the pet remains engaged.
2Reliability
If the device launches projectiles at a fixed pace, then the device operates simply and reliably, but the pet may be hit by a projectile or unable to keep up with the pace
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from fixed-paced projectile launches to dynamic, adaptive launching. Sensors detect the pet's position, speed, and readiness, allowing the launch timing and speed to adjust dynamically. This ensures projectiles are launched at safe intervals when the pet is ready to retrieve them, preventing accidents while maintaining reliable operation.
3Ease of operation
If a human loads the device with projectiles, then the device can be initiated and controlled, but human involvement is required continuously which reduces efficiency and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an automatic projectile loading system where the pet itself loads projectiles into the device by placing them in a designated chamber. The device then automatically launches the projectiles without requiring human intervention beyond initial setup and projectile refilling, significantly reducing continuous human involvement while maintaining ease of operation.
4Ease of operation
If the device allows easy access for pets to interact with projectiles, then the pet can easily engage in the activity, but the device can be tipped over by the pet
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a weighted base or counterweight mechanism that provides stability against tipping while maintaining easy access for pets. The counterweight is positioned to lower the center of gravity and resist tipping forces applied by the pet during interaction, allowing the pet to freely place and retrieve projectiles without compromising device stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems, apparatuses, and methods for exercising and entertaining a pet. In one implementation, a pet exercise and entertainment device includes a launch funnel for launching projectiles for a pet to retrieve. The launch funnel has a feeder and a chute. The feeder is configured to receive a projectile and transport the projectile to an intake end of the chute. A sensor is configured to sense the projectile in the intake end of the chute and to command one or more motors to power up in response to sensing the projectile. An actuator is configured to release the projectile from the intake end of the chute into the launch end of the chute after a pre-determined time has elapsed. One or more wheels, rotated by the one or more motors, are configured to launch the projectile from the launch end of the chute.