Height-Adjustable Pet Feeding Platform With Integrated Portion Weighing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for caring for pets are labor-intensive and stressful for owners, particularly due to the need for frequent bending to provide food and water, lack of automation for portion control, and the inability to manage multiple pet-related tasks in a centralized location.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a height-adjustable platform with a motorized slidable reservoir for nourishment, integrated scale, and a computing device for automated weight measurement and task management, allowing for automated nourishment dispensing and centralized pet care coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If food and water bowls are placed on the floor for pets, then pets can easily access nourishment, but pet owners experience significant physical strain and stress from bending over to place and retrieve bowls
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a motorized platform that can dynamically adjust its height between a lowered position (accessible to pets) and a raised position (protecting owners from bending strain). This dynamic height adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational states: low for pet feeding, high for owner protection during bowl placement and retrieval
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized platform acts as an intermediary between the owner and the pet food bowls. It autonomously performs the function of bringing bowls to the owner at appropriate heights, eliminating the need for the owner to physically bend and handle heavy bowls directly
2Measurement precision
If pet owners manually measure and provide nourishment portions, then they can control the amount of food given, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates an automated scale that self-measures the weight of food in bowls and compares it against target portions. The motorized platform then autonomously adjusts the bowl position or notifies the owner when portion targets are met, eliminating manual measurement and reducing the time required for nourishment preparation while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The scale provides real-time feedback on food weight to the control system, which compares actual portions against target amounts. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate portion control while automating the monitoring process, freeing the owner from manual measurement tasks
3Ease of operation
If pet care tasks are performed separately throughout the day, then each task can be completed individually, but the overall process requires significant time and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple pet care functions (food storage, portion measurement, bowl delivery, and monitoring) into a single integrated platform. This consolidation allows tasks that were previously performed separately throughout the day to be coordinated through one centralized system, reducing total time required while maintaining operational flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing nourishment to pets is provided. The system includes a base component and an electrically operated platform including a scale configured to move along one or more vertical shafts which brings one or more reservoirs positioned on the platform to various levels of height. The system further includes an affixed mount configured to retain a computing device which controls components of the system, particularly the movement of the platform along the one or more vertical shafts and the taking and storage of weight data of the nourishment.