Teething Problems
So the first prototype on the left used the window winder off a nissan micra no stop switch built in so an intermediate switch was used to reverse polarity and send the arm back the other way as you can see i didnt think this through but to quote Einstien “of course we dont know what we are doing that why its called research”
The one on the right did work but still was using a string to open and shut the door more work was needed…
Moving on Sharply
Moving on from this disater we found a liner motor which had all the stop switcheds built i and had a force of 1500N so this is like 150 odd kilos holding the door shut (that should keep mr fox out)
Now we are counting
It seemed the only way we coukd be sure all the chickens were home before shuting the door was to count them in sound pretty straighforward but anyone that has chickens will tell you how noisy and unpredictable they can be this earlt prototype was a non starter thet just refused point blank to go in not even for mealworm!
They just dont like change
they are far too smart and curious to just walk through the tunnel (upcyled recyling box)
Size Matters
so now we have miniturised the door mech
and after sitting outside as the temp dropped waiting for nightfall it finallt pays off a chicken goes in and the counter counts one chicken
unfortunatly the excitment is short lived as the 2nd chicken goes in and the first chicken comes out to meet it and the computer gets very muddled and doesnt count so we shut the door manually and retire for a hot cup of tea
and after sitting outside as the temp dropped waiting for nightfall it finallt pays off a chicken goes in and the counter counts one chicken
unfortunatly the excitment is short lived as the 2nd chicken goes in and the first chicken comes out to meet it and the computer gets very muddled and doesnt count so we shut the door manually and retire for a hot cup of tea
Back to the drawing board
We decided while we were “perfecting” the software it would be good to get back to basics and build some more basic models to give our hen loving customers a choice after all now we have our all powerfull arm we can be sure the door will shut fully however once rigged up another flaw reared its ugly head namely a chicken “totty” decided to cone out while the door was closing potentially lethal for a chook and seeing as our door were there to protect not crush chickens we came up with a solution in the shape of infa red beem which will stop the doot if a chicken is passing through
Ignoring he counting for the mo
SO now we start making some more basic models while we fight with the programming and the reluctance of thechickens to walk through the door in an orderly fashion first off the line is a door with the arm and a dusk to dawn sensor but this thing has 150k or power to for the mk2 we added sensors so if a chicken is in the way the door stops closing and opens after a few hitches this works well althoughwe need a longer arm as ita a bit of a limbo competition when they go to bed
This is definaetly progress
Light sensor is covered to simulate darkeness and the door shuts but when beem broken the door opens and the real bonus is they all reluctantly went inside with very few mealworms to persuade them (the sensors click very quietly when the beam is broken and they found this a little offputing)