As of May 2023, we have successfully completed both Phase 1, the design stage of our project, and Phase
2, the prototype stage.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous feedback, responses, and unwavering support that
have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. Thank you all for making this endeavor
possible.
Our Project
The most significant inspiration for this project spawned from the faults of a standard dog door which
allows pets to roam in and out of a house without restraint.
This causes issues for home owners when pets track dirt, mud, or water into the residence. Subsequent
problems can arise from these circumstances such as interior
property damage. Another significant fault of conventional dog doors is the lack of security they provide.
Small children could potentially fit through the door,
and other risks are posed. These conditions motivated the team to envision a feasible way for homeowner's
dogs to have limited or controlled access the
homeowner's house interior and yard. The product would allow homeowners to remotely set locking constraints
on the door based on conditions such as weather, time
of day, and other relevant factors.
This is a two-phase project. Phase 1 consists primarily of concept selection and design while Phase 2
consists of prototyping and building the product.
Initial Concept Ideas
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Initial CAD Models for Selected Concept
Current Design
Deliverables
We have identified the following deliverables that we will provide upon completion of our project:
1) Design specifications: We will provide a detailed report outlining the design specifications for our
automatic dog door, including the materials, dimensions, and features that we have incorporated.
2) CAD models: We will provide 3D CAD models of our automatic dog door design, which will allow our
customers to visualize the product and provide feedback.
3) Working prototype: We will build and test a working prototype of our automatic dog door to demonstrate
its functionality and validate our design.
4) User manual: We will provide a comprehensive user manual that includes instructions for installation,
operation, and maintenance of the automatic dog door.
5) Final report: We will prepare a final report summarizing our project, including the design process,
testing and validation results, and recommendations for future improvements.
By providing these deliverables, we aim to provide a complete solution that meets the needs of pet owners
who are looking for a convenient, safe, and secure way to allow their furry friends to move in and out of
their homes.
We have concluded our project as of July 28th, 2023. The results of our project can be seen in our "Phase 2
Final Project Review" powerpoint above.
RFID Gear Laser
RFID scanning for a tag then using lasers to control the motor direction.
Motor Working
Motor lifting the door.
Assembled Working
Our assembled prototype lifting the door.
Future Work
As the technology for automatic dog doors continues to develop, there are several areas where future
enhancements can be made to improve their functionality and usability. Some potential areas of
improvement
include:
Smart Home Integration
In the future, the automatic dog door could be integrated with smart home systems such as Amazon
Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. This would allow the dog door to be controlled through
voice
commands or via smartphone apps.
Activity Tracking
The dog door could also be equipped with sensors to track the activity of the dogs using it.
This
could include how many times the door is used, how long each dog spends outside, and what times
of
day the door is used most frequently. This information could be used to monitor the dogs'
behavior
and ensure they are getting enough exercise and fresh air.
Remote Monitoring
The dog door could also be equipped with cameras to allow remote monitoring of the dogs as they
use
the door. This would allow owners to keep an eye on their pets even when they are not at home.
Meet The Team
We are proud to introduce the members of our mechanical engineering senior design team working on the
automatic dog door project. Our team is made up of senior level engineering students from Florida
State
University in Panama City who are passionate about designing innovative solutions to real-world
problems.
Aaron Burghardt Software Engineer
Senior Mechanical Engineering Student at Florida State University - Panama CIty, Florida
Mandolin Brown Poject Engineer
Senior Mechanical Engineering Student at Florida State University - Panama CIty, Florida
Jack Smith Design/Software Engineer
Senior Mechanical Engineering Student at Florida State University - Panama CIty, Florida
Mathew Thompson Materials Engineer
Senior Mechanical Engineering Student at Florida State University - Panama CIty, Florida
Dr. Mauricio Chagas Technical Advisor
Mechanical Engineering Professor at Florida State University - Panama City, Florida
Dr. Yvonne Traynham Instructor
Mechanical Engineering Professor at Florida State University - Panama City, Florida
Keep your home safe and clean no matter where you are!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and learn more about our mechanical engineering
senior
design team at Florida State University in Panama City. We are committed to delivering a
high-quality
product that meets the needs of our customers. We are constantly pushing ourselves to think
creatively
and come up with innovative solutions to engineering challenges.
Thank you for considering our team for your mechanical engineering needs. We look forward to working
with you and bringing our automatic dog door to life!
