my first idea! rfid tagging cat collars

[Roboteernat]

Hi, just been thinking about the first project i could do and had this idea - something difficult as a first time project but it should be fun!
obviously first step is to get it all stuff - just waiting to see what dollar to pound does tomorrow... then to have a play, but...

If you can connect an arduino to it - as demonstrated in the kewl airshooting gallery, have that reading an rfid reader (i shall see if i can make an interface to an rfid reader to directly link to the iobridge... bassed on the serial module i think.) then i can have it reading if the cats come in or out of the house, then have this posted on the net for the world to see! Then combine that with rfid readers around the house connected up with xbee modules or other radio devices so that they could be tracked in and out of rooms?

hmmm think im getting a bit over zealous by this first mod.

lets start with the flashing led first!

anyways what you people think?

ps. also i think i will try that rfid module for the iobridge- or Jason, is that in the pipeline? also i shall see if i can get that wireless module idea running too! Jason, let me know what you think about those please:D

-order being placed tomorrow evening or friday as that is the final hand in day of my masters thesis so i shall be free! wooooo


Nat 

[iobridge]

I looked at specs for RFID modules a couple of weeks ago and there are ones that are for sure compatible with the serial smart board. Since you might be the first one doing a project with RFID, you may have to deal with some early challenges. But, I believe it's possible.

What model are you looking at getting?

(Awesome idea by the way)

[thecapacity]

Hey Roboteernat,
I'm pretty interested in RFID stuff too so the new ioBridge serial module is exciting for me!
I've been looking at this reader;
http://www.grandideastudio.com/portfolio/rfid-reader/

Which was for the basic stamp stuff so I think it will be good for the "hobby-iest"

I think the biggest issue you'll hve w/ your cats is that the tags need to be fairly close to the reader and there's probably a bit of a delay. So if you've got just a quick cat door that they race through there might not be enough time to take a good reading.

Looks like there's lots of RFID options (maybe too many!) so depending on your physical setup you could just find one with a bit more reading range or maybe go with active RFID tags (ones with batteries) which can be read from farther out!

Good luck and hope finishing the masters thesis went well!

[Jer5000]

A bunch of the RFID stuff would already be ironed out for you if you use a pet door like one of these

http://www.moorepet-petdoors.com/Cat-Mate-Elite-Selective-Series-Cat-Doors-s/159.htm

that already controls access via RFID and then just interface with it. The ability to control access times, and see if the cat is in or out would be fun to report back as well.

It might not fit in the budget or even be as much of a "hack", but you might find that using an off the shelf RFID setup opens up a host of other cool things that you can do with it.

[Roboteernat]

hi alll thanks for ur replies i will read it properly ttomorrow tho - as will i uy my stuff. the thesis writing has gone terribly but it did start off well! the reason is i went to the docs at 3pm gmt to ask about a cough i had, and whilst running there i tripped andsince been in a and e on 3 doses of morphene andout cold on a dose of the medical version of rohipnol as i have broken my right hand radius and caused it to compact tog.
i now have a plaster and waiting a reply about y thesis which was due at 2pm tomorrow -friday... so who knows... i no comleted it yet ad can nob longer write¬

anyways hopeur daysevenings are going great

nat

[Jopkins]

Hi there. I'm looking at a similar project but am going about it a slightly different way. I'm planning on using an IR Beam kit, to ring a doorbell and also send a trigger to the module to alert me via Twitter (and also log movements in and out) early days though - I'm still learning but this is the first product I've seen that appears to be a piece of the proverbial to set up. Will keep you posted and probably be back in touch with some Q's!

[Jopkins]

Back already. Forgot to ask, if I'm using this kit http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=220033&C=Froogle&U=220033&T=Module then what do I need to do on the input side? Do I need to add in a resistor like in the toaster project ?

[nick]

Looking at the picture it looks like the relay has three connections.  Most likely it is is a single pole/double throw type, which means that the center is connected to one connection when the sensor is on and the other when the sensor is off.

If that's the case, you can connect digital-in to the center, ground to one connection and +5v to the other and you're all set.

When I say "center" I'm speaking a bit conceptually, there's no way of telling from the picture how the three pins on the relay are actually connected.  It would be most usual for the "center" to be the center connection but it's not guaranteed.  There may be a label on the other side, or in the instructions that come with it.  You want to figure out what's connected to what before you hook it up; if you end up connecting 5v to ground you could damage your iobridge -- and your circuit won't work!