TreatTowers: Autonomous Pet Feeder

Overview

A smart cat feeder that dispenses kibble only when it recognizes the right cat. An Arduino captures camera images and streams them over serial to a Python Flask server, which runs a custom-trained YOLO model to identify the cat's breed and match it to that cat's feeding schedule. When a feeding is allowed, the server sends a request to the Wi-Fi-connected Arduino, which turns a stepper motor and opens a servo gate to dispense a set amount of kibble, with an ultrasonic sensor on board. Pet owners manage their cats and weekly feeding schedules from a Next.js dashboard backed by the Flask REST API, including live schedule status.