Water Bowl Project
The Dog Bowl Monitoring System is a small-scale engineering project that combines mechanical design with embedded systems to improve pet care. The project involves designing and building a physical dog bowl integrated with an Arduino-based control system capable of monitoring water levels and detecting when a dog approaches or uses the bowl. The system uses sensors to track three primary functions: measuring the water level to ensure adequate supply, detecting the presence of the dog light level changes, and logging or responding to usage events. By programming these functions into the Arduino, the system provides real-time feedback that could be used to alert owners when the bowl needs refilling or to monitor a pet’s drinking habits. This project demonstrates the integration of hardware construction, sensor implementation, and embedded programming in a practical, real-world application focused on improving animal care and owner awareness.
Features
Ultrasonic sensor mounted above the bowl to continuously measure water levels and detect when refilling is needed
Photoresistor positioned at the front of the bowl to sense changes in light caused by the dog’s shadow, allowing the system to estimate bowl usage frequency
LCD display used to present real-time system data, including water level and usage information
Buzzer module programmed to play The Imperial March as an audible alert when water levels drop below a set threshold
Blue push button enables users to toggle between different information screens on the LCD.
Red push button allows the user to mute the low-water audio alert
Servo motor mounted on the rear support raises a visual flag to provide a secondary, non-audio alert when water levels are low
Red LED illuminates when water levels fall below the minimum threshold, providing a clear visual warning
Green LED indicates that water levels are within an acceptable range, confirming normal operation
Skills Utilized
Embedded Systems Programming (Arduino / C++)
Wrote and debugged code to control sensors, actuators, and user interfaces.
Sensor Integration & Calibration
Worked with ultrasonic sensors and photoresistors to collect and interpret real-world data.
Microcontroller Interfacing
Connected and managed multiple inputs/outputs (buttons, LEDs, buzzer, servo, LCD).
Circuit Design & Prototyping
Built and tested circuits using breadboards, resistors, and proper wiring techniques.
Basic Signal Processing
Converted raw sensor readings into meaningful values (e.g., water level percentage).
System Integration
Combined mechanical, electrical, and software components into one working system
Problem Solving
Translated a real-world problem (monitoring pet water) into a functional solution
Iterative Design & Testing
Refined code and hardware through testing (especially using simulation like Tinker cad)