8 min readNov 28, 2021

Wi-Fi Controlled Automatic Pet Feeder

so If you have a pet at your place and there is no one to feed him/her at the right time in your absence. So here we are building a IoT-based Pet Feeder which is simple, efficient, and economic. Using this automatic pet feeder, you can feed your Pet by using Blynk App or Web Dashboard from anywhere in the world.

You just have to press a button or set a time and the rest of the task will be done by this machine.

in this project we are using a NodeMCU ESP32 as the main controller, a Stepper motor to operate the pet feeder.

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You can set up a detailed meal schedule.

You can also just sprinkle some cat food remotely using your smartphone at any time and from anywhere.

Credit :- Smart Solution For home

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Step 1: Components Required for Building Pet Feeder

NodeMCU ESP32

Stepper Motor

Jumper cable

3D printed Some File

Adapter

USB cable For Programming

Download STL File :- (Click Here)

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Step 2: Electronics

Automatic Pet Feeder Circuit Diagram

Complete schematic for Automatic Pet Feeder is given above:

Connections are very simple as we are only connecting a Stepper Motor with ESP32.

STEPPER_IN1 27

STEPPER_IN2 26

STEPPER_IN3 25

STEPPER_IN4 33

GND GND

VCC VIN

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Step 3: Programming ESP32 for Pet Feeder (Sample Program)

/* Comment this out to disable prints and save space */
#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial#include <WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>
const char ssid[] = "Your WiFi SSID"; // WiFi name
const char password[] = "Your WiFi Password"; // WiFi password#include <BlynkSimpleEsp32.h>
char auth[] = "Your Blynk Auth Token"; // Blynk Authentication Token
WiFiServer server(80);#include <SPI.h>
#include <TFT_eSPI.h>
TFT_eSPI tft = TFT_eSPI(); // Resolution 135 x 240
#define FF17 &FreeSans9pt7b
#define FF21 &FreeSansBold9pt7b
#define ROW1 0,16
#define ROW2 0,38
#define ROW3 0,60
#define ROW4 0,82
#define ROW5 0,104
#define ROW6 0,126#define BUTTON1 35
#define BUTTON2 0#define STEPPER_IN1 27
#define STEPPER_IN2 26
#define STEPPER_IN3 25
#define STEPPER_IN4 33#define REVOLUTION_STEP 2048 // 1 revolutionboolean stepperDirection = false;
int stepperStep = 0;
int stepperStepCount = 0;
boolean stepperMove = false;
long prevMillisStepper = 0;
int intervalStepper = 4; // Minimum is 2boolean button1Pressed = false;
boolean button2Pressed = false;BLYNK_WRITE(V0) // Button Widget is writing to pin V0
{
  stepperDirection = param.asInt();  tft.fillRect(120, 65, 120, 25, TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(120, 82);
  if (stepperDirection) {
    tft.print("CCW");
  }
  else {
    tft.print("CW");
  }
}BLYNK_WRITE(V1) // Button Widget is writing to pin V1
{
  int stepperSpeed = param.asInt();  tft.fillRect(120, 87, 120, 25, TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(120, 104);
  if (stepperSpeed == 1) {
    intervalStepper = 4;
    tft.print("Low");
  }
  else if (stepperSpeed == 2) {
    intervalStepper = 3;
    tft.print("Medium");
  }
  else if (stepperSpeed == 3) {
    intervalStepper = 2;
    tft.print("High");
  }
}BLYNK_WRITE(V2) // Button Widget is writing to pin V2
{
  stepperMove = true;
  stepperStepCount = 0;
  stepperStep = 1;  tft.fillRect(120, 109, 120, 25, TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(120, 126);
  tft.print("Run");
}void setup()
{
  pinMode(BUTTON1, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(BUTTON2, INPUT_PULLUP);
  
  pinMode(STEPPER_IN1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(STEPPER_IN2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(STEPPER_IN3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(STEPPER_IN4, OUTPUT);  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.print("Initialize Blynk.");  tft.init();
  tft.setRotation(3);
  tft.fillScreen(TFT_BLACK);
  
  tft.setFreeFont(FF21);
  tft.setTextColor(TFT_BLUE);
  tft.setCursor(ROW1);
  tft.print("Blynk Status:");
  
  tft.setFreeFont(FF17);
  tft.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE);
  tft.setCursor(120, 16);
  tft.print("Initialize...");  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected.");
  Serial.println("IP address: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());  Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, password);  tft.fillRect(120, 0, 120, 35, TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(120, 16);
  tft.print("Ready!");  tft.setFreeFont(FF21);
  tft.setTextColor(TFT_RED);
  tft.setCursor(ROW3);
  tft.print("STEPPER");
  tft.setTextColor(TFT_GREEN);
  tft.setCursor(ROW4);
  tft.print("Direction:");
  tft.setCursor(ROW5);
  tft.print("Speed:");
  tft.setCursor(ROW6);
  tft.print("Status:");  tft.setFreeFont(FF17);
  tft.setTextColor(TFT_YELLOW);
  tft.setCursor(120, 82);
  tft.print("CW");
  tft.setCursor(120, 104);
  tft.print("Low");
  tft.setCursor(120, 126);
  tft.print("Stop");  Blynk.virtualWrite(0, 0);
  Blynk.virtualWrite(1, 1);
  Blynk.virtualWrite(2, 0);
}void loop()
{
  Blynk.run();
  
  if (digitalRead(BUTTON1) == LOW &&
      button1Pressed == false) {
    button1Pressed = true;
    
    stepperDirection = false;
    stepperMove = true;
    stepperStepCount = 0;
    stepperStep = 1;
  }
  else if (digitalRead(BUTTON1) == HIGH &&
           button1Pressed == true) {
    button1Pressed = false;
  }
  
  if (digitalRead(BUTTON2) == LOW) {
    
    stepperDirection = true;
    stepperMove = true;
    stepperStepCount = 0;
    stepperStep = 1;
  }
  else if (digitalRead(BUTTON2) == HIGH &&
           button2Pressed == true) {
    button2Pressed = false;
  }
  
  if (millis() - prevMillisStepper > intervalStepper) {
    
    if (stepperMove == true) {
      if (stepperDirection) {
        if (stepperStep++ >= 3) {
          stepperStep = 0;
        }
      }
      else {
        if (stepperStep-- == 0) {
          stepperStep = 3;
        }
      }      if (stepperStepCount++ == REVOLUTION_STEP) {
        stepperMove = false;
        stepperStep = 4;        Blynk.virtualWrite(2, 0);
        
        tft.fillRect(120, 109, 120, 25, TFT_BLACK);
        tft.setCursor(120, 126);
        tft.print("Stop");
      }      switch (stepperStep) {
        case 0:
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN1, HIGH);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN2, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN3, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN4, LOW);
          break;        case 1:
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN1, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN2, HIGH);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN3, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN4, LOW);
          break;        case 2:
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN1, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN2, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN3, HIGH);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN4, LOW);
          break;        case 3:
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN1, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN2, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN3, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN4, HIGH);
          break;        default:
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN1, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN2, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN3, LOW);
          digitalWrite(STEPPER_IN4, LOW);
          break;
      }
    }    prevMillisStepper = millis();
  }
}

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Step 4: Software and Libraries

To use the ESP32 board with the Arduino library, you’ll have to use the Arduino IDE with ESP32 board support. If you haven’t already done that yet, you can easily install ESP32 Board support to your Arduino IDE by following this tutorial by Sparkfun.

Install the Libraries:

Before uploading the code install the following libraries :

1. ESP32
2. Blynk

How to Install the Libraries?

You can read this tutorial by Sparkfun to install the Arduino libraries.

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Step 5: Configuring Blynk for Pet Feeder

Blynk is a complete set of software for prototyping, and remotely managing connected devices at any scale, from small IoT projects to millions of commercially available connected items.

In this project, we are going to use the Blynk mobile application for controlling the stepper motor that is connected to the pet feeder setup.

Step-1:
Download the Blynk app

1. For Android

2. For iPhone

For that first, we have to create a new account for Blynk Cloud platform or you can use your old account if you already have one.

Step-2:

Get the Auth Token In order to connect the Blynk App and your hardware, you need an Auth Token.

Once you have logged in to your account you have to create a template where you can add multiple devices. For that click on the ‘+ New Template’ button on top right corner.

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Step 6: Assembly

you have all the parts printed (it takes about 20 hours, so be patience🙂 ). It’s time to put them together. Apart from the printed elements themselves, you’re gonna need a few M2.5 and M3 screws, a screwdriver, and Superglue

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Step 7: Parts Assembly

we gonna mount the flap frame on the top edge of the container. Just put some glue in the groove and slide it over
Do the same on the other side, but glue the funnel this time.
Place the gear into the main body parts, and then insert the funnel with the container into the 3 printed slot.
assemble the top and middle parts of the ESP32 box

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