Bird Feeder
July 09, 2024
A personal electronics project born from a simple need: keeping my birds fed even when I’m away from home. Built around an Arduino Uno, this feeder runs entirely on its own schedule. No apps, no internet, and no intervention needed.
The system uses an RTC DS1307 module to track real time, triggering a servo motor at three preset times throughout the day to dispense food through a PVC pipe structure. A small OLED display shows the current time and feeding schedule, while three physical buttons let you navigate an on-device menu and adjust timings without reflashing the firmware.
The housing is built from PVC pipes enclosed in a wire grid, keeping the food protected while making the mechanism easy to clean and refill. The electronics sit on a separate board connected to the structure.
One caveat: timing configurations stored via the menu reset if the Arduino loses power, so permanent schedule changes are better made in the code.
Stack: C++ / Arduino, RTC DS1307, OLED display, servo motor, PVC construction.
Technologies: C++, Arduino, Electronics