Automatic Cricket Dispenser

theamish · #1 08-15-2008, 01:12 PM

Anybody ever attempt anything like this? Seems to me it would be possible using the concept of an automatic fish feeder with a little trap door on a downward type angle to just sort of dump the crickets right out(LOL... funny picture in my head of the crickets holding on for dear life).

Anyway was thinking it would be pretty cool to have something like this for short vacations and weekend trips considering I don't really know anybody who lives in my area because I just moved here not to long ago.

Info??.... Ideas??..... Attempts??

MtuPup · #2 08-15-2008, 02:05 PM

Preface: I'm an electrical engineer with a background in automation controls

So me being the geek I am, I want to fully automate my habitats through the use of a PLC(Programable Logic Circuit) based control panel. This would monitor temperature/humidity and turn lighting on/off etc to control the climate of the tank - a way over elaborate air conditioning system. Anyways, the guys in the office like to make fun of "the frog kid" as my wall paper is always some red eye tree frog or whatever the flavor of the week may be.

Anyways where this pertains to crickets:
Jokingly, the idea of a automatic cricket feeder got thrown out. My idea is to have some type of hopper with a tube running into the enclosure. The tube would have a door on each end. At a given time both doors will open allowing crickets to pass in. To sense as crickets go through, a break beam sensor is the best I could come up with. Basically, you'd need a sensor at each end - see how many crickets go in, how many go out. Once the desired number of crickets have entered the staging tube, the first door closes...after all have past into the enclosure, the second door closes.

Now this isn't a sound idea seeing as it goes off the assumption the crickets will walk linearlly into the enclosure from the hopper.

Hope this gives a good laugh because the schematics that were being passed around and modified at my office were hillarious.

NavyNate06 · #3 08-16-2008, 10:32 PM

wow dude, we in the navy have a saying for what you've just done. its called nuking it. it started with the nuclear ratings because those guys are too smart for their own good. in other words they tend to over think stuff and make things a lot more complicated than they need to be. your little contraption would be a riot to see if you actually did make it. though the picture of it in my mind is kind of like something the size of a 64 inch projection screen tvs set on its back attached to the side of a 10 gallon tank. haha its great knowing there are people out there with the know how to think of this stuff and be able to build it. haha definately nuking it.

JohnEDove · #4 08-16-2008, 11:00 PM

I have thought of trying to create one but never got the idea off the ground. I sure hope your get a good idea I can try to adapt to my needs.

Waterkeeper · #5 08-16-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Preface: I'm an electrical engineer with a background in automation controls

And so you can figure out how to power the entire thing off of the univac then. you won't need much more than a 2.2mHz clock will you?

MtuPup · #6 08-16-2008, 11:18 PM

wow, that just made my very bland saturday night even better - do i ever hate packing to go back to school.

I actually think I'll only need a small power substation in my backyard to run everything when it's complete...

As for nuking: yep that's a definate. So far in the field, I've found just do it to make it work then start making it smaller and more efficient. I'm going to dig around my cube on Monday and see if i can find the drawings. like i said: riot. I believe one idea involved genetically engineering gnomes to ranch the crickets in.

NavyNate06 · #7 08-16-2008, 11:45 PM

just don't forget to add the Mr. Fusion. hahahaha this is great. ROFL

MtuPup · #8 08-17-2008, 12:16 AM

here's the real trick...maybe put the crickets into some kind of squirrel cage turbine so as they move to go into the tank, they turn the turbine generating the power needed to run everything! amazing how the brain starts going after 4 hrs of trying to figure out how to jam more into my car then I came home with.

Green Ghost · #9 08-18-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterkeeper

And so you can figure out how to power the entire thing off of the univac then. you won't need much more than a 2.2mHz clock will you?

Univac? I thought it was the Eniac....

Oh yeah and Mtu... I forgot to tell you, never mention you're an engineer on here because then the fun just never ends! hehehe

MtuPup · #10 08-18-2008, 05:38 PM

that's funny, i was told never to mention I'm into frogs at work...it seems the fun never ends with that one either.