Video: ultrasonic water level dish pings owner when kitty needs a drink
By Darren Murph 
posted March 31st 2009 9:07AM
posted March 31st 2009 9:07AM
[Via MAKE]
posted March 31st 2009 9:07AM
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I perfer the model where you get a jug with a gallon of water and it automatically dispenses it for dog or cat.
Imob-123751495
>> and we can only assume that part II will see an automatic
>> refilling tool hooked in to said alerting system. And you
>> thought pets had it good before the advent of technology...
The consumer cats will have it great. Beta test cat is undoubtedly going to get drenched every time he gets thirsty.
My cat drinks out of the toilet.
My cat's breath smells like cat food.
So make it fill the bowl as well, duh!
Silly half-assed robot.
This is *massive* overkill. Better just to have a conductivity sensor positioned at a certain level in the bowl.
or a simple scale!
Looks like the humble beginnings of a Rube Goldberg contraption.
"Given that most cats aren't really the talkative type"
My boy cat definitly tells me when he needs something, hes freaking annoying. The girl is way cooler.
Why not just check on the cat at least once a day? Would a cat drink from those inverted water bottle dispensers used by rabbits?
Some will. Our cats refuse to drink out of bowls unless they are parched. They would rather whine until someone will turn the faucet on in the tub.
Heh, I will admit that it is a bit of a Rube Goldberg contraption. The next step is to add the water dispenser (solenoid valve or small pump, haven't decided yet) and hand the controls over to the intertubes - with a max fill level built in of course, I'll see about getting that done this weekend.
Why not just do what they do for horse troughs and carburetors?
There is a float, and when the float gets low enough it opens up a valve that allows more water (or gas in a carb) to flow in.
That's pretty wretched. If you're too lazy to change the water daily, don't have a goddamned pet, OK?
Ubuntu is the best. it is used in the video.
I can haz water?
Lol..
You bastard.
the cat's going to knock it down within 24 hours... Unless everything's glued to the ground...
One ping only, please.
"Shum things in here don't react well to bullitsh."
@Agent .25i
lol, that took me a minute to decipher, but once i did it certainly made me laugh. Well done.
...leave it to a cat lover - nerdiest people on earth
I am a cat lover.
Or you could go to the pet store and buy one that does this, plus recirculates the water for your furry co-dependant.
Going to the store and buying one wouldn't get you featured on Engadget.
Because just LOOKING at the bowl would be expending too much energy...
Errr.... isn't the cat/dog ear sensitive to ultrasound frequency sounds? I'm guessing they would never approach a bowl that sounds like a jet taking off to start with :D
Ultrasonic?? What about longterm side effects to our kitties???