Pico W-Based “Fish Feeder Deluxe”

We all have chores we need to do. Makers often come up with solutions that are far more (initial) work than the chores themselves, but they are oh, so much more fun and educational.

Such is the case with Erik Berglund’s (plausiblethumb at 3D modelling community MakerBot Thingiverse) Automatic Fish Feeder Deluxe. He’s improved upon other projects (this is not a new idea - we published one 47 years ago) to bring the “Deluxe” version to life, having created a complete end-to-end solution for the drudge, from the hardware components (built around the Raspberry Pi Pico W), to the 3D-printed enclosure to hold it all together, to the software.

  Speaking of software, not only has he written the software for the Pico, but he has an Android application in communication with the rig so that he can control the whole thing from his phone, using familiar user interface components, such as the clock for scheduling up to 18 feedings a day!


 

The Python scripts for the Pico are published on Erik’s GitHub, and there’s a link there to the Android app code as well.

Now, if you’re thinking, “eugh, Android app, let’s see, how many Integrated Development Environments am I going to have to install to get this thing to compile,” worry no further - he’s even published the app on the Google Play Store! Once the scheduling is done, it’s stored independently in the contraption itself, so it’s not sitting around waiting for the phone to tell it what to do.

What about timekeeping? He’s taken care of that: There’s a trusty Dallas Semiconductor real-time clock module with battery backup.

Got fish? Well, since Erik has done the same amount of work as feeding a fish manually for 8 years, you don’t have to. Get started by visiting his GitHub page for the project, which has links and comprehensive instructions for the project. Or, see it all in action in his video: