Automatic Chicken Door

About this Project

Problem: I grew up on a mini-farm where my family raised chickens. It was my job to release the chickens every morning and pen them up in the evenings. This task was boring and menial.

Solution: I built and programmed an automatic chicken door that opened and closed in response to ambient light intensity. It can be installed in between the studs of a chicken coop and let chickens in an out in the daytime, while keeping them safe at night.

How does it work? In the morning, when it is bright enough outside, the photoresistor detects the change in light levels and an Arduino microcontroller commands the motor to start lifting the door. When the door is all the way up, a limit switch is pressed, telling the Arduino to stop the motor. The opposite process occurs when light levels drop below a certain amount at night.

Specs

• 550 12V brushed DC motor with 30A brushed motor controller
• 4:1 planetary gearbox
• Threaded rod and brass insert nut motion system
• Drawer slide allows vertical motion while resisting impacts to the door
• Photoresistor to detect ambient light levels
• Roller switches to detect whether door is up or down

Relevant Skills

• C++/Arduino: Programmed state machine on Arduino Uno
• Motor and Gearbox Selection: I learned the hard way that a 550 motor by itself doesn’t have much torque...