| Name | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Silva | up201907420 | up201907420@fc.up.pt |
| Nuno Domingos | up201907932 | up201907932@fc.up.pt |
| Pedro Santos | up201904529 | up201904529@fc.up.pt |
| Tomás Vicente | up201904609 | up201904609@fe.up.pt |
The project aimed to develop an automatic mousetrap system that detects movement inside the trap, captures photographs, and allows users to remotely control the trap via a mobile application. The system was designed to close the trap door automatically after 5 seconds of detecting movement or sooner, depending on the user's decision through the app.
- Structure: Built with a wooden base and metal mesh to allow light entry for photo capture.
- Key Components:
- Servo Motor: Controls the door mechanism.
- PIR Motion Sensor: Detects movement inside the trap.
- Arduino Uno: Acts as the microcontroller, controlling the door and processing sensor data.
- Raspberry Pi: Acts as the server, connected to a camera module for capturing images. It communicates with the Arduino and the mobile application.
- Functionality:
- Controls the trap door.
- Detects movement using the PIR sensor.
- Sends movement detection information to the Raspberry Pi.
- Executes a state machine that handles door operations based on movement detection and commands from the server.
- Role:
- Serves as the main server, executing Python code.
- Manages communication between the Arduino and the mobile application.
- Handles requests to capture and store photographs using the connected camera module.
- Uses serial communication to interact with the Arduino and HTTP requests to communicate with the mobile app.
- Platform: Developed using Google’s Flutter framework for cross-platform compatibility (Android, iOS, etc.).
- Features:
- Users can monitor the state of multiple traps.
- Users can remotely control the trap door and request new photographs.
- Notifications alert users of movement inside the trap, including a photograph and door status.
The integration process involved connecting the sensor and servo motor to the Arduino and ensuring correct communication between the Arduino and Raspberry Pi via a physical serial connection. The mobile application interacted with the Raspberry Pi through HTTP requests, facilitating remote control and monitoring.
- Problem: The server needed to constantly monitor communication between the Arduino and Raspberry Pi, which is atypical for a standard HTTP server.
- Solution: Implemented a background thread in the server that continuously listens for messages from the Arduino, such as movement detection, and triggers appropriate actions like sending notifications to the mobile application.
- Problem: The PIR sensor was overly sensitive, leading to false positives, and required an initial setup time to stabilize.
- Solution: Introduced a 20-second setup time for the PIR sensor during which the trap remains inactive. This allowed the sensor to adjust to the environment, reducing false detections.