Project Description:
The process of feeding a reptile involves several steps in preparation for feeding which needs to be done with precise timing which can cause a lizard owner a large mental load. Currently no design for an automated reptile feeder exists on the market due to the process complexity involved. The primary steps that must be completed to properly feed a reptile live insects is: Keep the insects at a sub-ambient refrigerated temperature until start of feeding process, next allow insects to warm up and consume fresh vegetables and food for a period of time, then coat insects with a layer of calcium rich powder, finally release the insects into the reptile container and clean up left over food waste. As a means to facilitate this process a feeder was designed involving rotating stacked layers which can transfer material between each other under the influence of gravity. This allows the insects to be held in a cold compartment and then be moved to a different compartment that allows them to warm up and feed, before finally be dispensed from the device into a reptile habitat.
