Are you sure you don't want to do this project using a Raspberry PI instead? When I plug in my Raspberry PI, it automatically powers on. And it's basically a tiny computer with some sort of Debian Linux on it. I could configure it to run a Perl script when it powers on. Since the Raspberry PI has pins, they can be connected to switches which turn on power to some devices. For example, I could turn on a lamp, or I have taken a water valve out of a washing machine, so I could turn on a water hose. I could open or close a door and so on.

The problem is that even a simple chicken farm has a lot of complexities that require daily monitoring and personal presence. For example, I currently have about 60 chickens. They are free range, and when sunset comes, most of them like to sit outside in groups, which means that I have to move them into the chicken coop every night. Once I moved them in, then I have to count them, securely lock the doors of the coop. And then I even close the chicken cage which leads to the coop. In the morning around 7 o'clock, I go outside and let them out. This is easy, because all I have to do is open the doors. This part could be automatized. However, the temperature in Florida can rise quickly. And if the door-opener mechanism fails even once, all my chickens could die in the coop from the extreme heat. I cannot risk that. So, this is something that requires my personal attention. I wouldn't want to rely on a machine to do this work. This is the easiest but most critical part of the work. Then I have to feed them and water them. I usually clean their water bowl, so they drink out of a clean bowl everyday. That water would get extremely dirty if I didn't clean it. I am not sure how a machine could do this. But like I said, this is not the most important part. I think, my chickens could survive without grain or water for several weeks. There is plenty of food in the yard. I have a big yard. But opening their door in the morning is absolutely critical. If I forget it, then they all die. Another responsibility is collecting the eggs. If I don't, then the heat causes the eggs to go bad, so it's a constant work. Very hard to imagine how it could be automatized. And I don't even own a large farm. There are much bigger and more complex chicken farms...

This farm automatization reminded me of a funny old Charlie Chaplin video on YouTube. LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_1apYo6-Ow

In reply to Re: [OT] Smartphone IO interface: how to control motors and read sensors by harangzsolt33
in thread [OT] Smartphone IO interface: how to control motors and read sensors by bliako

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