Design of an IoT-Based Pet Feeder

Traditional pet feeding methods are often ineffective for owners who are frequently away, leading to inconsistent feeding schedules, overfeeding, or neglect. Manual feeding routines can be easily disrupted by busy lifestyles, and the lack of real-time monitoring makes it difficult to ensure that a pet’s nutritional needs are consistently met. To address these challenges, this paper presents the design and development of an IoT-based pet feeder utilizing an Arduino microcontroller and a GSM module. The system automates food dispensing through a servo motor mechanism triggered by Infrared (IR) sensors, while food levels are continuously monitored using an ultrasonic sensor. In addition to food management, the system incorporates an automated drink monitoring mechanism based on a float sensor. The float sensor detects the water level within the drinking reservoir and activates an LED indicator when the water level falls below a critical point, providing a visual alert for replenishment. Notifications regarding low food levels are sent to the owner’s smartphone via GSM communication, while the mobile application enables remote monitoring. The proposed system ensures consistent, timely, and efficient feeding management, minimizes food wastage, prevents overfeeding, and maintains water availability through a simple visual alert. Experimental results demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of the solution in supporting modern pet care management.