Pets

Bistro cat feeder and health monitor identifies cats using facial recognition

Bistro cat feeder and health monitor identifies cats using facial recognition
Bistro is claimed to be the first smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
Bistro is claimed to be the first smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
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Bistro is claimed to be the first smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
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Bistro is claimed to be the first smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
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Bistro can be monitored from a smartphone
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Bistro can be monitored from a smartphone
Bistro component details
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Bistro component details
Bistro comes with a smartphone app
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Bistro comes with a smartphone app
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Bistro claims to be able to help monitor your pet's daily health
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Bistro claims to be able to help monitor your pet's daily health
A cat eats from the Bistro smart feeder
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A cat eats from the Bistro smart feeder
Bistro is a smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
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Bistro is a smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
Bistro is a smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
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Bistro is a smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
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We all know that cats requires regular feeding, watering and the occasional trip to the vet, but few of us would know exactly how our cat’s health, weight, and hydration are faring on a day-to-day basis. And, when we do feed them, how do we even know that the food we put out for our feline friend is actually being eaten by them and not by someone else’s interloping pet? A group of cat lovers thought about all of these things and came up with Bistro, an automatic feeder that uses facial recognition technology to ensure the food is going to its intended recipient.

The creators claim that when a cat steps onto the Bistro platform and looks into the food area, an inbuilt camera is triggered and video is streamed to a server which then runs the feline-facial recognition algorithm. If the cat is recognized, food will be dispensed. If not, the food is withheld and the owner will be notified via the Bistro smartphone app that gives them the choice to create a new cat profile should they so desire. This function also allows the Bistro system to individually monitor and feed multiple cats in a household.

With weight sensors located under the feed and water receptacles, the Bistro device is claimed to be able to track a pet’s daily consumption levels. Sensors under the platform on which the cat stands also allow the cat’s weight to to be tracked over time. The designers further claim that the Bistro app allows you to check the history of your cat’s food and water intake or health report on demand from your phone. The app also permits the user to watch a live video stream of the cat eating if so desired.

Bistro is a smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology
Bistro is a smart cat feeder with facial recognition technology

The Bistro food hopper contains around 15 cups of dry food (wet food cannot be used in the device) and the water container holds around 38 oz (1.1 L). If either of these run low, the user is again notified via the Bistro app. According to the creators, two adult cats each weighing about 6 lb (2.7 kg) would have enough water to last them for around three days. There is no estimate on how long the food would last, as different cats have varying consumption rates.

Bistro's inventors also lay claim the device the world's first intelligent pet feeder that applies the "quantified cat" concept. That is, just as the idea of the Quantified Self (aka lifelogging) for humans uses technology to capture data on various aspects of a person's daily life, so too do the creators of Bistro claim their device does this for cats. As such, visiting a vet and being asked about a cat's diet, the Bistro app can show chapter-and-verse the most detailed diet and weight history.

Of course, there are a plethora of smart pet feeders out there, some of which are controlled by smartphones and other feeders that work with RFID tags, but the Bistro system is the very first that claims to be able to recognize individual cat faces and to monitor health and distribute food accordingly.

The Bistro app is in development for iOS and Android devices and the device is set for retail launch in February 2015 for around US$249 if everything goes to plan Early-bird specials are available before then on the Bistro Indiegogo page.

The design team details the Bistro in the Indiegogo pitch video below.

Source: Bistro

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3 comments
3 comments
Mark A
It was bound to happen. Probably sell millions. My cat likes mice.... no problem.
Bob Ehresman
It would be useful if it could dispense different food to different cats. I know folks who have multiple cats and one or two are on special diets. I had a cat once that had to be on a low protein diet. Feeding separately was impossible. My other cats ended up eating the same chow and got fat on it.
I suppose multiple feeders would accommodate this issue, but the expense would be kind of large.
PeterAndrews
What a complete, unmitigated disaster. The cats can only be fed dry food, which will eventually lead to extremely painful and often fatal kidney and urethral stones.