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0 pointsdavidb_6y ago0 comments

I've got 5. I only actively use 3 of them.

1. Media player connected to projector running RasPlex - this software is outdated enough and buffers on some high bitrate content that I should buy a replacement device, but it still works well enough. I tried upgrading to a newer raspi and wasted an hour trying to get it to run, then gave up. So, I still use my old one. It still gets used daily and works well enough (only issue is the buffering on occasion).

2. RetroPie - I rarely game, but it's cool to be able to turn this on and have a library of all the games I played (and those I never had) from childhood.

3. I use the third one as a networked LED marquee controller (HUB75 panels) with this software: https://github.com/hzeller/rpi-rgb-led-matrix

The other 2 I just have sitting on my desk and occasionally use for small dev projects or to test out some new project I read about on here, hackaday, etc.

An ongoing project that I haven't made much progress with is an automated turret that squirts squirrels with water. I made something similar in college (a "paintball gun" turret with openCV blob detection/tracking) that had decent performance. Now that openCV on rpi can outperform my old college laptop, I want to setup the pi to detect squirrels, track them, and keep them away from a bird feeder/plants in my backyard.

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ncarroll6y ago

Would that turret will work for pigeons landing on my balcony? Or better yet, to protect my air space by squirting them on a fly by? That'd be some sweet fun. :-)

mft_6y ago

This makes me sad.

Pigeons get a bad time, but they're lovely birds of you spend some time observing and maybe even interacting with them. We had an obviously-paired couple visit our balcony most days for a couple of years.

Please don't be (thoughtlessly?) mean to them.

sersi6y ago

I like Pigeons and don't mind them except when they visit my balcony at 7am in the morning and wake me up (we only have single pane windows and no way to change it since we're renting).

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ncarroll6y ago

Don't be sad on my account. I actually like them very much. They are funny and persistent. I watched one yesterday try to outsmart a crow for a piece of cheese. That she even tried was pretty courageous. We have an obviously-paired couple living on the roof of the building next door. They are very sweet and would be welcome to visit if they would promise not to nest. But they won't.

And the first pair of baby pigeons we sheltered was the last pair of baby pigeons we will be sheltering. The mess was indescribable and everyone was so comfortable they all wanted to raise families here. Horrified, I chased pigeons from our balcony during mating season (circa any time it's warm outside) multiple times a day for three years before I regained control of my tiny kingdom.

Pigeons have the whole outdoors to nest in, the city even maintains a pigeon house on top of a building just across the way. I have my balcony...

jaderobbins16y ago

I want to follow your turret project :) I'm trying to teach my cat to stay off the counter and every other method of doing so hasn't worked.

davidb_OP6y ago

Have you tried laying aluminum foil loosely on the counter? I've heard that one works.

I likely won't make much progress on it this summer, but in the winter when I pick it back up and make some progress, I'll reach out.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsdavidb_6y ago0 comments

I've got 5. I only actively use 3 of them.

2. RetroPie - I rarely game, but it's cool to be able to turn this on and have a library of all the games I played (and those I never had) from childhood.

3. I use the third one as a networked LED marquee controller (HUB75 panels) with this software: https://github.com/hzeller/rpi-rgb-led-matrix

The other 2 I just have sitting on my desk and occasionally use for small dev projects or to test out some new project I read about on here, hackaday, etc.

0 comments

ncarroll6y ago

Would that turret will work for pigeons landing on my balcony? Or better yet, to protect my air space by squirting them on a fly by? That'd be some sweet fun. :-)

mft_6y ago

This makes me sad.

Please don't be (thoughtlessly?) mean to them.

sersi6y ago

I like Pigeons and don't mind them except when they visit my balcony at 7am in the morning and wake me up (we only have single pane windows and no way to change it since we're renting).

1 more reply

ncarroll6y ago

Pigeons have the whole outdoors to nest in, the city even maintains a pigeon house on top of a building just across the way. I have my balcony...

jaderobbins16y ago

I want to follow your turret project :) I'm trying to teach my cat to stay off the counter and every other method of doing so hasn't worked.

davidb_OP6y ago

Have you tried laying aluminum foil loosely on the counter? I've heard that one works.

I likely won't make much progress on it this summer, but in the winter when I pick it back up and make some progress, I'll reach out.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse