Militarizing Your Backyard with Python: Computer Vision and the Squirrel Hordes
Next Day Video3 HN recommenders · recommended in 2 months, 2014–2023
talk · intermediate · evergreen · 2014–2023 on HN
A PyCon 2012 talk by Kurt Grandis on building an automated water-squirting turret that uses Python and computer vision to detect and drive off squirrels from a bird feeder.
HN loves it as a funny, inspiring hobby project and calls it one of the best conference talks ever.
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6 comments from Hacker News
"Militarizing Your Backyard With Python" - Perhaps the best presentation to a programming language conference in history. ▶ this video
I don't think you'll find a 'quick hack' but what you're asking is definitely possible as a project. Check this video out for ideas(guy used ML/servo controlled squirt gun to get rid of squirrels from his bird house) ▶ this video
In related squirrel news: The "Daylight Robbery" documentary has some very interesting squirrel obstacle courses. You can find it on youtube - link "Militarizing your Backyard with Python" shows how to build a water-hose-turret that automatically recognizes and blasts squirrels - ▶ this video
Some Hobbyists still want to push the envelope. Think the artist equivalent of the guy building a AI controlled sentry gun for shooting squirrels with water. ▶ this video
Ten years ago, somebody built a squirrel detector/watergun combo to protect their bird feeders without harming the squirrels, [0] [0] ▶ this video
Indeed. Here's something somewhat related, from PyCon 2012. It deals with using computer vision to fire a squirt gun at squirrels. The principle is basically the same. ▶ this video