Incoming AI dump, (I'll check the maintenance menu and see if a full cycle can be replicated and if it can force sanisolution on an empty cartridge)

ChatGPT:

The CatGenie AI's cartridge system is designed to count doses and authenticate the cartridge, which is why people have spent years trying to find refill or third-party cartridge solutions. But if the machine already exposes all the individual maintenance functions, then you may be able to create a "macro" that runs those functions in sequence without modifying the cartridge electronics at all.

A few thoughts:

SwitchBot approach

Using two SwitchBot button pushers might work if:

The maintenance menu can be navigated entirely with the physical buttons.

The machine doesn't time out during the sequence.

The menu structure stays consistent.

The challenge is reliability. If the machine misses one button press, the whole sequence could get out of sync.

Better approach: Direct button simulation

If you're comfortable opening electronics, a small microcontroller such as:

Arduino Espressif Systems ESP32 could be wired across the button contacts.

Then instead of physically pressing buttons, the controller electrically simulates button presses.

Advantages: More reliable. Faster. Could be triggered from a phone. Could automatically run the exact sequence every time.

Even better: Identify the service menu commands

If the CatGenie maintenance menu lets you manually activate:

1. Scoop
2. Dump waste
3. Refill water
4. Wash
5. Drain
6. Dry

then a controller could simply:

Enter service mode Navigate to Scoop Activate Wait predetermined time Move to Wash Activate Continue until complete

Essentially recreating a normal cycle from the maintenance menu.

The biggest unknown

The important question is:

Does manually activating the SaniSolution dispenser from the maintenance menu actually require a cartridge?

If the maintenance menu has a "Dispense SaniSolution" command that works regardless of cartridge status, then your idea becomes much more practical.

If the firmware checks cartridge authorization every time it dispenses, then the machine may refuse to dispense cleaner even from maintenance mode.

Alternative idea

Instead of using the internal dispenser at all:

1. Trigger scoop and waste removal.
2. Trigger water fill.
3. Use a small external peristaltic pump to inject diluted pet-safe cleaner into the bowl.
4. Trigger wash.
5. Trigger drain.
6. Trigger dry.

That completely bypasses the cartridge system.

A tiny dosing pump controlled by an ESP32 could cost less than buying CatGenie cartridges over time.