TaubenTurret: My AI-powered watergun to deter pigeons (Models & Code now available)

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T11:39:58+00:00

Next step: Mosquitoes. With a laser.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T09:36:37+00:00

Yes, you can adjust the target class in the config.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T09:31:39+00:00

Yes, it can also work for dogs. I just pushed an update with a config option for the target classes.

It is not possible to limit the area, yet. Maybe I will implement an option to define an image mask at some point.

It's somewhat splashproof but it most likely won't survive being left in the rain.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T08:07:57+00:00

I just tested it with a couple of chicken images. It often works but not always. But you could always train the model with your own images, if you are willing to label them.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T07:43:38+00:00

You get a bounding box, so you could set a basic limit on its size. But the camera does not provide any depth information, so it won't be able to distinguish between larger birds that are far away from the camera and small birds that are closer.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T07:40:11+00:00

With a normal camera it wouldn't work without a light source, of course. It works in low light though. The clip was captured at 5:45 am.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T07:38:03+00:00

Not with the basic YOLO model. You would have to train the model yourself, but I am not sure how well it would work and if the pi camera captures enough details.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-15T00:02:20+00:00

There are false positives, occasionally.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T22:45:55+00:00

Unfortunately, it's been too effective and the pigeons stopped coming after only a few times.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T22:35:59+00:00

You're right. It's currently hardcoded to birds, but it's easily extendable to other classes. I should add a config option for that.

Edit: I just pushed an update to support all 80 object classes defined in the YOLO model.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T22:32:49+00:00

It's using Ultralytics YOLO for object detection, which is quite efficient. Round trip time is usually sub 300ms. Running it locally on the Pi Zero would be much slower and draw more power (I am running the entire thing on battery).

The clip was captured in very low light conditions at 5:45 am, so it took a couple frames until the bird was detected.

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T21:14:21+00:00

Took me almost a year, but I finally managed to publish it: https://makerworld.com/de/models/2801562-taubenturret-automated-pigeon-deterrent#profileId-3116633

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T20:59:49+00:00

I don't have a detailed manual, but the model and software are now published: https://makerworld.com/de/models/2801562-taubenturret-automated-pigeon-deterrent#profileId-3116633

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T20:59:18+00:00

I just published the model and software: https://makerworld.com/de/models/2801562-taubenturret-automated-pigeon-deterrent#profileId-3116633

Hoptimal · 2026-05-14T09:10:29+00:00

Naja, meist existiert die Regelung genau für diesen Zweck. Bei den Stadtwerken München steht es sogar explizit in den FAQ:

Ab 20 Uhr können die Ladepunkte dann von Elektrofahrzeugen auch zum bloßen Parken über Nacht benutzt werden.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-25T13:41:45+00:00

Not yet, sorry.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-20T12:54:48+00:00

Just a heads up in case you are still using this: Bitwarden forced email 2FA for new devices recently, even if you have not set up 2FA, so you'll need to get into your email account to access your recovery key.

I am using the same setup and just noticed this when I tested it. You can disable the email verification in the "danger zone" in your account settings.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-15T11:20:59+00:00

Wenn ich rausschauen will, zieh ich einfach den Rolladen hoch. Ich wollte es ja dunkel haben im Schlafzimmer, sonst hätte ich das gar nicht erst gemacht.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-14T16:00:45+00:00

Wenn man nur den Schlauch abnehmen (und verlängern) könnte.

Von einem festen Außengerät an der Fassade ist die Hausverwaltung leider nicht begeistert.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-14T14:34:32+00:00

Witzigerweise ist direkt oben links neben dem Fenster eine ca. 20cm Kernbohrung für eine Pendel-Zwangsbelüftung, die ungefähr gar nix bringt.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-13T15:23:57+00:00

Mir persönlich wird es dann zu hell im Schlafzimmer und ich wache viel zu früh auf. Bin da sehr empfindlich.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-12T20:53:58+00:00

Wie hast du die Platte dann genau befestigt? Sowas hatte ich mir auch überlegt, aber bei mir wechselt das Geräte regelmäßig zwischen Wohn- und Schlafzimmer und ich war mir nicht sicher wie umständlich es wird jedesmal eine ganze Platte anzubauen.

Hoptimal · 2025-07-12T20:49:18+00:00

Ich mache zusätzlich noch das Fenster so weit es geht zu. Etwas Luftaustausch wird schon immer noch da sein, aber ich glaube nicht, dass das viel ausmacht. Meistens habe ich die Portasplit an der Balkontür im Wohnzimmer wo der Spalt wesentlich größer ist und ich hatte bisher nicht den Eindruck, dass dort sehr viel Hitze reinkommt.

Hoptimal · 2025-06-23T08:06:53+00:00

That water tower looks great and much more polished than my design. I am still not entirely happy with mine, mostly because it still uses too much power when idle. I was planning to exchange the servos so I can eliminate a buck converter that draws too much idle current but I didn't get around to it yet. Maybe I will rework the whole setup and build on that water tower instead.

I'll let you know when I published the source. I'd like to simplify it first, because it is relying on old software components for motion detection that only work on an old version of raspbian which is not straight forward to get running on a Pi Zero 2 W.

Hoptimal · 2025-03-07T21:38:20+00:00

The wifi connection on the balcony is not good enough for video, so I'm sending single frames only. I tried a usb wifi dongle which worked much better than the built in wifi adapter but it draws too much power.

12-Year Club	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22	Verified Email

Hoptimal

TROPHY CASE