Critter Cart (birds & ambassor animals)

Critter Cart Artwork

Here are some photos of the absolutely beautiful artwork that the folks at ZooTampa painted on the Critter Cart!   Thank you to Gabby Vigh for sending these.
The ambassador animals are being desensitized/acclimated to the cart. Eventually the cart will be wheeled around the zoo so guests can meet ambassador animals.

Short videos – Critter Cart demonstration

Bird chirps and sounds

FEEDER DEMONSTRATION
FEEDER DEMONSTRATION
WATER SPRAY FEATURE
WATER SPRAY FEATURE

May 15, 2023 – Critter Cart Delivery to ZooTampa

  • testing Critter Cart. Everything works!
  • final construction after the drive over to Tampa
  • delivery to ZooTampa team
  • installing one of the adjustable water shower nozzles
  • with Sue Pasquine of ZooTampa
  • This is the epoxy that will cover the perches. It looks like tree bark when it dries.

Critter Cart Test 5-12-23

We tested the Critter Cart using the remote that zookeepers can control.


Birds/Aviary Enrichment (location ZooTampa, Tampa, FL)

Critter Cart is ready to be delivered to ZooTampa!

Critter Cart Update 5-10-23

We will deliver the critter cart to ZooTampa early next week. We will update our posts with photos soon.

Critter Cart Test – 4-20-23

We tested the ZooTampa Critter Cart today. This has four features: fan, music/bird sounds, food/seed dispenser and water shower/spray

4-19-23: Update: Upon completion of the dual feeder the cart was ready for testing. When the pump for the shower was activated, it caused the feeder to dispense. The root cause of this issue was electromagnetic magnetic interference from the brushes in the pump. In order to correct this issue, the power system was split into two systems one for the controller electronics and the other for the enrichment devices. After splitting the power system, the erroneous triggering was much improved, however, every once in a while, the feeder would trigger (about once every ten minutes). Capacitive noise suppression was added to the pump circuit and that fixed the issue.

Critter Cart Video!

Here’s a quick video that our friend Terri made. She did a great job describing the features of the “critter cart” we are designing and building for Zoo Tampa. Thank you Terri!

Critter Cart progress

Here’s a photo that shows some of the main perch uprights in place.

We tested the fan that will be implemented into one of the perch stands.

This video is a test of the sound/speakers for the critter cart.

Critter Cart Update

Sound test today. The speakers are in, and the bird chirp sounds work. There is still more work to be done. We are happy that the all the intricate wiring in the control panel “brains” works! We are designing/building this Environmental enrichment device (EED) for ZooTampa

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This cart is being built for ZooTampa to use in their aviaries and also with their winged animal ambassadors. The cart can be wheeled throughout the zoo or kept in one of the aviary habitats.

Here are some recent photos of the progress. Everything has been designed, wired and cut by hand.

There will be perches for the birds. The birds will be able to activate recessed buttons to choose a water spray, sound/music, breeze from a small fan or a food dispenser.

  • top view looking into critter cart:
  • another view looking into the cart:
  • side view with purple frames around speakers
  • side view/access doors –
  • side view of battery charging access and door
  • “activation buttons” –
  • action button in “active mode” (LED is lit)
  • examples of active and inactive buttons
  • updated cart photo –
  • toy bird and action button

Sound check!