New Delhi: Artificial intelligence has officially entered balcony warfare. An AI-powered system that sprays pigeons with water when they land on the balcony has gone viral on Reddit. The bizarre creation has captivated social media users, who’ve hailed it as one of the most functional uses of AI yet.
The creator posted details about the project on Reddit, stating that he constructed the project after a pigeon was seen nesting on his balcony multiple times. He decided to create a computer vision- and motion tracking-driven automated defence system, rather than relying on spikes or nets. The creation has gained widespread popularity online, with users admiring the creativity and technical expertise involved.
AI system detects pigeons in real time
The setup is described as a USB camera hooked up to an Orange Pi 5 computer on the Reddit post. YOLO World V2 is an AI vision model that can identify objects in real time, and the live video feed is processed using this model.
Upon detection of a pigeon, an electric water gun with a modified water spray mechanism will be attached to a servo motor, which will rotate the gun towards the bird and trigger the water gun to spray water. The creator claimed the system operates automatically and does not require any human intervention.
It’s said to come with two servo motors for movement, resistors, a transistor and an electric water gun that works on battery power. The AI model is processed by the Rockchip 3588 chip’s built-in neural processing chipset, which enables the system to make efficient processing of the detections.
Internet reacts to AI-powered balcony defence
The project quickly attracted attention across social media platforms. Many users joked that artificial intelligence has now moved beyond chatbots and productivity tools into pest control and balcony management.
Several commenters singled out the system for highlighting a common issue in the city and for the use of available technology. Others were impressed that the creator has managed to get AI software to work alongside low-cost, homebuilt hardware.
The project had been outlined by the creator on Reddit, which resulted in a demonstration video and explanation of the hardware becoming viral.
Affordable AI tools are changing everyday life
Such projects are representative of a trend in consumer technology, experts say. Ordinary people are able to create sophisticated automation systems at home thanks to affordable AI models, compact computers and open-source software.
One of the most talked-about features of the setup is its versatility. The creator stated that the AI could detect other animals like squirrels, raccoons or cats as well, depending on the user’s preference, since it works with open vocabulary detection.
The viral project is just one sign of the ways AI is making its way into daily life beyond big tech and research labs. In the realm of smart homes, automated problem-solving, and beyond, AI is seamlessly integrating into everyday life without a single fan of its kind poking its head above the waterline.