Andrew Templeman

Diplocat System Logo - Diplocat is a pet disciplinary system, which uses proximity sensors--built into a collar tag and food dish--and a noise deterrent--emitted from the collar tag--to keep one pet from stealing another's food. The collars can also be used in pairs, to keep pets from fighting each other.

Design Opportunities - As a result of interviewing and observing three couples in three different households, these two problems stood out as important issues that I wanted to try and solve. The statements on the right are my initial ideas for solving these problems and I used these as a starting point for sketching out initial concepts.

Illustrations of Two Issue Sequences - These comic-strip style illustrations were drawn in pen and finished in photoshop. I wanted to present the two issues in a way that wasn't really possible through observational photographs.

Early Design Development - These sketches illustrate some of my initial attempts to solve the primary and secondary issues, using trap doors, modular dishes, collar sensors and protective lids.

More Design Development - Two early concepts show a bubble top lid, activated by a proximity sensor and a larger unit with a hopper and a trap door. The trap door is to clean up any excess food, left behind after a feeding.

Later Design Development - I eventually realized that the dish lid was unnecessary if an ultrasonic noise was activated by the dish sensor, instead of a lid release, which is why these dish concepts are lidless.

Digital and Technical Drawings of Dish - This final concept was rated the most aesthetically pleasing out of three that I presented to people in an online poll. With the removal of the 4 screws that secure the glides and baseplate to the body, the dish can be washed and the sensor battery can be changed.
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Collar Tag Digital Renderings and Orthographics

Collar Tag Sensor Removal and Assembly Sequence - This prototype is snapped together using a pinch-and-twist action to pop the sensor into the quatrefoil-shaped cutout in the collar tag plate.

Final Dish Model - This model is made of a high density, polyurethane foam with a polystyrene base. The foam was milled, sanded, coated in primer and painted.

Final Collar Tag Model - This model is also made out of polystyrene--the back plate--and polyurethane foam--the sensor.

Solution Sequences

Diplocat Ad - A Pet Disciplinary system, which uses proximity sensors--built into a collar tag and food dish--to activate a noise deterrent--emitted from the collar tag--, which keeps one pet from stealing another's food. The collars can also be used in pairs, to keep pets from fighting each other.