CATLAS (Cat Automated Tracking Laser System)

CATLAS Close-Up!
Camera Off (Manual Interaction Mode)
CATLAS In-Action!
Camera On (5fps Cat Detect Mode)

🐾 Inspiration

CATLAS was inspired by something personal: both of us, Mason Brown and Quan Doan, deeply miss our cats while away at college. Pets offer more than companionship — they’re part of our support systems, especially during stressful moments. We wanted to build something that would let students like us feel connected to their pets, even from miles away, while also improving the quality of life for the pets themselves.

💡 What it does

CATLAS (Cat Tracking and Laser Automation System) uses computer vision to detect and track a cat’s movement, then autonomously controls a laser pointer mounted on servo motors to play with them. The system stimulates a cat’s natural hunting instincts, giving them mental and physical activity — all without the owner needing to be present. It’s a remote way to care, connect, and give your cat something to chase when you can't be home.

🛠️ How we built it

We used a Raspberry Pi as the brain of the operation, integrated with a webcam for real-time video input. OpenCV handles cat detection through Haar cascades and object tracking, while bilinear interpolation smooths out servo movements for natural, lifelike motion. Servo motors aim the laser precisely based on the cat’s location in the frame. The entire system is lightweight, responsive, and affordable — making it accessible for students or shelters alike.

🚧 Challenges we ran into

Calibrating the camera and laser system to align in real-world space was surprisingly tricky.
Achieving smooth, cat-safe movement with servos required a lot of tuning.
Ensuring real-time performance on a Raspberry Pi without lag was a constant balancing act between performance and accuracy.
Testing with cats... well, they're VERY unpredictable QA testers.

🏆 Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of building CATLAS with two distinct interaction modes:

An automated mode where the system uses computer vision to detect and track your cat, moving the laser autonomously to keep them active — all while streaming live video so you can watch remotely.

A manual mode that gives you direct control of the laser through your mouse, allowing you to interact with your cat in real-time from anywhere, using a live video feed and responsive servo controls.

Designing both modes meant creating a flexible system that supports both hands-off pet care and real-time bonding — giving pet owners choice, agency, and connection, even from afar.