[Jan] was looking for a way to monitor web site hits while sitting on the couch. This lead to the Lucky Cat Hit Counter. The hack gives a stock Lucky Cat some new hardware: a servo, a RGB led, a light sensor, and a 7 segment display. The added components are controlled by an Arduino Ethernet.
The Arduino Ethernet is set up as a web server. When a visitor fetches [Jan]’s site, a GIF is requested from the Arduino. This trigger changes the RGB LED color, increments the seven segment display, and of course, makes the cat wave by actuating the servo. The light sensor is used to make the cat silent at night. When the light value is below a threshold, night mode is engaged and the cat doesn’t wave.
After the break is a video walk through of the Lucky Cat receiving some HTTP requests.
That counter is going to overflow really fast…
Connected to Hackaday.com, the servo would soon wear out ;-)
I’d like to see a variation that makes the cat’s waving speed vary based on deviation from average traffic. When your site is getting slashdotted, you’d know.
Two digits? If that reflects the amount of interest in the website, it hardly seems worth building a hit count notifier. I do love it though.
Simple solution, reprogram to reset the counter and go one magnitude higher, and change the color of the rgb led to show it has changed.
Or you could, you know, check your smartphone and get all the stats.
…Because that was obviously the only thing he wanted out of this project.
Am I the only one who saw that cat and immediately thought of redban?
Am I the only one who saw that cat and thought of Sherlock?
Am I the only one who saw that cat and thought *paste obscure reference here* ?
Hi Janwil ,
i love the idea of storing a .gif and counting the requests for it .Its a nice workaround for people who don’t have a host that supports scripts such as google blogger.Could i request the sketch pls ? as i have a bell here waiting to ring when i get a hit ,but till now it hasn’t been possible .
Best Regards
Rupert
Am I the only one who saw that cat and thought “WHY?”
Why not? I have seen countless Maneki Neko clocks, cash registers, tip jars – you name it and the Japanese have found some way to turn this lucky charm into merchandise.
Brilliant idea. I love unique notification systems like this.
Interesting way to go around the lack of script ability on the site.
Why not use the original waving mechanism of the lucky cat?
But it really needs more digits…. my counter already uses 6 digits and i’m looking for the seventh.. http://www.electrobob.com/ego-box/
dumb. this isn’t a hack, this is a “hurrr i want to be on hackaday.”
Please good sir, do enlighten us with all your marvellous inventions that bring world peace and end global famine!