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Militarizing Your Backyard with Python: Computer Vision and the Squirrel Hordes

Next Day Video · talk · Watch on YouTube

Python, Ruby & scripting languagesComputer vision, speech & NLPEmbedded systems & DIY electronics

What it is

A PyCon 2012 talk by Kurt Grandis on building an automated water-squirting turret that uses Python and computer vision to detect and drive off squirrels from a bird feeder.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN loves it as a funny, inspiring hobby project and calls it one of the best conference talks ever.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2014, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “Perhaps the best presentation to a programming language conference in history.”

    Considered one of the best programming conference presentations.

    kjs3, 2014-10 · Strong recommendation · in “Human vs. Squirrel: The Battle of Wits Is On”

  2. “shows how to build a water-hose-turret that automatically recognizes and blasts squirrels”

    Builds a turret that recognizes and blasts squirrels with water.

    mpdehaan2, 2014-10 · Recommendation · in “Human vs. Squirrel: The Battle of Wits Is On”

  3. “Check this video out for ideas”

    Project ideas: ML and servo-controlled squirt gun against squirrels.

    Tiki, 2018-06 · Recommendation · in “Face recognition in images and video with Python”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: python, opencv, squirrels, pycon, hardware hacking

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