Smartpaw: Design And Development Of A Climate-Responsive Smart Animal Shelter With Automated Emergency Door Activation For Flood And Heat Stress Mitigation

Abstract

Flooding and excessive heat can threaten animals confined in cages or enclosures, especially when caretakers cannot respond immediately. This study developed and evaluated SMARTPAW, a climate-responsive smart animal shelter with an automatic emergency-release gate and temperature monitoring system designed to provide timely responses to hazardous environmental conditions. The prototype was tested under clear, muddy, and debris-laden floodwater conditions, with six trials per conditions, and at temperatures of 30°C, 35°C, 37,5°C, and 40°C. System performance was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey HSD tests, while 20 pet owners evaluated the prototype using a 15-item questionnaire covering design, usability, and functionality. SMARTPAW achieved 100% flood-detection and emergency-gate opening success across all 18 trials, with mean total release times of 3.02s, 3.37s, and 4.07s for clear muddy, and debris-laden water, respectively. Flood-detection and gate-opening times varied significantly across selected conditions, with debris-laden water producing the longest overall response. The heat-monitoring system correctly activated or withheld alerts under all tested temperatures, while temperature-measurement error remained statistically comparable. Heat-alert activation also became faster at higher temperatures. The prototype received an overall rating of 4.49, interpreted as Excellent, with functionality receiving the highest evaluation. Overall, SMARTPAW demonstrated reliable flood detection, rapid emergency release, and effective heat- monitoring, indicating its potential as a supplementary safety system for confined animals in flood and heat-prone areas. Further field, durability, electrical safety, and animal-welfare evaluations are recommended before practical applications.