Hoomanely develops a smart AI bowl to monitor dogs’ health
Palo Alto startup Hoomanely is developing the EverBowl smart feeding station for dogs and an artificial intelligence platform. It tracks changes in animals’ indicators and can notify owners about possible health problems, TechCrunch reports.
What data EverBowl collects
The device measures the amount of food and water consumed and the speed at which food is eaten, and also records chewing and swallowing sounds. In addition, the system captures thermal data from the muzzle, oral movements and other signals. The platform analyzes this data, creates an individual baseline profile for the animal and builds its health history.
If the system detects prolonged deviations from usual indicators, the information is sent to the owner through the app and displayed in long-term reports. Hoomanely believes such information may be useful to veterinarians during an animal’s examination. Owners can also add data to the app that sensors cannot capture.
Hoomanely co-founder and CEO Sai Supriya Sharat said the bowl is a convenient environment for regular data collection because a dog eats and drinks in one place, in a similar posture and on a regular schedule. According to her, pain, dental diseases, stomach problems, endocrine changes and illnesses can affect appetite, water consumption and comfort while eating.
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Testing and system limitations
According to Hoomanely, the platform was created after an 18-month beta test, during which about 5 million data points were collected from more than 80 dogs. The company said that in one case, the system detected a change in a dog’s eating behavior that was later linked to a chipped tooth that had begun to become infected. In another case, prolonged changes in usual food intake and temperature indicators prompted an owner to visit a veterinarian, who diagnosed tick fever.
At the same time, Hoomanely acknowledges that it does not yet have independent data on the system’s sensitivity, specificity or the rate of false-positive alerts for clinical conditions. This requires studies comparing the platform’s signals with actual veterinary diagnoses. The company emphasizes that its platform does not replace veterinary diagnostics but is intended to help identify potential problems more quickly.
TechCrunch estimates that Hoomanely has shipped only about 50 devices. The company offers EverBowl and reports in the app through a $29-per-month subscription. The startup also plans to create the EverSense wearable device to measure animals’ movement and rest, as well as EverHub to receive data from smart collars, feeders and home devices. The company has raised $1.8 million in pre-seed funding and has begun talks regarding a seed round.
