Apple's new development framework, DockKit, can turn your iPhone into a pet tracker using motorized phone stands that help follow your cat or dog around your home.
Documentation on Apple's website says DockKit can create "photo and video experiences" while mounting an iPhone to a motorized stand. Then, developers can use the Animal Body Pose API to identify and track animals with the camera.
"Go beyond detecting cats and dogs in images. We'll show you how to use Vision to detect the individual joints and poses of these animals as well — all in real-time — and share how you can enable exciting features like animal tracking for a camera app, creative embellishment on an animal photo, and more."
DockKit, combined with the Animal Body API, will allow developers to create the next generation of pet-tracking software with the convenience of using your iPhone. Apple says this combination will allow apps to “automatically track subjects in live video across a 360-degree field of view, take direct control of the stand to customize framing, directly control the motors, and provide your own inference model for tracking other objects.”
Pet cameras for everyone
Buying a pet camera has been one of the best purchases I've made for my French Bulldog, Kermit. It allows me to leave him at home whenever I need without any stress of him destroying my curtains, hurting himself, or being stressed.
It's a godsend for living my life without constantly worrying about my dog. While he's not the biggest fan of automated pet feeders, he doesn't mind the Eufy camera in our kitchen where he sleeps, so the potential of apps like this, thanks to DockKit, would be huge.
One issue is that unless you own multiple iPhones, you won't be able to leave your smartphone at home while you're out of the house. But maybe, Apple will extend DockKit and the Animal Body Pose API to other devices, like the iPad. If so, I'd happily let my dog roam free with a camera in every room.
