Have a pet that loves jumping up on your nice furniture? You can't be home all the time to stop them. Make author Mark Frauenfelder shows off his Monkey Couch Guardian that keeps your furniture safe when you're away.

The Monkey Couch Guardian is simple in its design, but it gets the job done. Using an Arduino, a cymbal banging monkey toy, and a proximity sensor, the build causes the monkey to start clanging when anything gets near. Subsequently, your curious pet should be scared off when it tries to make its way near your furniture. You don't have to use a monkey—any loud toy will do the trick—and you'll be able to rest easy knowing your couch is safe from fur when you're off at work. Head over to Make for a full parts list and guide to make the Monkey Couch Guardian for yourself.

Monkey Couch Guardian | Make