Systems and methods

Abstract

To provide a system capable of adjusting the water pressure supplied to a water supply device. [Solution] A system comprising a water supply line, a control device, and a water supply device, the water supply line supplying water from a water source to the water supply device, the control device controlling the water pressure of the water supply line, and the water supply device supplying the water supplied from the water supply line to livestock.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method. [Background technology]

[0002] Water supplied to livestock raised in barns is often supplied from water sources with unstable water pressure, such as well water or water collected from mountainous areas. In such cases, the water pressure supplied to the water supply devices installed in the barns is adjusted manually. Securing workers to adjust the water pressure and passing on the skills to adjust the water pressure are problems. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which makes it possible to regulate the water pressure of the water supplied to, for example, a water dispenser. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to [1] A system comprising a water supply line, a control device, and a water supply device, the water supply line supplies water supplied from a water source to the water supply device, the control device controls the water pressure of the water supply line, and the water supply device supplies the water supplied from the water supply line to livestock; [2] The system according to [1], wherein the control device includes a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the water pressure in the water supply line and a control unit that controls the proportional control valve, and the control unit controls the proportional control valve to control the water pressure in response to the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor; [3] The system according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the water supply device has a function of controlling the amount of water supply, which is the amount of water that can be supplied to livestock; [4] A system according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the control device is capable of communicating with a computer device, the control device transmits the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor to the computer device, and the computer device stores the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor in association with the time when the water pressure was measured by the sensor or the time when the water pressure was received by the computer device; [5] A method comprising: a water supply line for supplying water supplied from a water source to a water supply device; a step of a control device controlling the water pressure of the water supply line; and a step of the water supply device supplying the water supplied from the water supply line to livestock; This can be achieved by: Effect of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, the water pressure of the water supplied to the water supply device can be adjusted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described, however, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments as long as they are within the scope of the present invention.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the water supply system 1 may include, for example, a water source 2, a livestock barn 3, a water supply line 4, a control device 5, a water pressure sensor 6, a water supply device 7, and a server device 8.

[0009] The water source 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can supply water. The water source 2 may be, for example, a well, a river, a lake, or a water supply. The water supplied from the water source 2 to the water supply device 7 via the water supply line 4 may not only be pure water, but may also be a mixture of components other than water. For example, the water may be a mixture of components that are nutritious or have medicinal properties for livestock. Even if a component other than water is mixed, it is sufficient that water is the main component (for example, water is 80% by mass or more).

[0010] The livestock barn 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is a building for raising livestock. Examples of the livestock barn 3 include a chicken barn, a pig barn, and a cow barn. The livestock raised in the livestock barn 3 are also not particularly limited. Examples of the livestock include chickens, pigs, and cows.

[0011] The water supply passage 4 is, for example, a cylindrical pipe for supplying water from the water source 2 to the water supply device 7. The water from the water source 2 passes through the water supply passage 4a, and the water pressure is adjusted in the control device 5. The water supply passage 4a is a water supply passage on the water source 2 side of the control device 5. The water whose water pressure has been adjusted passes through the water supply passage 4b ​​and is supplied to the water supply device 7. The water supply passage 4b ​​is a water supply passage from the control device 5 to the water supply device 7.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2, the control device 5 includes a control unit 5a and a proportional control valve 5b. The control unit 5a may include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM (main memory), a storage unit, and a communication unit. The CPU executes programs stored in the storage unit and controls the control device 5. The storage unit is a memory area for saving programs and data. The control unit 5a receives the water pressure measured by the water pressure sensor 6 via the communication unit, and transmits the received water pressure to the server device 8.

[0013] The control unit 5a transmits a control signal for controlling the proportional control valve 5b via the communication unit. The proportional control valve 5b changes the valve opening in response to the received control signal. The proportional control valve 5b can change the valve opening steplessly and continuously, and can finely adjust the water pressure of the water supplied to the water supply passage 4b, i.e., the water pressure of the water supplied to the water supply device 7.

[0014] The water pressure sensor 6 measures the water pressure in the water supply line 4 in the water supply line 4b on the livestock house 2 side of the control device 5. The water pressure measured by the water pressure sensor 6 is transmitted to the control unit 5a of the control device 5.

[0015] The control unit 5a controls the water pressure of the water supply line 4b on the barn 2 side of the control device 5 to be within a predetermined range or to be at a constant value. If the water pressure of the water supply line 4b falls below a lower limit, it may not be possible to supply sufficient water to the water supply device 7. If the water pressure of the water supply line 4b exceeds an upper limit, too much water may be supplied from the water supply device 7 to the livestock, or this may cause the water supply device 7 to break down.

[0016] The water supply device 7 is connected to the water supply channel 4b in the livestock barn 2, and water flowing through the water supply channel 4b is supplied to the water supply device 7. A plurality of water supply devices 7 are attached to the water supply channel 4b in the livestock barn 2. The water supply channel 4b in the livestock barn 2 is configured in a straight line, and a plurality of water supply devices 7 are installed in a straight line at predetermined intervals.

[0017] There is no particular limitation on the method of supplying water to livestock from the water supply device 7. For example, a water supply device 7 of a type in which a valve of the water supply device 7 opens when the livestock pecks at a part of the water supply device 7, and the water in the water supply device 7 is discharged to the outside can be employed.

[0018] In addition, it is possible to employ a water supply device 7 of a type that discharges water to the outside regardless of whether or not the livestock pecks at a part of the water supply device 7. The water supply device 7 of this type may be one that discharges water continuously, or one that continuously discharges water intermittently.

[0019] In a water supply device that continuously discharges water or continuously discharges water intermittently, the water supply device 7 may have a function of controlling the amount of water discharged to the outside per unit time (hereinafter referred to as the water supply amount). For example, the water supply device 7 can control the water supply amount according to the time of day, temperature, humidity, and / or the growth condition of the livestock.

[0020] When controlling the amount of water supply according to time of day, it is possible to control the amount of water supply so that it is greater during times when the livestock are more active and less during times when the livestock are less active (or to set the amount of water supply to zero). Since the times when the livestock are more and less active differ depending on the type of livestock, the times when the amount of water supply is greater and less also differ depending on the type of livestock.

[0021] When controlling the amount of water supply according to the temperature inside the livestock house 2 or the temperature in the vicinity of the livestock house 2, the amount of water supply can be controlled to be greater as the temperature increases and to be less as the temperature decreases. When controlling the amount of water supply according to the humidity inside the livestock house 2 or the humidity in the vicinity of the livestock house 2, the amount of water supply can be controlled to be less as the humidity increases and to be greater as the humidity decreases.

[0022] When controlling the amount of water supply according to the growth status of the livestock, the amount of water supply can be controlled to be increased as the livestock grows. In this case, for example, the amount of water supply can be controlled to vary according to the month or age of the livestock. Also, an imaging device can be installed in the livestock house 2, images of the livestock can be captured by the imaging device, and the size of the livestock can be identified based on the image data of the captured images, and the amount of water supply can be controlled to vary.

[0023] The control of the amount of water supplied can be performed by the control unit 5a. The control unit 5a can be connected to each of the multiple water supply devices 7 via wired or wireless communication. The control unit 5a transmits a control signal to each of the multiple water supply devices 7 according to the above conditions. When each of the multiple water supply devices 7 receives the control signal, the water supply device 7 increases or decreases the amount of water supplied in response to the control signal.

[0024] As described above, the control unit 5a can control the water pressure of the water supply device 7 and / or the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 7, but it is also possible to control the water pressure of the water supply device 7 by utilizing a learning model based on machine learning. For example, a learning model trained by machine learning can be used with input data being environmental information and / or barn information of the livestock house, and with output data being the water pressure of the water supply device 7 suitable for the barn corresponding to the environmental information and / or the barn information. Similarly, a learning model trained by machine learning can be used with input data being environmental information and / or barn information within the barn, and with output data being the water pressure of the water supply device 7 suitable for the barn corresponding to the environmental information and / or the barn information.

[0025] Here, the environmental information may be any information capable of identifying the environment in which the livestock house is located, and may be, for example, information including any of the temperature, humidity, or weather in the livestock house or in the vicinity of the livestock house, or a combination of these pieces of information. Also, the livestock house information may be information regarding livestock and / or the livestock house, and may be, for example, information including any of the type of livestock, the number of livestock, the age of the livestock in months or months, the number of waterers, or information capable of identifying the type and type of waterer, or a combination of these pieces of information.

[0026] The machine learning algorithm is not particularly limited, and a known algorithm can be used, but it is preferable to use deep learning using a multilayer neural network. The multilayer neural network has an input layer, an output layer, and multiple intermediate layers. Weights are set on the edges connecting the nodes of each layer. Weights corresponding to each input to the node are set on the edges, and the edges are multiplied by the weights corresponding to each input to the node, and the values ​​obtained by multiplying these weights and the bias are added. The value obtained by the addition is nonlinearly transformed using an activation function to calculate an activation value. The calculated activation value becomes the input value passed to the node of the next layer. The number of intermediate layers can be designed as appropriate.

[0027] The control unit 5a stores the learning model. The control unit 5a can specify the water pressure of the water supplied to the water supply device 7 and / or the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 7 by performing calculations using the learning model based on environmental information such as the temperature, humidity, or weather in the livestock house 2 to be controlled or in the vicinity of the livestock house 2, and livestock house information such as the type of livestock in the livestock house 2 to be controlled, the number of livestock, the month and month age of the livestock, the number of water supply devices, or information that can identify the type and type of the water supply device.

[0028] Here, environmental information such as temperature, humidity, or weather in the livestock barn 2 to be controlled or in the vicinity of the livestock barn 2 can be data measured by a sensor or data input by a manager, etc. Also, livestock barn information such as the type of livestock in the livestock barn 2 to be controlled, the number of livestock, the age of the livestock in months and years, the number of waterers, or information that can identify the type and type of the waterers can be input in advance.

[0029] When the learning model is used to identify an appropriate water pressure for the water to be supplied to the water supply device 7, the control unit 5a controls the opening degree of the proportional control valve 5b so that the water pressure of the water to be actually supplied to the water supply device 7 becomes the identified water pressure (or approaches the identified water pressure). In addition, when the learning model is used to identify an appropriate water supply amount for the water supply device 7, the control unit 5a controls the water supply device 7 so that the actual water supply amount for the water supply device 7 becomes the identified water supply amount (or approaches the identified water supply amount).

[0030] The control unit 5a can communicate with other computer devices (for example, server device 8) via a communication network. The water pressure sensor 6 associates the measured water pressure in the water supply line 4b with the time at which the water pressure was measured, and transmits them to the control unit 5a. The control unit 5a associates the received water pressure in the water supply line 4b with the time at which the water pressure was measured, and transmits them to the server device 8. The server device 8 can receive this information and store the water pressure in the water supply line 4b in association with the time at which the water pressure was measured, or the time at which the server device 8 received information such as the water pressure.

[0031] In addition, the control unit 5a can obtain information measured by various sensors in the livestock house 2. The control unit 5a transmits this measured information to the server device 8 in association with the measurement time. Examples of information that can be measured by various sensors in the livestock house 2 include the temperature, humidity, and amount of water supplied in the livestock house 2. In this way, the history of various parameters measured in the livestock house 2 can be obtained and stored.

[0032] However, if water remains in the water supply channel 4b during hot periods such as summer, the temperature of the water in the water supply channel 4b may rise and become too hot for livestock to drink. This problem is particularly likely to occur when a water supply device 7 is used in which the valve of the water supply device 7 opens when the livestock pecks at a part of the water supply device 7, and the water in the water supply device 7 is discharged to the outside. Therefore, when the temperature of the water in the water supply channel 4b reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, a part or all of the water in the water supply channel 4b can be replaced with the water in the water supply channel 4a. The temperature of the water in the water supply channel 4b can be measured by a temperature sensor installed in the water supply channel 4b.

[0033] The water in the water supply line 4b that has been replaced can be discarded, or it can be cooled and returned to the water supply line 4a. The water in the water supply line 4b can be cooled by a cooling facility, or it can be passed through piping buried in the ground, cooled, and returned to the water supply line 4a.

[0034] The replacement of the water in the water supply line 4b can be controlled by the control unit 5a of the control device 5. The temperature of the water in the water supply line 4b measured by the temperature sensor is sent to the control unit 5a at any time. If the received water temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the control unit 5a sends a control signal to a gate valve connected to the water supply line 4b to open the gate valve. When the gate valve receives the control signal, the gate valve is opened and the water in the water supply line 4b is returned to the water supply line 4a.

[0035] According to the above embodiment, the water pressure of the water supplied to the water supply device can be automatically controlled.

[0036] The control device is equipped with a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the water pressure in the water supply line and a control unit that controls the proportional control valve, so that the control unit can control the proportional control valve to control the water pressure in accordance with the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor.

[0037] The water supply device has a function of controlling the amount of water supplied, which is the amount of water available to livestock, so that the amount of water supplied to the livestock can be controlled.

[0038] The control device is capable of communicating with a computer device, and the control device transmits the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor to the computer device, so that the computer device can store the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor in association with the time the water pressure was measured by the sensor or the time the water pressure was received by the computer device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Water Supply System 2 Water source 3. Livestock Barn 4 Water supply channel 5. Control device 6 Water Pressure Sensor 7 Water dispenser 8 Server equipment

Claims

1. The water supply system includes a water supply passage, a control device, and a water supply device. The water supply passage supplies water supplied from a water source to the water supply device, The control device controls the water pressure in the water supply line using a learning model based on machine learning, The water supply device supplies water from the water supply line to the livestock, The system is a learning model that is machine-learned using information about a livestock barn, including either the number of water dispensers or information that can identify the type or method of water dispensers, as input data, and the water pressure of water supplied to a water supply line that is appropriate for the livestock barn that corresponds to the information about the barn as output data.

2. The control device, a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the water pressure in the water supply line; A control unit for controlling a proportional control valve; Equipped with The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the proportional control valve to control the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water supply device has a function of controlling a water supply amount, which is an amount of water discharged to the outside per unit time.

4. A system as described in claim 3, wherein the water supply device has a function of controlling the water supply amount, which is the amount of water discharged to the outside per unit time, depending on the time of day, temperature, and / or humidity.

5. The control device is capable of communicating with a computer device; The control device transmits the water pressure of the water supply line measured by the sensor to the computer device; 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer device stores the water pressure in the water supply line measured by the sensor in association with the time when the water pressure was measured by the sensor or the time when the water pressure was received by the computer device.

6. The water supply passage supplies water supplied from a water source to the water supply device, A step in which the control device controls the water pressure of the water supply line using a learning model based on machine learning; A step in which the water supply device supplies water supplied from the water supply line to the livestock. having A method in which the learning model is a machine-learned learning model that uses information about a livestock barn, including either the number of water dispensers or information that can identify the type or method of water dispensers, as input data, and uses the water pressure of water supplied to a water supply line appropriate for the livestock barn that corresponds to the information about the barn as output data.

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