System and method for supplying food to an animal species

Abstract

A system (100) for serving food to an animal is provided, comprising a food unit (110), a light source (120) configured to illuminate the food unit, and a sensor arrangement (130) configured to detect movement of the food unit, a position of an animal in the vicinity of the food unit, a motion of the animal in the vicinity of the food unit, and a sound of the animal in the vicinity of the food unit. The system further comprises a processor configured to compare the detected motion to predetermined motions associated with activities of the animal, and to determine an activity of the animal based on the detected position, motion and / or sound of the animal. The system is configured to control the light source based on the detected movement of the food unit and / or the determined activity of the animal via the processor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to supplying food to animal species. More specifically, this invention relates to systems and methods for influencing the food intake behavior of animal species. Background Technology

[0002] Today, agriculture in modern communities has evolved into a field with industrialized solutions; simple chicken coops from a few years ago have been transformed into industrialized livestock pens, such as large broiler pens housing thousands or more animals. The use of industrialized methods and highly intensive pens has increased the importance of monitoring and controlling animals within these pens.

[0003] There is a general need to improve the productivity and well-being of breeding animals. This means there is a need to improve animal monitoring and feeding. For example, in chicken farming, monitoring and controlling feeding and watering are crucial. It should be noted that animal feeding and watering behaviors can provide a wealth of information. This information can be used as a metric for monitoring and controlling growth, monitoring animal health and well-being, and managing animals overall.

[0004] Therefore, monitoring feeding and watering stations where animals congregate for food is important. Observing and analyzing animal behavior is a relatively complex task, given the sometimes dense populations in livestock pens.

[0005] Numerous challenges exist related to monitoring and influencing animal feeding and watering behavior. One particular difficulty, particularly for humans (e.g., farmers), is monitoring animal behavior, the condition of feeding and watering stations, and identifying potential problems. These problems may relate to overcrowding at feeding or watering stations, empty stations, or dysfunctional stations. Furthermore, farmers often find it challenging to influence animal behavior based on information received while monitoring the animals.

[0006] WO2018 / 175561A discloses a system for providing light sources in various areas of an animal enclosure to encourage or discourage animal behavior. Different wavelengths or intensities of light are provided in different areas of the enclosure, thereby encouraging animals within the enclosure to occupy or not occupy those areas. The lighting schedules for the different areas can be staggered to encourage animals to move to different levels and prevent animals from gathering or piling up. The lighting schedules allow for the provision of desired or undesirable wavelengths or intensities of light, as perceived by the animals, to different areas or levels at random times and for random durations throughout the day.

[0007] WO2020 / 165587A discloses an apparatus for raising livestock, comprising a livestock enclosure, multiple sensors, and multiple output devices. Animal welfare is determined by processing vocalizations produced by chicks, specifically detecting the spectral entropy of the animal vocalizations to determine whether the animal is under stress. Based on the measurement results, the output devices control environmental parameters within the animal enclosure, such as lighting levels, sound, or temperature.

[0008] Therefore, automated systems and methods are needed to monitor animals and influence their behavior based on the information received from the monitoring, in order to improve their food intake behavior. This will, in turn, lead to improved animal welfare and growth. Summary of the Invention

[0009] One object of the present invention is to provide a system and method that can provide monitoring of an animal species and use light sources to influence the behavior of the animal species based on information received during monitoring, so as to improve the food intake of at least one animal of that animal species.

[0010] This and other objectives are achieved by providing systems and methods having the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0011] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention, a system for supplying food to an animal is provided. The system includes at least one food unit arranged to contain animal food, at least one light source configured to illuminate the at least one food unit, and at least one sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement is configured to detect movement of the at least one food unit and to detect at least one of the following: the position of at least one animal near the at least one food unit, movement of the at least one animal near the at least one food unit, and sound of the at least one animal near the at least one food unit. The system further includes a processor coupled to the at least one sensor arrangement, wherein the processor is configured to compare the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement associated with at least one activity of the at least one animal, and to determine at least one activity of the at least one animal based on at least one of the following: the detected position of the at least one animal near the at least one food unit, the comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the detected sound of the at least one animal near the at least one food unit. The system is configured to control the at least one light source via the processor based on the detected movement of the at least one food unit and the determined at least one activity of the at least one animal.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for supplying food to an animal is provided. The method includes the steps of: detecting movement of at least one food unit, and detecting at least one of the following: the position of at least one animal near the at least one food unit, movement of at least one animal near the at least one food unit, and sound of at least one animal near the at least one food unit. The method further includes the step of: comparing the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement associated with at least one activity of the at least one animal. The method further includes the step of: determining at least one activity of the at least one animal based on at least one of the following: the detected position of the at least one animal, the comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the detected sound of the at least one animal. The method further includes the step of: controlling at least one light source, the at least one light source being configured to illuminate the at least one food unit based on the detected movement of the at least one food unit and the determined at least one activity of the at least one animal.

[0013] Therefore, this invention is based on the idea of ​​monitoring an animal species and one or more food units of that animal species. Based on information received during this monitoring, the system is configured to control one or more light sources to improve the animal species' food intake behavior by influencing the animal species with light emitted by the light sources used to illuminate the food units. The monitoring in this invention is performed by an arrangement of one or more sensors capable of detecting the location, movement, and / or sound of one or more animals near the food units, as well as the movement of one or more of the food units. The invention further provides analysis of any detected location, movement, and / or sound of the animals to determine one or more activities of the animals. Thereafter, the invention controls one or more light sources based on the detected movement of at least one food unit and / or the determined activity of at least one animal to influence the behavior of the animal species.

[0014] The advantage of this invention is that the system can automatically monitor and control the food intake of animal species by controlling one or more light sources illuminating at least one food unit based on detected data, thereby improving the growth and well-being of the animal species. Therefore, even in densely populated livestock pens, the growth and well-being of animal species can be improved by automatically monitoring and analyzing their behavior and by controlling the lighting of one or more food units via one or more light sources.

[0015] Another advantage of this invention is that it can prevent animals from overcrowding (one or more) of food units. This can be achieved by controlling at least one light source to prevent at least one animal from going to a certain (or some) food unit, and / or by controlling at least one light source to encourage at least one animal to ingest food at a certain (or some) food unit. The term "overcrowding" here means, but is not limited to: a situation where there are too many animals at a food unit to provide food for all of them, and / or a situation where a food unit has significantly more animals in its vicinity compared to other food units.

[0016] Another advantage of this invention is that it can provide a more uniform distribution of animal species at at least one food unit, thereby promoting a more uniform food intake rate at one or more food units. Therefore, a more uniform food intake rate for one or more animals can simplify food supply to multiple food units. Furthermore, the system can influence the duration of food intake for one or more animals.

[0017] The system of the present invention can detect empty or malfunctioning food units based on detected animal movement, location, and / or sound, as well as the movement of at least one food unit. Therefore, another advantage of the present invention is that the food supply to animal species becomes more consistent and reliable. This can thus lead to improved growth and well-being of animal species.

[0018] A system for supplying food to animals includes at least one food unit arranged to contain animal food. The food unit can be any type of feeding and / or drinking unit that allows animals to ingest food and / or water. For example, a food unit can be a unit that includes both means for feeding the animal and for giving the animal water. The term "food" here means, but is not limited to, any type of food or liquid, typically animal feed and water. The system further includes at least one light source configured to illuminate at least one food unit. The light source can be substantially any type of light source that emits light perceptible to the animal. For example, the light source can be a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. The system further includes at least one sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement can include one or more sensors. The sensor arrangement can be battery powered. The sensor arrangement is configured to detect at least one of the following: movement of at least one food unit, position of at least one animal near at least one food unit, movement of at least one animal near at least one food unit, and sound of at least one animal near at least one food unit. Therefore, the sensor arrangement is configured to detect one or more of the following: movement of (one or more) food units, and position, movement, and sound of (one or more) animals near (one or more) food units. "Nearby" here means that the distance between at least one animal and at least one food unit is below a (predetermined) threshold. For example, the sensor arrangement can be configured to detect the location of at least one animal relative to at least one food unit (e.g., the distance between at least one animal and at least one food unit), and can be configured to determine that (one or more) animals are near (or, alternatively, not near) the food unit. The sensor arrangement can also detect movement at at least one food unit, such as pecking.

[0019] The system further includes a processor coupled to at least one sensor arrangement. The processor is configured to compare detected motion with at least one predetermined motion associated with at least one activity of at least one animal. The phrase “predetermined motion associated with at least one activity” here essentially means any motion, such as walking, running, pecking, standing still, etc., including the passage of time of such motion, which may be associated with essentially any activity (such as moving, eating, sleeping, etc.). The predetermined motion may, for example, be pre-set, determined, and / or stored by the system. For example, the system may be configured to compare detected motion with a predetermined motion associated with at least one activity of at least one animal, or to detect movement of at least one food unit based on image analysis (e.g., including pattern recognition) of one or more image frames.

[0020] The system can be further configured to determine the probability of at least one activity associated with at least one movement of at least one food unit, the movement of at least one animal, the location of at least one animal, and / or the sound of at least one animal, based on the detected location of at least one animal, a comparison of detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the detected sound of at least one animal. Therefore, the system can be configured to determine the probability, likelihood, and / or plausibility of one or more activities associated with and / or related to: the location of at least one animal, a comparison of detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and / or the sound of at least one animal.

[0021] For example, the system can be configured to: determine an activity by identifying the most likely activity based on the location of at least one detected animal, a comparison of detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the sound of at least one detected animal; and select / choose the most likely activity. Furthermore, the system can be configured to control at least one light source via a processor based on the movement of at least one detected food unit and / or the most likely activity determined by the system.

[0022] The processor is further configured to determine at least one activity of at least one animal based on at least one of the following: the position of the detected at least one animal, a comparison of a detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the sound of the detected at least one animal. Therefore, the processor is configured to determine one or more activities of one or more animals based on the position of the detected(one or more) animals, the comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and / or the sound of the detected(one or more) animals.

[0023] The system is further configured to control at least one light source via a processor based on at least one of the following: movement of at least one food unit detected and at least one activity of at least one animal determined. Therefore, the system is further configured to control one or more light sources via a processor based on movement of (one or more) food units detected and / or activity of (one or more) animals determined.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one sensor arrangement is configured to detect the movement of at least one food unit and the movement of at least one animal, and wherein the system is configured to control at least one light source via a processor based on the detected movement of at least one food unit and the determined activity of at least one animal. Therefore, the system can control at least one light source based on both the movement of at least one food unit and the determined activity of at least one animal(s). An advantage of this embodiment is that the system can more accurately determine the activity of at least one animal. Therefore, the control of at least one light source can be based on more information, thereby allowing for improved influence on the behavior of animal species.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one sensor arrangement is integrated into at least one food unit. An advantage of this embodiment is that the system can be more compact. Furthermore, an advantage of this embodiment is that the arrangement of at least one sensor helps improve the detection of both the movement of the food unit and the movement of animal species adjacent to the at least one food unit. Therefore, the system can provide even more accurate estimates of the behavior of animal species.

[0026] According to embodiments of the invention, at least one sensor arrangement includes at least one of a camera, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a weight sensor, a touch sensor, a radar, a lidar sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, a temperature sensor, a thermopile sensor, and an audio sensor. Therefore, at least one sensor arrangement can use one or more of the exemplary devices to detect any movement of at least one food unit, and / or the movement, position, and / or sound of at least one animal. The camera can be any (camera) sensor that detects visible light, infrared light, and / or UV light. Furthermore, other sensors—such as gas sensors, optical rangefinders, ammonia sensors, and time-of-flight sensors—can be used for these purposes.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is further configured to control at least one light source via a processor based on a predetermined schedule. Therefore, the system can control at least one light source based on any predetermined schedule (such as, for example, time of day). An advantage of this embodiment is that the circadian rhythm of the animal species can be taken into account when influencing animal behavior. Furthermore, an advantage of this embodiment is that the animal's food intake behavior can be controlled by the system to an even greater extent.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is further configured to control at least one light source via a processor by controlling at least one of the intensity and spectral distribution of light emitted by at least one light source during operation. An advantage of this embodiment is that the system can thereby control (one or more) light sources, allowing (one or more) light sources to emit light with greater variation. Therefore, this embodiment can better control factors influencing food intake in animal species. For example, the system can influence the behavior of animal species in different ways in different scenarios.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is further configured to determine, via a processor, at least one of the following: the number of animals near at least one food unit, the food intake rate of at least one animal at at least one food unit, and the food level of at least one food unit. The system is further configured to control at least one light source via a processor based on at least one of the determined animal number, the determined food intake rate, and the determined food level. In other words, the system can be configured to determine the number of animals near (one or more) food units, the food intake rate of (one or more) animals at (one or more) food units, and / or the food level of (one or more) food units, and the system can be further configured to control (one or more) light sources via a processor based on the determined animal number, the determined food intake rate, and / or the determined food level. Therefore, according to the features of this embodiment, at least one light source can be controlled by the system based on even more information and / or factors, thereby allowing for even more accurate estimations of animal behavior. Another advantage of this embodiment is that the system can further improve the impact on the food intake of animal species to an even greater extent.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is further configured to: reduce the intensity of light emitted by at least one light source during operation via a processor if at least one of the following conditions is met: the determined number of animals exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the determined food intake rate exceeds a first predetermined value, and the determined food level is below a first predetermined level; or increase the intensity of light emitted by at least one light source during operation via a processor if at least one of the following conditions is met: the determined number of animals is below a second predetermined threshold, the determined food intake rate is below a second predetermined rate, and the determined food level exceeds a second predetermined level. Therefore, the system is further configured to reduce or increase the intensity of light emitted by one or more light sources during operation via a processor, depending on the aforementioned factors / information. If the determined number of animals exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the determined food intake rate exceeds a first predetermined value, and / or the determined food level is below a first predetermined level, the system may reduce the intensity of light emitted by one or more light sources. Alternatively, if the determined number of animals is below a second predetermined threshold, the determined food intake rate is below a second predetermined rate, and / or the determined food level exceeds a second predetermined level, the system may increase the intensity of light emitted by one or more light sources during operation. The advantage of this embodiment is that the system can thereby improve the impact and / or control on the food intake of animal species.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is further configured to: if at least one of the following conditions is met—that the determined number of animals exceeds a third predetermined threshold, that the determined food intake rate exceeds a third predetermined rate, and that the determined food level is below a third predetermined level—the spectral distribution of light emitted by at least one light source during operation is changed to a first spectral distribution via a processor; or if at least one of the following conditions is met—that the determined number of animals is below a fourth predetermined threshold, that the determined food intake rate is below a fourth predetermined rate, and that the determined food level exceeds a fourth predetermined level—the spectral distribution of light emitted by at least one light source during operation is changed to a second spectral distribution via a processor, wherein the first spectral distribution is different from the second spectral distribution. Therefore, the system is further configured to, depending on the aforementioned factors / information, change the spectral distribution of light emitted by (one or more) light sources during operation to either a first or a second spectral distribution via a processor. If the determined number of animals exceeds a third predetermined threshold, the determined food intake rate exceeds a third predetermined rate, and / or the determined food level is below a third predetermined level, the spectral distribution is changed to the first spectral distribution. Alternatively, if the determined animal population is below a fourth predetermined threshold, the determined food intake rate is below a fourth predetermined rate, and / or the determined food level exceeds a fourth predetermined level, the spectral distribution changes to a second spectral distribution. By altering the spectral distribution of light emitted by one or more light sources according to this embodiment, the impact on food intake by animal species can be controlled even more effectively.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the invention, the system further includes a control unit configured to control at least one light source, wherein the control unit includes a processor and is connected to at least one sensor arrangement and at least one light source. An advantage of this embodiment is that the system can provide centralized control via the control unit, thereby allowing users easier access to the system, for example.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is wirelessly connected to at least one sensor array and at least one light source. The advantage of this embodiment is that the food unit can be freely placed without the need for cables to send and / or receive signals. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of animals interfering with communication.

[0034] According to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, the method further includes the steps of: detecting movement of at least one food unit and at least one of the following: movement of at least one animal near the at least one food unit and position of at least one animal, and controlling at least one light source based on the detected movement of at least one food unit and the determined at least one activity of at least one animal.

[0035] According to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, the method further includes the step of controlling at least one light source by controlling at least one of the intensity and spectrum of light emitted by at least one light source during operation.

[0036] According to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, the method further includes the steps of: determining at least one of the following: the number of animals near at least one food unit, the food intake rate of at least one animal at at least one food unit, and the food level of at least one food unit, and wherein the method further includes the step of controlling at least one light source based on at least one of the determined number of animals, the determined food intake rate, and the determined food level.

[0037] Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become clear upon studying the following detailed disclosure, drawings, and appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that different features of the invention can be combined to produce embodiments different from those described below. Attached Figure Description

[0038] This and other aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0039] Figures 1-5 A system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Figure 1 A system 100 for feeding animals according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically. Here, animal species 105 is exemplified as a chicken, but it should be noted that system 100 can be applied to other animal species.

[0041] System 100 includes at least one food unit 110. Here, the food unit 110 is shown as a bracket suspended from a cable; however, it should be noted that the food unit 110 may have other forms or configurations. Furthermore, the number of food units 110 can be arbitrary, but for simplicity, [the following is a simplified description]. Figure 1 This refers to a single food unit 110. The food unit 110 is configured to store food (e.g., animal feed and water) for the animal species 105 and is configured to allow the animal to ingest food from it. The system 100 further includes at least one light source 120. Here, the light source 120 is arranged on the food unit 110. The light source 120 is configured to emit light on the food unit 110 and / or on the food provided in the food unit 110. The light source 120 may be an adjustable light source, wherein the intensity, spectral distribution, and / or periodicity of the emitted light can be adjusted by the system 100.

[0042] System 100 further includes at least one sensor arrangement 130. Sensor arrangement 130 may include one or more sensors. Sensor arrangement 130 may include camera-based sensors, such as detectors capable of detecting visible light, infrared light, and / or ultraviolet (UV) light. For example, system 100 may be configured to: capture at least one set of temporally consecutive image frames via sensor arrangement 130, wherein each image frame in the at least one set of temporally consecutive frames includes one or more animals 105; and determine motion based on the captured at least one set of temporally consecutive image frames. Sensor arrangement 130 may also include, for example, accelerometers, tilt sensors, and / or gyroscopes or weight sensors, and may detect and / or monitor movement (such as, for example, vibration) of food unit 110. Sensor arrangement 130 may be in physical contact with food unit 110 and / or, for example, maintain a cable of food unit 110 to better detect, for example, movement of food unit 110. The sensor arrangement 130 can also detect, for example, short, small accelerations of the food unit 110 and / or detect at least one animal 105 indicating feeding, wherein the detected accelerations can be correlated with the number of animals 105 feeding. The sensor arrangement 130 can detect accelerations of the food unit 110 over relatively long periods, indicating that the food unit 110 is swaying, which can indicate overcrowding near the food unit 110. The sensor arrangement 130 can also monitor contact-based activities of the animals 105 by including touch sensors. The sensor arrangement 130 can monitor proximity-based activities of the animals 105 by including radar, lidar, or capacitive sensors. The sensor arrangement 130 can monitor audio-based activities by including, for example, microphones. The sensor arrangement 130 is primarily configured to detect movement, motion, position, and / or sound of the animals 105 near the food unit 110, for example, when the distance between the animals 105 and the food unit 110 is below a predetermined threshold. This distance can vary depending on many different factors, such as the design of the animal pen and / or the details of system 100. The predetermined threshold for this distance may depend on the size of the space where the animal species can roam freely and / or on the distance between the animal 105 and its nearest food unit 110, as well as the distance between multiple food units. The sensor arrangement 130 may be positioned on the food unit 110 or anywhere within the animal's living space. It should be understood that sensors included in the sensor arrangement 130 may be positioned at different locations within the animal's living space. For example, the sensor arrangement 130 may include: a camera / image detector positioned on the roof of the enclosure for monitoring the animal's position and movement; and an accelerometer positioned on the food unit 110 for detecting any movement of the food unit 110.

[0043] The sensor arrangement 130 is configured to detect movement of the food unit 110, the position of one or more animals 105, the movement of one or more animals 105, and the sounds of one or more animals. Movement of the food unit 110 detected by the sensor arrangement 130 may be caused, for example, by one or more animals 105 touching, shaking, and / or displacing (relative to a default position) the food unit 110. Sounds of one or more animals 105 detected by the sensor arrangement 130 may be animal sounds and / or sounds caused by one or more animals 105 interacting with the food unit 110, another animal, and / or a surface they walk on (such as a pen floor). The detected position, movement, and / or sounds of one or more animals 105 may have already occurred in the vicinity of the food unit 110. Furthermore, detected differences in volume of sounds detected by the sensor arrangement 130 can provide information about the number of animals 105 and their activities. Furthermore, if multiple different sounds are detected, the corresponding volume and / or frequency of the different sounds can be detected by the sensor arrangement 130, which can provide the system 100 with information about the number of animals 105 that produced the corresponding sounds and / or within the audio range of the sensors. For example, the detected sounds can provide information about the food intake rate at the food unit 110. It should be understood that the sensor arrangement 130 is not necessarily arranged on the food unit 110 to detect the movement, position, and / or sounds of at least one animal 105 near the food unit 110. For example, the sensor arrangement 130 can be arranged outside the food unit 110, such as in the roof of the space where(one or more) animals live.

[0044] System 100 further includes a processor coupled to sensor arrangement 130. The processor is configured to compare detected motion of at least one animal 105 with at least one predetermined motion associated with at least one activity of at least one animal(s) 105. It should be noted that system 100 may perform the comparison based on image analysis (e.g., including pattern recognition). System 100 may perform the comparison, for example, by using a neural network trained with one or more predetermined motions associated with animal movement and / or images. Sensor arrangement 130 may, for example, detect pecking motions and / or sounds of one or more animals 105, and the processor may associate such motions with the activity of the animal 105 feeding from food unit 110. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to compare detected sounds with predetermined sounds associated with at least one activity of at least one animal 105. System 100 can thus determine at least one activity of at least one animal 105 based on the detected position of one or more animals 105, the comparison of detected motion with one or more predetermined motions, and / or the comparison of detected sounds with one or more predetermined sounds.

[0045] The processor is further configured to determine at least one activity of at least one animal 105 based on the detected position of the animal 105, a comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and / or the detected sound of the animal 105. The activity of (one or more) animals 105 may be feeding from a specific food unit 110, crowding the food unit 110, remaining still or moving at a location away from the food unit 110, sleeping, etc.

[0046] System 100 can control one or more light sources 120 via a processor based on detected movement of food units 110 and / or determined activity of one or more animals 105. System 100 is configured to control the light sources 120 in such a way that light emitted from the one or more light sources 120 affects the behavior of one or more animals 105. For example, the light sources 120 can be signaled to emit light, which is known to stimulate animals 105 to feed from food units 110. System 100 can also control the light sources 120 to stimulate animals 105 to feed from specific food units 110 away from their current location, in order to, for example, reduce overcrowding, produce a more even distribution of animals 105 at food units 110, etc. In other words, the system can be configured to encourage animal 105 to leave overcrowded food unit 110 by turning off light source 120 that emits light on overcrowded food unit 110, or by emitting light on overcrowded food unit 110 (known to deter animal 105 from going there), and / or by emitting light on a different food unit 110 (known to encourage animal 105 to go there). The ability of system 100 to reduce overcrowding can lead to better growth of animal 105 and improved well-being for both.

[0047] System 100 is further configured to determine, via a processor, the number of one or more animals 105 near food unit 110, the food intake rate of one or more animals 105 at food unit 110, and / or the food level of food unit 110. System 100 is further configured to control light source 120 via a processor based on the determined number of animals, the determined food intake rate, and / or the determined food level. It should be understood that sensor arrangement 130 can directly detect the food level in food unit 110, for example, by using optical rangefinders, lidar, and / or radar.

[0048] System 100 may be further configured to emit light of varying intensities on food unit 110 depending on whether one or more predetermined conditions are met. The predetermined conditions may be at least one of the following: a determined number of animals exceeds a first predetermined threshold; a determined food intake rate exceeds a first predetermined rate; a determined food level is below a first predetermined level; a determined number of animals 105 is below a second predetermined threshold; a determined food intake rate is below a second predetermined rate; and a determined food level exceeds a second predetermined level. The first predetermined threshold is higher than the second predetermined threshold, and the first predetermined rate is higher than the second predetermined rate. The first predetermined level is lower than the second predetermined level.

[0049] System 100 may be further configured to emit light with different spectral distributions on food unit 110 depending on whether one or more predetermined conditions are met. The predetermined conditions may be at least one of the following: the determined number of animals 105 exceeds a third predetermined threshold; the determined food intake rate exceeds a third predetermined rate; the determined food level is below a third predetermined level; the determined number of animals 105 is below a fourth predetermined threshold; the determined food intake rate is below a fourth predetermined rate; and the determined food level exceeds a fourth predetermined level. The third predetermined threshold is higher than the fourth predetermined threshold, and the third predetermined rate is higher than the fourth predetermined rate. The third predetermined level is lower than the fourth predetermined level.

[0050] System 100 can be further configured to emit light with different spectral distributions and / or intensities onto food unit 110 based on a schedule. For example, when controlling the light emitted by light source 120 and / or the time since the animal 105 was last fed, system 100 can take into account the time of day. Therefore, the light emitted by light source 120 may exhibit periodicity. Thus, system 100 can use a periodic lighting schedule to improve the growth and well-being of animal 105. Furthermore, system 100 can be configured to detect the movement of animal 105 when it wakes up during the night and determine that animal 105 is awake and searching for food. Additionally, system 100 can be configured to increase the intensity of the light emitted by light source 120 to guide animal 105 toward the nearest food unit 110.

[0051] If, for example, food unit 110 has a relatively large number of animals 105, if the animals 105 eat too quickly, or if the food level is relatively low, then system 100 may be further configured to reduce the intensity of emitted light or change the spectral distribution of emitted light to a first spectral distribution on at least one food unit 110. If, for example, food unit 110 has a relatively small number of animals 105 in its vicinity, if the animals 105 do not eat quickly enough, and / or if the food level of food unit 110 is relatively high, then system 100 may be further configured to increase the intensity of emitted light or change the spectral distribution of emitted light to a second spectral distribution on food unit 110.

[0052] The spectral distribution of the light emitted by light source 120 can be altered to a first spectral distribution to make the food less visible and / or less attractive to animal 105. For example, light source 120 can emit light with a spectral distribution such that, when combined with light reflected from the food in food unit 100, food unit 110 and / or the food becomes less visible and / or less attractive to the animal species. For example, if the feed is substantially yellow, the light emitted by light source 120 can be substantially violet, causing the food to appear gray to the animal species.

[0053] The spectral distribution of the light emitted by light source 120 can alternatively be altered to a second spectral distribution to make the food and / or food unit 110 more visible and / or more attractive to animal 105. To make the food and / or food unit 110 more visible and / or more attractive, light source 120 can emit light with a spectral distribution that changes periodically at a specific frequency. Thus, a flashing effect can be achieved, causing the food and / or food unit 110 to glow / flash, which can make animal 105 interested in the food and / or food unit 110. For example, when animal 105 is blocking other animals 105 from reaching food unit 110, the light emitted by light source 120 can flash or pulse to cause unfeeded animals 105 to move away from food unit 110, thereby allowing other animals 105 to obtain food from food unit 110.

[0054] Figure 2 It schematically shows something similar to Figure 1 System 100 in the system 100. Because many features of the configuration and operation of system 100 are essentially similar to... Figure 1 The features described herein have therefore been omitted for the sake of brevity and conciseness. Figure 1 A detailed description of the common features of the embodiments shown. Furthermore, the number of food units 110 can be arbitrary, but for simplicity, relative to... Figure 1 It refers to two food units, 110a and 110b.

[0055] exist Figure 2 In the system, if the first food unit 110a has a food level exceeding a predetermined level, the first light source 120a can emit light to attract the animal 105 to the first food unit 110a. Furthermore, if the second food unit 110b has a food level below a predetermined level, the second light source 120b can emit light to prevent the animal 105 from going to the second food unit 110b. The system 100 can also control the light source 120 to prevent the animal 105 from going to an empty and / or dysfunctional food unit 110, and to encourage at least one animal 105 to go to a food unit 110 with food and / or normal function.

[0056] Figure 3 It schematically shows something similar to Figure 1 System 100 in the system 100. Because many features of the configuration and operation of system 100 are essentially similar to... Figure 1 The features described herein have therefore been omitted for the sake of brevity and conciseness. Figure 1 A detailed description of the features common to the embodiments shown. Figure 3 If the first food unit 110a is overcrowded, where the number of animals 105 exceeds a predetermined threshold, and / or if the animals 105 ingesting food at the first food unit 110a have a combined ingestion rate exceeding a predetermined rate, then the first light source 120a may emit light to prevent the animals 105 from going to the first food unit 110a.

[0057] Furthermore, if the number of animals around or from the second food unit 110b is below a predetermined threshold, and / or if the food level at the second food unit 110b exceeds a predetermined level, the second light source 120b may emit light that attracts the animals 105 to the second food unit 110b.

[0058] It should be understood that system 100 is configured to vary the intensity and spectral distribution of light emitted by at least one light source 120 in any combination and at any period based on the detected movement of food units 110, the activity of one or more identified animals 105, the number of identified animals 105, the determined food intake rate, and / or the determined food level. Therefore, system 100 can influence the food intake of animals 105 to improve animal growth and well-being.

[0059] Figure 4 A system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically. Figure 4System 100 includes a food unit 110, although it should be noted that any number of food units 110 may be present. System 100 further includes a light source 120. The system further includes a sensor arrangement 130. Sensor arrangement 130 may be an optical ranging sensor arranged on the food unit 110. It should be understood that sensor arrangement 130 may include any sensor mentioned in any of the foregoing embodiments. Sensor arrangement 130 may detect the food level of the food in the food unit 110. The food may be animal feed. Furthermore, if an animal 105 is being fed from or is (closely) near the food unit 110, sensor arrangement 130 may detect the position, movement, and / or sound of one or more animals 105. For example, when an animal is searching for food, system 100 may detect pecking movements or sounds. System 100 further includes a processor. The processor may be configured to compare the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement associated with at least one activity of one or more animals 105. Furthermore, the processor can be configured to determine one or more activities of one or more animals 105 based on the location of the detected animal(s) 105, a comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and / or the sound of the detected animal(s) 105.

[0060] System 100 is further configured, via a processor, to determine the number of animals present in (i.e., in the vicinity of) food unit 110, the food intake rate of (one or more) animals 105 at (one or more) food unit 110, and / or the food level of food unit 110, based on the detected movement of food unit 110, the location of (one or more) animals 105, the movement of (one or more) animals 105, and / or the sound of (one or more) animals 105.

[0061] The system 100 is further configured to control the light source 120 based on the detected movement of the food unit 110, the activity of one or more animals 105, the number of animals 105, the food intake rate of one or more animals 105, and / or the determined food level.

[0062] Figure 5 A system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically. Figure 5System 100 includes a food unit 110 and a control unit 180. Control unit 180 may include a processor. System 100 further includes a light source 120 connected to control unit 180. Light source 120 may include a light-emitting diode (LED) L1. Light source 120 may be powered by a wired power supply unit P1 (such as a cable). System 100 further includes a sensor arrangement 130 connected to control unit 180. Sensor arrangement 130 includes at least one sensor S1. Sensor arrangement 130 may be powered by a battery P2.

[0063] exist Figure 5 In this system, the light source 120, sensor arrangement 130, and control unit 180 may include corresponding network modules N1, N2, N3, such as transceivers capable of transmitting and receiving signals. Sensor arrangement 130 can detect the position of at least one animal near food unit 110, the movement of at least one animal near food unit 110, the sound of at least one animal near food unit 110, the movement of food unit 110, and / or the food level of food unit 110. Sensor arrangement 130 can, for example, send signals to control unit 180 using network module N2, indicating the detected movement of food unit 110, the position of at least one animal 105, the movement of (one or more) animals 105, the sound of (one or more) animals 105, and / or the food level of food unit 110. Control unit 180 can compare the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement associated with at least one activity of at least one animal 105. Furthermore, the control unit 180 can determine the activities of one or more animals 105 based on the location of one or more animals 105, a comparison of detected movements with at least one predetermined movement, and / or the sounds detected by one or more animals 105. The control unit 180 can further determine the number of animals 105 near one or more food units 110, the food intake rate of one or more animals 105 at one or more food units 110, and the food level of the food unit 110.

[0064] Control unit 180 can control one or more light sources 120 based on detected movement of food units 110, determined activity of one or more animals 105, determined number of animals 105, determined food intake rate, and / or determined food level. Control unit 180 can communicate with one or more light sources 120 by sending a signal, for example, using network module N1, instructing the light sources 120 to emit light with a specific intensity and / or spectral distribution. Light sources 120 can receive this signal, for example, using network module N3. Control unit 180 can signal light sources 120 to turn on or off. Control unit 180 can signal light sources 120 to change intensity and / or spectral distribution, for example, when certain activities of one or more animals have been determined or when predetermined conditions have been met. Predetermined conditions may be related to the determined number of animals 105, the determined food intake rate, and the determined food level.

[0065] The control unit 180, one or more light sources 120, and one or more sensor arrangements 130 can be wirelessly connected or connected via cables.

[0066] It should be understood that system 100 can be configured to detect the movement of multiple food units 100, the location of substantially all animals 105, the movement of substantially all animals 105, and / or the sounds of substantially all animals 105 present, for example, in a pen. Furthermore, system 100 can be configured to determine the activities of substantially all animals 105. In other words, system 100 can map the state of all food units 110 and the activities of one or more animals 105. System 100 can use this information, alone or in combination, to control light source 120 to improve the food intake behavior and overall well-being of animals 105. Therefore, system 100 can allow analysis of the behavior of animals 105 (e.g., the entire herd in a pen) at the pen / herd level, thereby controlling light source 120 in a manner that optimizes the behavior of animals 105 in terms of food intake and well-being. That is, by knowing what substantially all animals 105 in a pen are doing, system 100 allows for improvements in the impact on the food intake behavior of the herd.

[0067] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system (100) for supplying food to an animal (105), comprising: At least one food unit (110) is arranged to contain animal food; At least one light source (120) is configured to illuminate the at least one food unit; At least one sensor arrangement (130) is configured to detect - The movement of at least one food unit, and detection of at least one of the following - The location of at least one animal near the at least one food unit - The movement of at least one animal near at least one food unit, and - The sound of at least one animal near the at least one food unit; as well as A processor coupled to the at least one sensor arrangement, wherein the processor is configured to compare the detected motion with at least one predetermined motion associated with at least one activity of the at least one animal. At least one activity of the at least one animal is determined based on at least one of the following: the location of the at least one animal detected, a comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the sound of the at least one animal detected. The system is configured to control the at least one light source via the processor based on the following The movement of at least one food unit was detected, and At least one activity of at least one animal identified.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor arrangement is configured to detect movement of the at least one food unit and movement of at least one animal, and wherein the system is configured to control the at least one light source via the processor based on the detected movement of the at least one food unit and the determined at least one activity of the at least one animal.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged and integrated in the at least one food unit.

4. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sensor arrangement comprises at least one of a camera, an accelerometer, a tilt sensor, a gyroscope, a weight sensor, a touch sensor, a radar, a lidar sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, a temperature sensor, a thermopile sensor, and an audio sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the system is configured to control the at least one light source via the processor based on a predetermined schedule.

6. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the system is further configured to be connected via the processor, The at least one light source is controlled by controlling at least one of the intensity and spectral distribution of the light emitted by the at least one light source during operation.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is further configured to be connected via the processor, Determine at least one of the following - The number of animals near at least one food unit -The food intake rate of the at least one animal at the at least one food unit, and -The food level of the at least one food unit. And the system is further configured to be connected to the processor, The at least one light source is controlled based on at least one of the following: - The number of animals determined, -The determined food intake rate, and - The determined food level.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system is further configured to: If at least one of the following is satisfied, the intensity of the light emitted by the at least one light source during operation is reduced via the processor. - The number of animals identified exceeds a first predetermined threshold. - The determined food intake rate exceeds the first predetermined value, and - The determined food level is lower than the first predetermined level; or If at least one of the following is satisfied, the intensity of the light emitted by the at least one light source during operation is increased via the processor. - The number of animals identified is below the second predetermined threshold. - The determined food intake rate is lower than the second predetermined rate, and - The determined food level exceeds the second predetermined level.

9. The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the system is further configured to: If at least one of the following is satisfied, the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the at least one light source during operation is changed to a first spectral distribution via the processor. - The number of animals identified exceeds the third predetermined threshold. - The determined food intake rate exceeds the third predetermined rate, and - The determined food level is lower than the third predetermined level; or If at least one of the following is satisfied, the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the at least one light source during operation is changed to a second spectral distribution via the processor. - The number of animals identified is below the fourth predetermined threshold. - The determined food intake rate is lower than the fourth predetermined rate, and - The determined food level exceeds the fourth predetermined level. The first spectral distribution is different from the second spectral distribution.

10. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the system further comprises a control unit (180) configured to control the at least one light source, wherein the control unit includes a processor and is connected to the at least one sensor arrangement and the at least one light source.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is wirelessly connected to the at least one sensor arrangement and the at least one light source.

12. A method for supplying food to animals, wherein the method comprises the following steps: Detection - The movement of at least one food unit, and detection of at least one of the following - The location of at least one animal near the at least one food unit - The movement of at least one animal near the at least one food unit, and - The sound of at least one animal near the at least one food unit; The detected motion is compared with at least one predetermined motion associated with at least one activity of the at least one animal; At least one activity of the at least one animal is determined based on at least one of the following: the location of the at least one animal detected, a comparison of the detected movement with at least one predetermined movement, and the sound of the at least one animal detected; At least one light source is controlled based on the detected movement of at least one food unit and at least one activity of at least one animal, the at least one light source being configured to illuminate the at least one food unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: Detecting the movement of the at least one food unit and at least one of the following: the movement of at least one animal near the at least one food unit and the position of the at least one animal, and The at least one light source is controlled based on the detected movement of the at least one food unit and the determined activity of the at least one animal.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: The at least one light source is controlled by controlling at least one of the intensity and spectral distribution of the light emitted by the at least one light source during operation.

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: Determine at least one of the following - The number of animals near at least one food unit -The food intake rate of the at least one animal at the at least one food unit, and -The food level of the at least one food unit. And the method further includes the following steps: The at least one light source is controlled based on at least one of the following: - The number of animals determined, -The determined food intake rate, and - The determined food level.

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