Low-power-consumption intelligent necklace for shepherds based on dual-mode energy supply

Abstract

The utility model discloses a low-power-consumption intelligent necklace for shepherds based on dual-mode energy supply. The low-power-consumption intelligent necklace for the shepherds based on dual-mode energy supply comprises a necklace body, the necklace body is provided with a detachable core unit and a dual-mode energy supply unit, and the core unit is connected with the dual-mode energy supply unit; the core unit is a TPU shell in which a positioning chip, a movable sensor, a microprocessor and a communication module which are connected with one another are packaged, and the dual-mode energy supply unit comprises a flexible solar cell, a ceramic micro generator and a micro battery.

Description

A low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of Internet of Things (IoT) equipment technology in animal husbandry, and in particular to a low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply. Background Technology

[0002] With the modernization of animal husbandry, intelligent farming equipment is playing an increasingly important role in improving production efficiency and management levels. Among these, intelligent collars, as a key device for animal monitoring and management, have been widely used in livestock production, including sheep farming. Currently, intelligent collars on the market mainly use GPS positioning and wireless communication technologies to track the location and monitor the condition of livestock.

[0003] Existing smart collars for sheep farming still suffer from the following problems: First, the power supply system is limited. Most collars rely on a single battery or solar power, resulting in insufficient battery life. Under normal use, the battery life is typically no more than 30 days, requiring frequent battery replacements and increasing maintenance costs and workload. Second, existing collar designs are generally bulky, weighing over 150 grams. Prolonged wear can easily cause neck skin damage in sheep, especially for young sheep, with a shedding rate exceeding 15%, affecting effectiveness. Third, communication costs are high. Most smart collars rely on cellular networks (4G / 5G) for data transmission, leading to high annual communication costs during large-scale deployment. Finally, the problem of limited functionality is prominent. Most existing collars only support basic positioning functions and lack health monitoring and abnormal behavior recognition capabilities, failing to meet the needs of modern livestock farming's refined management. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided by this utility model is as follows:

[0006] The low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply includes a collar body (1), on which a detachable core unit (2) and a dual-mode power supply unit (3) are provided, and the core unit (2) and the dual-mode power supply unit (3) are connected; the core unit (2) is a TPU shell encapsulating a positioning chip (21), an activity sensor (22), a microprocessor (23) and a communication module (24) that are interconnected; the dual-mode power supply unit (3) includes a flexible solar cell (31), a ceramic micro generator (32) and a micro battery (33).

[0007] Preferably, the micro battery (33) includes a supercapacitor and a conventional micro battery.

[0008] More preferably, the supercapacitor has a capacity of ≥10F, a charge / discharge efficiency of ≥95%, and a cycle life of ≥5000 times.

[0009] Preferably, the collar body (1) is a nylon braided strip, a shape memory alloy ring is embedded in the nylon braided strip, and the inner side of the nylon braided strip is coated with a bio-adhesive.

[0010] Preferably, the bio-adhesive is a polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer.

[0011] Preferably, the communication module (24) adopts a Semtech SX1276 LoRa module to realize information interaction between the collar and the mobile terminal.

[0012] The control method for the smart collar used for sheep herding based on the above-mentioned multi-mode fusion positioning is as follows: During the day, when the sheep is stationary, the microprocessor only uses the flexible solar cell for power supply; at night, when the sheep is stationary, the microprocessor only uses the micro battery for power supply; when the sheep moves, the ceramic micro generator generates pulse power due to the sheep's movement; when the illuminance is <200 lux and the sheep is stationary, the microprocessor uses the micro battery for power supply.

[0013] The present invention will be further described below:

[0014] The low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply described in this utility model incorporates the following design:

[0015] 1. Ultra-low power consumption hardware

[0016] Chip-level optimization:

[0017] The chip is a custom RISC-V architecture chip (model GD32VW553), with a sleep power consumption of ≤3μA and an active power consumption of ≤8mA (@10MHz main frequency).

[0018] The satellite positioning module integrates only a single-frequency GPS L1 receiver (u-blox MAX-M10S), with a cold start time of ≤15 seconds.

[0019] Split design:

[0020] Core module (30g): Includes positioning chip, motion sensor, microprocessor and communication module, packaged in TPU shell.

[0021] Energy module (50g): Detachable flexible solar cell (conversion efficiency ≥23%) + supercapacitor (10F, 3.3V), connected to the core module via a waterproof plug.

[0022] 2. Dynamic energy supply design

[0023] Dual-mode energy harvesting:

[0024] Solar charging: The back of the collar integrates a monocrystalline silicon flexible photovoltaic panel (size 6×4cm, peak power 1.2W), which supports charging in low light conditions on cloudy days (starts when the illuminance is ≥200 lux).

[0025] Kinetic energy recovery: Built-in piezoelectric ceramic generator (model LDT0-028K) generates pulse current when the sheep move (average daily power generation ≥180mAh).

[0026] Intelligent power distribution strategy: Based on lightweight firmware of FreeRTOS, it realizes power supply priority management (solar energy > kinetic energy > battery).

[0027] 3. Lightweight anti-fall design

[0028] The collar is made of nylon braided straps (2.5cm wide, tensile strength ≥500N) and shape memory alloy rings (nickel-titanium alloy, deformation recovery rate ≥95%), which can accommodate the changes in neck circumference of sheep during their growth period (20-45cm).

[0029] The inner side is coated with veterinary-grade biological adhesive (the main component is polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer), which forms an elastic film layer after curing. It degrades naturally after 72 hours of wear, and the degradation products have no toxic side effects on sheep.

[0030] 4. Low-cost wide area networking

[0031] LoRaWAN communication architecture:

[0032] The collar has a built-in Semtech SX1276 LoRa module with a communication range of ≥12km (line-of-sight in suburban areas) and supports ADR (Adaptive Rate Control) to reduce power consumption.

[0033] A single gateway (Dragino LPS8 model) can cover a 10km² area in the ranch, supporting up to 2000 nodes, with an annual communication cost of ≤100 yuan (99% lower than 4G solutions).

[0034] A battery life test was conducted on this invention: 100 collars were deployed on a ranch in Inner Mongolia. The test results showed that:

[0035] Average daily power consumption: Summer (sufficient sunlight) ≤3mAh, Winter (weak light) ≤8mAh.

[0036] Overall battery life: ≥180 days without additional charging (normal mode).

[0037] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0038] 1. Significantly Improved Battery Life: Through a dual-mode power supply design (solar energy + kinetic energy recovery), the combined battery life is ≥180 days, more than 6 times that of existing technologies. Traditional collars rely on a single battery for power, with a battery life of only 30 days or less under normal use. This invention, however, significantly extends the device's lifespan and reduces battery replacement frequency through the synergistic operation of flexible solar cells and ceramic micro-generators.

[0039] 2. Lightweight and Anti-Slip Design: The collar weighs approximately 80g (30g core module + 50g energy module), about 47% lighter than traditional collars. It utilizes a shape-memory alloy ring and bio-adhesive design to adapt to changes in the sheep's neck circumference during growth, effectively preventing slippage. Traditional collars typically weigh ≥150g, and prolonged wear can easily cause neck skin damage in sheep, with a slippage rate of ≥15% for young animals. The lightweight design and special materials used in this invention effectively solve this problem.

[0040] 3. Significantly Reduced Communication Costs: Utilizing a LoRaWAN communication architecture, a single gateway can cover an area of ​​10km², supporting up to 2000 nodes. The annual communication cost is ≤100 RMB, a 99% reduction compared to 4G solutions. Traditional collars rely on cellular networks (4G / 5G) for data transmission, resulting in high annual communication costs during large-scale deployment. This invention, however, achieves a low-cost, wide-coverage data transmission solution by employing the Semtech SX1276 LoRa module.

[0041] 4. Ultra-low power hardware design: Utilizing a custom chip based on the RISC-V architecture, the power consumption during sleep mode is ≤3μA, and the power consumption in active mode is ≤8mA. The average daily power consumption is ≤3mAh in summer and ≤8mAh in winter. Through intelligent control strategies, the power supply method is dynamically adjusted according to the sheep's activity status and ambient light conditions, further optimizing energy utilization efficiency.

[0042] This invention provides a smart collar for sheep herding that features ultra-long battery life, lightweight design, and support for large-scale deployment. Through a dual-mode power supply system and a split-structure design, it solves the problems of short battery life, bulky equipment, and high communication costs in existing technologies.

[0043] In summary, this invention reduces the core module weight to 30g through a split design, achieves an ultra-long battery life of ≥180 days by combining solar and kinetic energy dual-mode power supply, reduces the pup shed rate to below 2% by using shape memory alloy rings and biological adhesives, and reduces communication costs by 99% based on LoRaWAN networking technology. This solution is suitable for large-scale plains ranches, taking into account both low-cost deployment and animal welfare requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the overall structure of a low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply.

[0045] In the diagram: 1. Collar body; 2. Core unit; 21. Positioning chip; 22. Motion sensor; 23. Microprocessor; 24. Communication module; 3. Dual-mode power supply unit; 31. Flexible solar cell; 32. Ceramic micro generator; 33. Micro battery. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Embodiment 1

[0047] Referring to Figure 1, the low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply includes a collar body 1. The collar body 1 is provided with a detachable core unit 2 and a dual-mode power supply unit 3, which are connected. The core unit 2 is a TPU shell encapsulating a positioning chip 21, an activity sensor 22, a microprocessor 23, and a communication module 24 that are interconnected. The dual-mode power supply unit 3 includes a flexible solar cell 31, a ceramic micro-generator 32, and a micro battery 33.

[0048] The micro-battery 33 includes a supercapacitor and a regular micro-battery. The supercapacitor has a capacity ≥10F, a charge / discharge efficiency ≥95%, and a cycle life ≥5000 cycles. The collar body 1 is a nylon braided strap with a shape memory alloy ring embedded in it. The inner side of the nylon braided strap is coated with a bio-adhesive. The bio-adhesive is a polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer. The communication module 24 uses a Semtech SX1276 LoRa module. Example 2

[0049] The control method for the low-power smart collar for sheep based on dual-mode power supply described in Example 1 is as follows: During the day, when the sheep is stationary, the microprocessor only uses the flexible solar cell for power supply; at night, when the sheep is stationary, the microprocessor only uses the micro battery for power supply; when the sheep moves, the ceramic micro generator generates pulse power due to the sheep's movement; when the illuminance is <200 lux and the sheep is stationary, the microprocessor uses the micro battery for power supply; an intermittent positioning strategy is adopted: GPS positioning is activated every 2 hours.

Claims

1. A low-power intelligent collar for herding sheep based on dual-mode power supply, characterized in that, The low-power smart collar includes a collar body (1), on which a detachable core unit (2) and a dual-mode power supply unit (3) are provided, and the core unit (2) and the dual-mode power supply unit (3) are connected; the core unit (2) is a TPU shell encapsulating a positioning chip (21), an activity sensor (22), a microprocessor (23) and a communication module (24) that are interconnected; the dual-mode power supply unit (3) includes a flexible solar cell (31), a ceramic micro generator (32) and a micro battery (33).

2. The low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The micro battery (33) includes supercapacitors and ordinary micro batteries.

3. The low power consumption smart collar for herding based on dual-mode energy supply according to claim 2, characterized in that, The supercapacitor has a capacity of ≥10F, a charge / discharge efficiency of ≥95%, and a cycle life of ≥5000 times.

4. The low power consumption smart collar for herding based on dual-mode energy supply according to claim 3, characterized in that, The collar body (1) is a nylon braided band with a shape memory alloy ring embedded in it, and the inner side of the nylon braided band is coated with a bio-adhesive.

5. The low-power smart collar for sheep herding based on dual-mode power supply as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The bio-adhesive is a polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer.

6. The low power consumption smart collar for herding based on dual-mode energy supply according to claim 5, characterized in that, The communication module (24) adopts the Semtech SX1276 LoRa module.

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