Optical device for determining one or more parameters for monitoring insect breeding

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical device for determining a parameter for monitoring insect breeding in trays (3). It comprises a conveying device (1) which has an upper surface (2) for accepting a tray (3) and which can be translationally moved in order to bring the tray (3) beneath an optical sensor (4). The optical device comprises a motor-driven movable support (5) to which the optical sensor (4) is connected for translationally and / or rotationally moving the optical sensor. The optical device comprises a computer system (14) that is configured to aggregate the data acquired over a region scanned inside the tray (3) by the optical sensor (4) as the tray (3) moves beneath the optical sensor (4) in order to perform one or more measurements on the aggregation formed and determine the monitoring parameter.

Description

[0001] Optical device for determining one or more monitoring parameters of an insect farm

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of insect breeding.

[0004]

[0002] Insect farming has experienced significant growth in recent years. Insect farming is of many interests, whether for the agro-industry, insects being an interesting source of protein, or for other industrial fields, insects also being a source of chitin, which can be transformed into chitosan by deacetylation, the applications of which are numerous, for example in cosmetics, in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, in dietetics and food, or for water treatment.

[0005]

[0003] The insects concerned by the present invention may be, in a non-limiting manner, chosen from the group of Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Dictyoptera including in particular Blattoptera, including Isoptera, and Mantoptera, Phasmoptera, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Ephemeroptera, Mecoptera, and mixtures thereof, preferably from the group of Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera and mixtures thereof, more preferably, the insect belongs to the group of Coleoptera. Preferably, Diptera belong to the suborder Brachycera. Preferably, Lepidoptera belong to the suborder Ditrysia, more preferably to the superfamily Pyraloidea. Preferably, Neuroptera belong to the suborder Hemerobiiformia.Preferably, the beetles belong to the infraorder Cucujiformia, in particular to the families Tenebrionidae, Coccinellidae, Cerambycidae, Dryophthoridae, or mixtures thereof. More preferably, the beetles are chosen from Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus, Zophobas morio, Tenebrio obscurus, Tribolium castaneum, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, and mixtures thereof, even more preferably Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus, and mixtures thereof. The insects targeted by the invention therefore preferably belong to the group of beetles and more particularly to the family Tenebrionidae. Preferably, the insects targeted by the invention belong to the species Tenebrio molitor and / or Alphitobius diaperinus.

[0004] It finds a preferential - but obviously not exclusive - application in the breeding of mealworms, the mealworm being also called tenebrio molitor.

[0006]

[0005] The term "insect" is used to designate any stage of development from the egg or ootheca to the adult insect, including the larva and the nymph such as the pupa.

[0007]

[0006] As part of the increase in the size of insect farms towards an industrial scale, it is necessary to set up industrial models adapted to insects, making it possible to monitor their breeding in an automated manner, in particular in order to maintain optimal growth conditions. In the context of large-scale breeding, it is thus necessary to be able to carry out a certain number of checks during the breeding, quantitative or qualitative, to ensure that the breeding is progressing smoothly and / or to take appropriate measures so that the breeding takes place under the desired conditions. These checks must be carried out at a high rate. This requires that the acquisition of the data necessary for these checks must be done quickly, with few manual operations.

[0008]

[0007] Such monitoring is possible thanks to the quantification of performance indicators (or, in English, “Key Performance indicators” or “KPis”).

[0009]

[0008] By "performance indicator" (or, in English, "Key Performance indicator" or "KPi") is meant, preferably, quantified or at least measurable information which makes it possible to evaluate the results of one or more actions, to monitor the evolution of a performance and / or to analyze a situation.

[0010]

[0009] These indicators may correspond to “monitoring parameters of an insect farm” or be derived from such parameters.

[0011] STATE OF THE ART

[0012]

[0010] The methods currently used for controlling and monitoring insect breeding are manual and tedious (sorting and counting insect populations, visual inspection of breeding tanks) and incompatible with industrial-scale breeding. In addition, these methods lack precision and can sometimes damage growing insects, particularly when handling them.

[0013]

[0011] For certain controls, it has been proposed to use optical systems.

[0012] Thus, document WO2014171829 discloses carrying out an observation of each box of an insect farm to decide whether food should be added to it or not. The observation can in particular be carried out using an observation station. The observation station comprises, for example, a camera making it possible to obtain an image of the contents of each box passing through the observation station.

[0013] Nevertheless, the determination of certain parameters for monitoring an insect farm can be based on measurements carried out on data obtained with optical sensors having a relatively restricted acquisition field, that is to say which only capture a small part of the surface of a tank in which the insects are raised.This is generally the case, for example, with near-infrared spectrophotometers (also called NIRS spectrometers for "Near-infrared spectroscopy", such as the NIRS XDS Rapid Content Analyzer from Metrohm or the NIRS PRO from Metrohm), or with certain industrial cameras (producing a two-dimensional image and generally referred to as 2D cameras or producing a three-dimensional image and generally referred to as 3D cameras). In addition to these technologies, the term optical also refers in the invention to laser sensors, thermal cameras, and other sensors capable of acquiring data in the form of an image or a spectrum over a given acquisition field.

[0014]

[0014] Since breeding tanks may have large dimensions (for example, they may be of the type presented in document FR3116993 and thus have a length of 2.4 m and a width of 1.2 m), the area of ​​the tank captured during a simple passage of a tank under a sensor may be insufficiently representative of the contents of the tank to carry out a reliable determination of a breeding monitoring parameter.

[0015]

[0015] The concept of a breeding monitoring parameter can refer to numerous concepts, in particular and by way of simple example, the average size of insects in a tank, their number, the presence of dead insects or their quantification, the presence or quantification of droppings, etc. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0016]

[0016] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art cited above.

[0017]

[0017] Thus, the present invention relates to an optical device for determining one or more monitoring parameters of an insect farm in which the insects are raised in tanks having an open upper face, the optical device comprising a conveying device having a flat upper surface adapted to receive a tank containing insects, at least one tank, and an optical sensor placed above and opposite the upper surface of the conveying device. The upper surface of the conveying device is movable, so that a movement of said upper surface causes a translational movement of the tank in a longitudinal direction so as to bring the tank under the optical sensor.The optical device comprises a motorized mobile support, the optical sensor being linked to the mobile support, the mobile support being configured to allow translational and / or rotational movement of the optical sensor in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the conveyor device. The optical device further comprises a control system configured to control a relative movement between the tank and the optical sensor. The optical device comprises a computer system configured to aggregate the data acquired over a scanned area inside the tank by an acquisition field of the optical sensor during the relative movement of the tank under the optical sensor, thus forming an aggregation, carry out one or more measurements on the aggregation, and determine on the basis of the measurement(s) the monitoring parameter(s) in an insect farm.

[0018]

[0018] The conveying device may comprise a belt conveyor.

[0019]

[0019] The movable support may comprise an arm which extends parallel to the upper surface of the conveying device, and an axis of rotation of said arm which is perpendicular to the upper surface of the conveying device. The optical sensor is then mounted at one end of said arm. The control system is then configured to control a combined movement of longitudinal translation of the tray and rotation of the arm of the movable support when the tray passes under the optical sensor.

[0020] The control system may be configured to drive the conveyor device such that the bin passes under the optical sensor, from one edge of the bin to a longitudinally opposite edge of the bin, at a constant speed.

[0021] The control system may be configured so that the arm performs at least one complete rotation when passing the bin under the optical device, from the edge of the bin to the longitudinally opposite edge of the bin.

[0020]

[0022] The control system may be configured such that the arm makes at least two complete revolutions, and preferably at least three complete revolutions, when passing the bin under the optical device, from the edge of the bin to the longitudinally opposite edge of the bin.

[0021]

[0023] Alternatively, the mobile support may comprise a means for longitudinal translation of the optical sensor and a means for transverse translation of the optical sensor, and in this the control system may be configured so as to immobilize the bin on the conveyor device in a predetermined position and, when the bin is thus immobilized, to control a movement of the optical sensor above the bin along a racetrack trajectory.

[0022]

[0024] The movable support may include a means for adjusting the distance between the optical sensor and the upper surface of the conveying device.

[0023]

[0025] The adjustment means can be motorized.

[0024]

[0026] The optical sensor may include a near infrared spectrophotometer.

[0025]

[0027] The optical sensor can include a 2D camera, a 3D camera, a laser sensor, or a thermal camera.

[0026]

[0028] This device can make it possible to carry out a method for determining one or more monitoring parameters of an insect farm in which the insects are raised in tanks having an open upper face, the method comprising the steps of: placing a tank containing insects on a flat and movable upper surface of a conveying device; setting said upper surface in motion so as to cause the tank to move in translation in a longitudinal direction so as to bring the tank under an optical sensor placed above and opposite the upper surface of the conveying device;controlling a relative movement between the tank and the optical sensor by moving the optical sensor in translation and / or in rotation in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the conveying device by actuating a motorized mobile support to which the optical sensor is linked, and / or setting in motion the upper surface of the conveying device; aggregating the data acquired on a zone scanned inside the tank by the acquisition field of the optical sensor during the relative movement of the tank under the optical sensor; carrying out one or more measurements in the aggregation, and determining on the basis of the measurement(s) the monitoring parameter(s) in an insect farm.;

[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028]

[0029] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices and methods which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0029] - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical device according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0030] - figure 2 is a partial view of the optical device of figure 1;

[0031] - figure 3 illustrates a first relative movement between a tray and an optical sensor which can be implemented within the framework of the present invention;

[0032] - Figure 4 illustrates a second relative movement between a tray and an optical sensor that can be implemented within the framework of the present invention.

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034]

[0030] The present description is given as a non-limiting example of embodiment.

[0035]

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical device according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows in more detail the mechanical devices implemented by the optical device.

[0036]

[0032] The optical device comprises a conveying device 1 which has an upper surface 2 which is flat. The conveying device may be or comprise a belt conveyor or a movable tray, which makes it possible to move in a longitudinal direction L an insect breeding tank 3 (omitted in FIG. 1 and shown in FIG. 2) which is placed on the upper surface 2.

[0037]

[0033] The tank 3 is of the type having an open upper face, so that its contents can be observed through this open upper face. The tank 3 is therefore particularly suitable for breeding insects at the egg, larval, nymph, or adult stage for crawling insects.

[0034] The contents of the tank 3 can be designated as a complex medium. By "complex medium" is meant in particular, preferably a set comprising a population of insects and different constituents other than the population (breeding medium, insect droppings, dead insects, etc.)

[0038]

[0035] An optical sensor 4 is placed above and opposite the upper surface 2 of the conveying device 1. In other words, the optical sensor 4 is positioned so that its acquisition field is oriented towards said upper surface 2, and so that it can capture data (for example an image or a spectrum) of an object placed on said upper surface. In this case, the optical sensor 4 can capture an area of ​​the interior of the bin 3 when the bin 3 is under the optical sensor.

[0039]

[0036] The optical sensor may in particular comprise a near infrared spectrophotometer, a 2D camera, or a 3D camera.

[0040]

[0037] The movement of the upper surface 2 makes it possible to bring the tray 3 under the optical sensor 4.

[0041]

[0038] The optical device comprises a movable support 5 which is motorized and the optical sensor 4 is fixed to the movable support 5.

[0042]

[0039] The movable support 5 makes it possible to move the optical sensor in a plane parallel to the upper surface 2 of the conveying device, so that the optical sensor (and for example in particular its lens) always remains at the same distance from said upper surface 2.

[0043]

[0040] The distance between the optical sensor 4 and the observed object (for example the contents of the container 3) can be adapted and adjusted using an adjustment means 6. The adjustment means 6, which can comprise a rail allowing a vertical translation of the optical sensor and a means for locking the optical sensor in position once the desired height has been established, can be manual or motorized.

[0044]

[0041] The mobile support 5 can have various configurations, depending on the desired movement for the optical sensor 4.

[0045]

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the movable support 5 comprises an arm 7 which extends parallel to the upper surface 2. The movable support forms an axis of rotation R for the arm 7. The axis of rotation R is vertical, that is to say perpendicular to the upper surface 2 (which is considered horizontal).

[0043] The optical sensor 4 is mounted at one end of said arm 7. In this case, in the example shown here, the optical sensor 4 is mounted on the adjustment means 6, which is located at one end of the arm 7.

[0046]

[0044] At the opposite end of the arm 7, a counterweight 8 makes it possible to eliminate any tilting torque, perpendicular to the axis of rotation R, which would otherwise be generated by the weight of the optical sensor 4 and the adjustment means 6.

[0047]

[0045] A motor 9 allows, in the example shown, the rotation of the arm 7 and therefore of the optical sensor around the axis of rotation R.

[0048]

[0046] The motor 9 and the conveying device 1 are controlled by a control system 10. The control system 10 is shown for information purposes in FIG. 2 as being physically integrated into the rest of the optical device. It may, however, be remote from the rest of the optical device. By remote, it is understood that it is a system linked by wired or wireless connection to the rest of the device for the transfer of data, without prejudging a particular distance.

[0049]

[0047] The control system is configured to control a combined movement of longitudinal translation of the tray (using the conveying device 1 in the example shown) and rotation of the arm 7. The control system therefore generally controls the relative movement between the tray 3 and the optical sensor 4.

[0048] Figure 3 illustrates the relative movement between a tray and an optical sensor that can be achieved with the optical device of Figure 1 and Figure 2. The tray 3 is shown, seen from above, with its open face in the foreground.

[0050]

[0049] While the tray 3 is moved longitudinally, at constant speed, under the optical sensor 4, the control system controls a rotation of three turns, at constant rotation speed, of the arm 7. Other numbers of turns, or more generally other amplitudes of rotation, are conceivable.

[0051]

[0050] The system is advantageously configured so that the passage of a tank under the optical sensor takes a few seconds. For example, for a tank of the order of 2.4 m in length, the passage can be carried out in a little less than ten seconds. The acquisition time thus makes it possible to analyze several hundred or even several thousand tanks per hour with one or more optical devices.

[0052]

[0051] Figure 3 shows the area 11 scanned by the acquisition field of the optical sensor 4 during this sequence. The aggregation of the areas perceived by the optical sensor during such a sequence is called the scanned area 11, namely here during the passage of the tank 3 under the optical sensor 4. The aggregation may consist, for example, in forming a single image from a series of acquired images, and / or in carrying out an average over several spectra acquired during the data acquisition (for example by carrying out between three and ten, for example five, acquisitions by a spectrophotometer and averaging the results of these acquisitions). More specifically, the passage of the tank 3 is considered between the moment when an edge 12 of the tank 3 enters the acquisition field of the optical sensor 4 and the moment when the opposite edge 13 leaves the acquisition field.

[0053]

[0052] It can be seen that the scanned area Z is much greater than that which would be scanned with a fixed optical sensor. Also, and above all, data (typically images or spectra) are captured in a manner distributed over the entire surface of the tank 3, so that the aggregation of this data gives information representative of the entire surface of the tank.

[0054]

[0053] Figure 4 represents, in a manner similar to Figure 3, the area 11 scanned by the acquisition field of the optical sensor 4 in another embodiment. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the mobile support 5 allows at least the translation of the optical sensor in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0055]

[0054] The control system 10 is configured so that the scanned area 11 has a “racetrack” shape. A racetrack shape is an oblong shape comprising two parallel longitudinal straight paths connected by turns and / or transverse portions.

[0056]

[0055] In order to maximize the area scanned by the acquisition field of the optical sensor, the control system can be configured so that the scanned area 11 comprises two (or more) “concentric” racetrack shapes, i.e. comprising a racetrack shape included in a larger racetrack shape.

[0057]

[0056] The optical device finally comprises a computer system 14 configured to aggregate the data acquired on the scanned area 11. On this aggregation (for example on this image or spectrum of the scanned area), measurements are carried out, and these measurements make it possible to determine the desired monitoring parameter(s) in an insect farm. Although the aggregation of the data acquired on the scanned area 11 is reconstructed on the basis of data captured at different times, it has been observed that in the context of an insect farm this does not affect the representativeness of this aggregation for determining monitoring parameters of the farm.

[0058]

[0057] The computer system can be physically integrated into the optical device or remote from the optical device.

[0058] According to the present invention, an optical device is thus proposed for obtaining one or more reliable insect breeding monitoring parameters, without multiplying the number of optical sensors at the device, including when the acquisition field of the optical sensor is small compared to the open surface of the breeding tanks.

Claims

Claims 1. Optical device for determining one or more monitoring parameters of an insect farm in which the insects are raised in tanks having an open upper face, the optical device comprising: a conveying device (1) having a flat upper surface (2) adapted to receive a tank (3) containing insects, at least one tank, an optical sensor (4) placed above and opposite the upper surface (2) of the conveying device (1), the upper surface of the conveying device (1) being movable, so that a movement of said upper surface (2) causes a displacement of the tank (3) in translation in a longitudinal direction (L) so as to bring the tank (3) under the optical sensor (4), characterized in that, the optical device comprises a motorized movable support (5), the optical sensor (4) being linked to the movable support (5),the mobile support (5) being configured to allow translational and / or rotational movement of the optical sensor in a plane parallel to the upper surface (2) of the conveying device (1), the optical device further comprising a control system (10) configured to control a relative movement between the tank (3) and the optical sensor (4), and in that the optical device comprises a computer system (14) configured to aggregate the data acquired on a scanned area (11) inside the tank (3) by an acquisition field of the optical sensor (4) during the relative movement of the tank (3) under the optical sensor (4), thus forming an aggregation, carry out one or more measurements on the aggregation, and determine on the basis of the measurement(s) the monitoring parameter(s) in an insect farm., 2. Optical device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device (1) comprises a belt conveyor.

3. Optical device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the movable support (5) comprises an arm (7) which extends parallel to the upper surface (2) of the conveying device (1), and an axis of rotation (R) of said arm (7) which is perpendicular to the upper surface (2) of the conveying device (1), the optical sensor (4) being mounted at one end of said arm (7), the control system (10) being configured to control a combined movement of longitudinal translation of the tray (3) and rotation of the arm (7) of the movable support when the tray (3) passes under the optical sensor (4).

4. Optical device according to claim 3, wherein the control system (10) is configured to control the conveying device (1) so that the tray (3) passes under the optical sensor (4), from one edge of the tray (12) to a longitudinally opposite edge (13) of the tray (3), at constant speed.

5. Optical device according to claim 4, wherein the control system is configured so that the arm (7) performs at least one complete rotation when passing the tray (3) under the optical device (4), from the edge (12) of the tray to the longitudinally opposite edge (13) of the tray.

6. An optical device according to claim 5, wherein the control system (10) is configured such that the arm makes at least two complete revolutions, and preferably at least three complete revolutions, when passing the tray (3) under the optical device, from the edge (12) of the tray to the longitudinally opposite edge (13) of the tray.

7. Optical device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the movable support (5) comprises a means for longitudinal translation of the optical sensor and a means for transverse translation of the optical sensor, and in that the control system is configured so as to immobilize the container on the conveyor device (1) in a predetermined position and, when the container is thus immobilized, to control a movement of the optical sensor (4) above the container (3) along a racetrack trajectory.

8. Optical device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the movable support (5) comprises a means (6) for adjusting the distance between the optical sensor (4) and the upper surface (2) of the conveying device (1).

9. Optical device according to claim 8, in which the adjustment means (6) is motorized.

10. Optical device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the optical sensor (4) comprises a near infrared spectrophotometer.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the optical sensor (4) comprises a 2D camera, a 3D camera, a laser sensor, or a thermal camera.

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