Device and system for monitoring the risk of infestation in a grain storage environment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a trap device (1000) for pests in a grain storage environment comprising an elongated hollow body (1100) having a middle portion (1110) comprising a plurality of openings (1112) and a lower portion (1120), the middle portion (1110) and the lower portion (1120) being connected by a non-return opening system (1200), said device comprising an on-board electronic module comprising at least one sensor (1310) configured to generate at least one risk data item containing at least one information item representative of a risk of infestation in the trapping zone (1121) and wireless transmission means (1320) configured to transmit said at least one risk data item to a remote electronic entity (2000).

Description

Title of the invention: Device and system for monitoring the risk of infestation in a grain storage environment Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pest control.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a device and a system for monitoring of an infestation risk to identify factors of pest proliferation in a grain storage environment.

[0003] By risk of infestation within the meaning of the present invention, is meant throughout the following description any element making it possible to characterize the presence, species, number and / or conditions favorable to the establishment and / or development of a population of insect pests, in particular weevils.

[0004] The present invention will thus find numerous advantageous applications in the field of food safety, and in particular in the remote and long-term monitoring of grain silos. State of the art

[0005] The Applicant observes that the long-term storage of cereals, in particular grains or rice, represents a risk of infiltration of pests, in particular weevil-type insect pests, which reproduce within the cereal.

[0006] Monitoring stored cereals is therefore essential to preserve stocks and to avoid the proliferation of pests.

[0007] To detect harmful insects, it is already known to use a variety of insect traps in or around storage areas. Such traps alone do not protect a grain store, but provide personnel with a visual indicator of the presence of insects, prompting the use of pest control solutions, particularly via storage pesticides.

[0008] This use of storage pesticides occasionally allows the elimination of the majority of pests, but their excessive use represents a health risk, increased toxicity to the environment and leads to the appearance of more resistant pest species.

[0009] The insect trap solutions currently proposed are therefore limited to providing an indicator of the presence of insects, which must be manually recorded by on-site personnel. The personnel present at grain storage sites is itself limited, in particular for economic reasons resulting from reduced storage margins.

[0010] The Applicant therefore submits that there is currently no satisfactory alternative solution allowing remote monitoring of a risk of infestation making it possible to minimize the personnel, pesticides and means used to avoid the proliferation of pests within a grain silo. Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to improve the current situation described above.

[0012] The present invention aims more particularly to remedy the above drawbacks- above by offering a solution capable of detecting parameters associated with a risk of infestation and transmitting them to prompt an appropriate response.

[0013] To this end, the subject of the present invention relates in a first aspect to an insect trap device comprising an elongated hollow body having a middle portion comprising a plurality of openings opening into an internal volume of the middle portion defining an insect capture zone and a lower portion whose internal volume defines an insect trapping zone, the middle portion and the lower portion being connected by a non-return opening system.

[0014] In other words, the hollow body, for example cylindrical in shape, is designed so that the insects enter the capture zone by passing through one of the openings in the middle portion, then enter the trapping zone via the non-return system, which blocks or slows down their exit from the trapping zone. The insects may be attracted into the capture zone and / or into the trapping zone by a plurality of means known to those skilled in the art, for example by the use of pheromones or other compositions arranged in the trapping zone and attracting the insects and / or by a gravity trapping system in which the hollow body extends in a substantially vertical direction, the trapping zone being arranged under the capture zone and the insects being caused to fall into or towards the trapping zone.

[0015] The openings have, for example, a round shape with a diameter of between 2 mm and 5 mm, preferably 2.5 mm, or an oval shape with dimensions substantially equal to 4 mm by 2 mm.

[0016] Obviously, the openings are sized to suit the pest whose presence is suspected and according to any performance associated with a specific shape or dimension.

[0017] It is understood here that the non-return system facilitates the passage of insects from the capture zone to the trapping zone and slows down or prevents the passage from the trapping zone to the capture zone. It may in particular be a membrane separating the middle and lower portions and having a funnel shape whose flared part is oriented towards the capture zone and the narrowed part is oriented towards the zone trapping. The trapping area may additionally comprise other means known to those skilled in the art for retaining insects, for example an internal surface coated with an adhesive substance.

[0018] Advantageously, the device comprises an on-board electronic module comprising at least one detection sensor configured to capture at least one piece of information representative of a risk of infestation in the trapping zone and generate at least one piece of risk data containing the at least one piece of information.

[0019] It is understood here that the risk data may correspond to an aggregation of at least one piece of information or even to the result of processing of at least one piece of information, with the aim of identifying factors of proliferation of pests.

[0020] Advantageously, the on-board electronic module comprises wireless transmission means configured to transmit the at least one risk data item to a remote electronic entity.

[0021] The remote electronic entity may correspond to a server or a database dedicated to monitoring the risk of infestation associated with one or more devices, to a personal electronic entity such as a laptop or smartphone or even to a relay in communication with such a remote electronic entity.

[0022] Thanks to the present invention, the risk of infestation of a given environment by harmful insects can be monitored remotely from in situ means.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electronic module comprises a control circuit for the at least one sensor configured to control the capture of information according to a determined capture frequency.

[0024] In other words, the control circuit makes it possible to trigger the activation of the at least one sensor once per determined period, thus making it possible to keep the at least one sensor in a standby state or equivalent the rest of the time. This design limits the device's energy consumption and increases its autonomy.

[0025] Preferably the capture frequency is substantially equal to one capture per day.

[0026] This frequency allows for sufficient monitoring while limiting the associated energy consumption as much as possible. It is also possible to design a minimum frequency of one capture every 7 days or a frequency outside of activity periods of one capture every 14 days in winter to ensure minimal monitoring allowing for preventive actions while taking into account the seasonality of the risks of insect proliferation.

[0027] In a specific embodiment, the at least one risk data item contains:

[0028] - information representative of a visual representation of the risk area trapping; and / or

[0029] - information representative of the presence of insects; and / or

[0030] - information representative of a number of said insects; and / or

[0031] - information representative of a filling rate of the trapping zone; and / Or

[0032] - information representative of an ambient temperature; and / or

[0033] - information representative of ambient humidity.

[0034] It is understood here that the at least one risk data item comprises one or more of these pieces of information in combination according to the number and type of sensors used as well as according to a possible processing of the representative information item(s) allowing the generation of additional representative information.

[0035] In a particular embodiment, the at least one sensor comprises:

[0036] - a camera; and / or

[0037] - a thermal sensor; and / or

[0038] - a vibration sensor; and / or

[0039] - a sound sensor; and / or

[0040] - a hygrometer.

[0041] It is understood here that, for example, the camera makes it possible to provide at least one piece of information representative of a visual representation of the trapping volume, and that the thermal sensor makes it possible to provide at least one piece of information representative of an ambient temperature.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will understand that the constituent elements of the at least one sensor can be selected according to their individual performances or according to their respective synergies to assess a risk of infestation. For example, the camera makes it possible to determine the presence of insects in the trapping volume, which can be combined with a temperature measured by the thermal sensor to assess whether the environment is favorable to their reproduction.

[0043] In an additional embodiment, the at least one sensor is disposed in the trapping zone.

[0044] This design makes it possible to obtain direct information from within the trapping zone while minimizing the risk of interference from elements external to the trapping zone. For example, the camera obtains an unobstructed view of the trapping zone. Of course, other sensors that do not specifically require obtaining information associated with the trapping zone can be arranged at any other suitable location on the device.

[0045] In another embodiment which can be combined with the previous embodiment, the non-return opening system comprises means for fixing the at least one sensor.

[0046] It is understood here that the sensor can be fixed to a wall of the non-return system on the side of the trapping zone, which facilitates the assembly of the elements and limits the size of the trapping zone by the at least one sensor.

[0047] Preferably, the non-return opening system has a funnel shape comprising a channel, the fixing means being arranged in the channel.

[0048] This design makes it possible, for example, to facilitate counting insects entering the trapping zone, by detecting a disturbance associated with the passage of an insect, for example a vibration or a variation in light intensity.

[0049] In an additional embodiment, the body comprises in the upper portion a storage area configured to house at least one electronic component of the electronic module from among the following:

[0050] - the transmission means; and / or

[0051] - the control circuit; and / or

[0052] - a battery type power supply.

[0053] It is understood that the storage area allows electronic equipment to be loaded into the device without hindering the trapping of insects. Obviously, other variants of positioning of the storage area can also be designed depending on the desired overall shape of the device and the criteria associated with the capture, trapping and storage areas.

[0054] The presence of an on-board battery makes it possible to ensure the autonomy of the device over a certain period depending on its energy consumption, without constraints of the energy network or external conditions.

[0055] Preferably, the storage area comprises at least one positioning pin configured for receiving and positioning the at least one electronic component.

[0056] This design makes it easier to assemble the device by precisely pre-sizing each pin and associated electronic component. The at least one positioning pin additionally makes it possible to fix the at least one electronic component in a stable manner to secure the handling of the device and increase its lifespan.

[0057] The positioning pin can also be replaced by at least one fin and / or rib in the storage area depending on the design of the device and fulfilling an identical function.

[0058] In an additional embodiment, the capture zone and the storage zone are separated from each other by a partition preventing the passage of insects to the storage zone.

[0059] It is understood here that the storage area is isolated from the external environment and from the rest of the device in order to prevent infiltration of insects which could damage the at least one electronic component.

[0060] In an additional embodiment in which the at least one sensor is arranged in the trapping zone, the middle portion of the body comprises at least one guide sized for the passage of at least one cable ensuring the electronic connection between the at least one sensor and the other components of the on-board electronic module.

[0061] It is understood here that the at least one cable makes it possible to provide an electrical power supply to the at least one sensor, as well as the transmission of information in both directions, for example a command to activate the control circuit towards a sensor and a signal from the sensor in the opposite direction.

[0062] It is additionally understood that the position of the at least one cable in the body is previously defined by the position in the body of the at least one associated sensor, of the other components of the electronic module and of any openings in the partition and / or the anti-return system for the passage of the at least one cable.

[0063] The guide corresponds for example to one or more lateral channels provided in the body of the device or to point fixing means provided on the internal surface of the hollow body or held in the center of the hollow body.

[0064] In a particular embodiment, the body is produced by molding or by machining.

[0065] The person skilled in the art understands here that manufacturing by molding, for example plastic injection molding, makes it possible to produce a hollow body or a part of a hollow body to be assembled with a reduced cost over large series, while manufacturing by machining makes it possible to produce parts of more complex shapes to obtain specific functionalities, for example from profiled tubes. The body can be produced in several parts capable of being assembled and allowing the housing of elements such as the electronic module, for example by producing two complementary half-shells.

[0066] In a specific embodiment, the at least one sensor is of the camera type and is configured to capture at least one image of the trapping zone and in which the trapping zone is made of a material having a low coefficient of light reflection avoiding the presence of reflections on the lens of the camera.

[0067] It is understood here that the internal surface of the trapping zone is designed so as to improve the quality of the image received by the camera. The material of the surface, or possibly of a coating on this surface, is thus chosen so as to minimize reflections on the lens of the camera, in particular if this camera is equipped with LED type diodes configured to light up during shooting.

[0068] The background of the trapping area may also be designed to improve the quality of the visual representation, in particular by having a shape allowing the insects to spread out. The background may also have a light or transparent color, preferably white, making it possible to optimize the visual contrast with the insects.

[0069] In yet another embodiment, the lower portion of the body has a plurality of graduations along its length.

[0070] This design makes it possible to facilitate the image processing operations described below, for example to better evaluate the filling rate of the trapping zone or to estimate the number of trapped insects.

[0071] In another embodiment, the lower portion of the body has a narrowed and elongated shape facilitating the measurement of a filling rate of the trapping volume.

[0072] This design also makes it easier to estimate a trap filling rate, while maintaining a simple shape that does not require an additional manufacturing step.

[0073] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a system for monitoring the risk of infestation within a grain storage environment, which comprises at least one trap device according to the first aspect of the invention integrated into the storage environment, a remote electronic entity configured to collect at least one risk data item generated by the at least one device and transmit the at least one risk data item collected to a remote server.

[0074] The at least one device is for example introduced into a stock of cereals so that the capture zone and the trapping zone are completely buried in the cereals and the storage zone is at least partially exposed to the outside to facilitate the sending of the at least one risk data item by the transmission means without interference due to the environment.

[0075] It is understood here that the remote electronic entity serves as a relay between the at least one device and the remote server. The remote electronic entity is for example integrated into or near the grain storage environment and is directly connected to an electrical network so as to facilitate communication from the at least one device without constraining the transmission of the at least one risk data to the remote server.

[0076] The remote electronic entity may additionally include internal storage means, for example to group together a plurality of risk data over time before transmission to the remote server.

[0077] As stated above, the remote server may correspond to a server or database for monitoring infestation risk within at least one environment. storage for aggregating risk data from at least one device over time, providing access to the risk data via an application, and / or performing additional processing operations on the risk data.

[0078] The at least one device, the remote electronic entity and the remote server can communicate using a wireless communication mode, for example using radio communication technology. The remote electronic entity creates, for example, a local wireless communication network on which the at least one device is capable of transmitting information.

[0079] Preferably, the at least one sensor is of the camera type and is configured to capture at least one image of the trapping zone and the electronic module comprises image processing means implementing an image processing algorithm configured to: - detect the presence of insects; and / or - identify at least one species associated with insects; and / or - count insects; and / or - estimate a filling rate of the trapping zone.

[0080] It is understood here that the image processing means are selected according to energy consumption criteria so as to limit as much as possible the total energy required by the at least one device to process and transmit the at least one risk data item.

[0081] Obviously, the remote server and / or the remote electronic entity can also implement all or part of the image processing means according to the respective capabilities of the at least one device, the remote electronic entity and the remote server.

[0082] The image processing algorithm may correspond to any means well known to those skilled in the art, for example a machine learning algorithm focused on object recognition and carried out by a neural network. Such an algorithm makes it possible to analyze complex images while gradually improving the speed and accuracy of the analysis. The neural network may additionally be selected according to criteria associated with energy consumption or the quality of the processed image.

[0083] Thus, by the various functional and structural technical characteristics above, the Applicant proposes an insect trap device allowing the generation and transmission of at least one risk data item for remote monitoring of the risk of infestation of a storage environment by pests. Brief description of the figures

[0084] The characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description below with reference to the appended figures 1 to 6 illustrating a plurality of exemplary embodiments which are devoid of any limiting character and in which:

[0085] [Fig.l]

[0086] [Fig.l] shows a schematic sectional view of an insect trap device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] [Fig.2]

[0088] [Fig.2] represents a schematic sectional view of a lower portion of an insect trap device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0089] [Fig.3]

[0090] [Fig.3] represents a schematic front view of a guide sized for the passage of at least one cable included in a device according to [Fig.l].

[0091] [Fig.4]

[0092] [Fig.4] represents a schematic front view of another guide sized for the passage of at least one cable included in a device according to [Fig.l].

[0093] [Fig.5]

[0094] [Fig.5] represents an on-board electronic module included in a device according to [Fig.l].

[0095] [Fig.6]

[0096] [Fig.6] represents a schematic view of an infestation risk monitoring system comprising at least one device in accordance with [Fig.1]. Detailed description

[0097] The present invention will now be described in the following with reference to Figures 1 to 6 attached to the description.

[0098] As indicated in the preamble to the description, current insect trap solutions alone do not prevent their proliferation within a storage environment, and local management of pest control operations is constrained by available personnel and the location of the storage environment.

[0099] One of the objectives of the present invention is to collect on-site data relevant to such management, taking into account the lack of accessibility of traps on a daily basis.

[0100] This is made possible in the example described below.

[0101] It will be understood here that this example is not limiting and that the invention will find other applications for the control of pests in other environments, for example around vulnerable crops.

[0102] According to the example of [Fig. 6], a plurality of devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c developed herein are introduced into a grain stock 4100 of a storage environment 4000, for example a grain stock 4100 vulnerable to an infestation of weevil-type insects. The devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c may be designed specifically to trap these insects and have a structure similar to the device 1000 as illustrated in [Fig. 1].

[0103] This device 1000 comprises a hollow and elongate body 1100 extending along an axis X, for example a substantially vertical axis X, the body 1100 comprising a middle portion 1110, a lower portion 1120 and an upper portion 1130. This body 1100 is for example made in several complementary parts by a molding operation, for example plastic injection molding, by a machining operation or even by a combination of such operations. Obviously, the production method will mainly be selected according to economic criteria linked to the size of the manufacturing series and / or to the manufacturing constraints imposed by the design of the body 1100.

[0104] The middle portion 1110 has a plurality of openings 1112 capable of allowing insects to pass towards the capture zone 1111 defined by the internal volume of the middle portion 1110. The openings 1112 have, for example, a shape and dimensions known to those skilled in the art to facilitate the capture of weevils, for example a round shape with a diameter of 2.5 mm, an oval shape with a diameter of 4 mm by 2 mm or any other suitable shape.

[0105] As illustrated by figures 1 and 2, this middle portion 1110 is connected to the lower portion 1120 by a non-return opening system 1200, which has for example a funnel shape comprising a channel 1220 ([Fig.2]) oriented towards the lower portion 1120. This non-return opening system makes it possible to facilitate or free the passage of insects from the capture zone 1111 to a trapping zone 1121 defined by the internal volume of the lower portion 1120, while limiting or preventing the passage of insects in the other direction.

[0106] Optionally, the trapping of insects may be facilitated by a variety of means, for example by a vertical design of the body 1100 positioning the trapping zone 1121 below the capture zone 1111 and allowing gravity trapping, by the application of an anti-adherent substance on the internal walls of the middle portion 1110, by the arrangement of baits, pheromones or the like in the trapping zone 1121 and / or the capture zone 1111 or by a combination of these means.

[0107] It is understood here that the association of the capture zone 1111 with the trapping zone 1121 via the non-return opening system 1200 ensures the operation of the insect trap. It is obviously possible to envisage other designs of the body 1100 combining these three elements and making it possible to adapt the trapping functionality according to a variety of constraints without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0108] In addition to the function of trapping insects from the grain stock 4100, the device 1000 comprises an electronic module 1300, for example the electronic module 1300 illustrated in [Fig.5] comprising a plurality of elements. The elements of the electronic module 1300, for example the elements 1310, 1320, 1330, 1340, 1350 and 1360, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete electronic components.

[0109] Thus, the electronic module 1300 comprises at least one sensor 1310 configured to return information representative of a risk of infestation, for example a camera-type sensor associated with a temperature sensor configured to return information representative of a visual representation of the trapping zone 1121 and at least one information representative of an ambient temperature, for example the temperature of the trapping zone 1121 or of the cereal stock 4100. This representative information can be grouped in the form of at least one risk data item, which is returned by the at least one sensor 1310.

[0110] According to the example of Figures 1 and 2, the at least one sensor 1310 can be arranged directly in the trapping zone 1121. For example, a camera-type sensor 1310 can be designed oriented towards the bottom 1122 of the trapping zone 1121. In this example, the trapping zone 1121 can additionally be designed so as to optimize the quality of the image received by the camera, in particular by having an internal surface composed of a low-reflective material to limit the effects of light reflection on the camera lens, by designing a bottom 1122 facilitating the spreading of the insects and / or having a white or transparent color to improve the contrast with the insects, by graduating the trapping zone 1121 or by designing a trapping zone 1121 of a particularly elongated shape to follow the trapping of new insects over time.

[0111] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the non-return opening system may comprise fixing means 1210 of the at least one sensor 1310. Obviously, the fixing means 1210 are arranged according to the desired positioning and orientation of the at least one sensor 1310. According to another design, the fixing means 1210 can be arranged in the channel 1220 of the non-return opening system 1200, for example to center the at least one sensor 1310 in the trapping zone 1121 or to orient it in the channel 1220 so that the passage of an insect activates the at least one sensor 1310 for counting the insects.

[0112] The electronic module 1300 additionally comprises wireless transmission means 1320 configured to transfer the at least one data item from risk to a remote electronic entity 2000. As illustrated by [Fig.6], the remote electronic entity 2000 may be a fixed relay integrated into the storage environment 4000 configured to collect the risk data from the devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c and transfer them to a remote server 3000 within a system 10000 for monitoring an infestation risk. The wireless communication between the devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c, the remote electronic entity 2000 and the remote server 3000 uses for example a communication mode based on a radiocommunication technology such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, LTE (Long-Term Evolution) or LTE-Advanced, preferably according to a private communication channel and the wireless transmission means 1320 comprise for example a radiofrequency RF interface of the respective type.

[0113] Obviously, the wireless communication of the devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c to the remote electronic entity 2000 and the wireless communication of the remote electronic entity 2000 to the remote server 3000 may use different technologies adapted to local constraints. The remote electronic entity may for example create a local communication network allowing the collection of data from the devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c according to a short-range communication consuming limited energy, and communicate with the remote server 3000 according to a less restricted long-range communication mode.

[0114] According to the monitoring system 10000 illustrated in [Fig.6], the remote server 3000 then makes it possible to group together the risk data associated with a plurality of devices 1000a, 1000b and 1000c associated with a storage environment 4000 and to make them accessible to a user of the type responsible or manager of the storage environment 4000, for example via a dedicated application, to allow remote monitoring of the risk of infestation of the storage environment 4000 and for example to manage the preventive and / or corrective actions resulting from this risk data. It is also possible to design a monitoring system 10000 comprising a remote server 3000 in communication with a plurality of relays 2000 respectively associated with a plurality of storage environments 4000 in order to centralize the risk data even more and allow simultaneous control of the plurality of storage environments 4000.

[0115] As illustrated in [Fig.5], the electronic module 1300 may comprise other elements fulfilling auxiliary functions to the at least one sensor 1310 and to the transmission means 1320. In particular, the electronic module 1300 may comprise a control circuit 1330 configured to control the capture of information from the at least one sensor 1310, for example by an activation command of the at least one sensor 1310 according to a capture frequency. This capture frequency will be determined so as to save as much as possible the energy consumption of the electronic module 1300 while providing risk data frequently enough to monitor the evolution of the grain stock 4100 and allow the timely implementation of preventive and / or corrective actions by the user. The capture frequency can for example be set at one capture every 7 days during periods of activity and / or reproduction of the weevil and at one capture every 14 days outside this period. In a safer design, the capture frequency can also be set at one capture per day. Obviously, the capture frequency can be variable within the framework of a plurality of sensors 1310, for example one capture every two hours for a temperature sensor associated with one capture every day for a camera-type sensor.

[0116] According to a particular design illustrated in [Fig.5], the transmission means 1320 and the control circuit 1330 can be included in an electronic card 1370, for example an electronic card comprising a processor, integrated memory, an input / output interface allowing communication with the other electronic components of the electronic module 1300 and various circuits known to those skilled in the art, the integrated memory storing the computer code of the embedded software or software comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor, in particular the instructions making it possible to determine the capture frequency.

[0117] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the electronic card 1370 is for example arranged in a storage area 1131 defined by the internal volume of the upper portion 1130. In a vertical design of the body 1100, this positioning makes it possible to introduce the device 1000 into the stock of cereals 4100 so that the upper portion 1130 is at least partially exposed outside the cereals. The operation of the transmission means 1320 is then simplified.

[0118] Optionally, the storage area 1131 is connected to the capture area 1111 and to the rest of the body 1100 by a partition 1400, which makes it possible to isolate the storage volume 1131 from the capture area 1111 and to prevent the introduction of insects that could disrupt the operation of the electronic card 1370. Other electronic components can be positioned in the storage area 1131, in particular a battery 1340 ensuring the autonomy of the electronic module 1300. This battery 1340 is sized so as to achieve a predefined level of autonomy according to the expected consumption of the electronic module 1300 and in particular the capture frequency, preferably an autonomy of one year.

[0119] The storage area 1131 may additionally comprise positioning pins 1132 intended to receive the electronic components, for example the battery 1340 illustrated in [Fig.l]. Such positioning pins make it possible to facilitate assembly of the device by the user by indicating and securing the placement of electronic components in the device 1000.

[0120] In addition to the design of the electronic module 1300 according to several discrete electronic components, these can be connected by at least one cable 1350 ensuring the transfer of energy and information. The device 1000 can in particular be designed so as to allow the passage of a cable 1350 from the storage zone 1131 to the trapping zone 1121 by providing openings in the partition 1400 and the non-return opening system 1200 sized to obstruct the passage of insects when the cable 1350 is positioned there. The middle portion 1110 may additionally comprise at least one guide 1113a, 1113b as illustrated in figures 3 and 4 allowing the passage of the cable 1350. This guide 1113a, 1113b may correspond to a central guide 1113a held in position by at least one arm 1114 ([Fig.3]) allowing the cable 1350 to pass through the center of the capture zone 1111 without blocking the openings 1112 or even to at least one lateral chute 1113b ([Fig.4]) freeing up the largest possible volume of the capture zone 1111. Other means of guiding the cable 1350 can also be designed, in particular using clips or fixing hooks arranged on the internal wall of the middle portion 1110.

[0121] Finally, in the example of a camera-type sensor 1310, the electronic module 1300 may comprise image processing means 1360 configured to process the information representative of a visual representation of the trapping zone 1121. These image processing means 1360 may be included in the electronic card 1370 or, as stated above, correspond to a discrete electronic component arranged in the storage zone 1131.

[0122] The image processing means 1360 implement at least one image processing algorithm known from the state of the art, for example a neural network of the CNN type (“Convolutional Neural Network” or in French “Convolutional Neural Network”) or of any other appropriate type. This neural network may have passed a learning step from a library of “labeled” images representative of a trapping zone including or not insects of species likely to be encountered or from raw data depending on the means used, the examples available and the degree of precision achievable.The image processing algorithm, once trained, can return a plurality of values ​​representative of a risk of infestation, for example a value representative of a presence of insects, a value representative of a species associated with the insects, a value representative of a number of identified insects, a value representative of a filling rate of the trapping zone 1121, or any other representative value usable for the estimation of a risk of infestation. The values ​​returned by the . image processing means may subsequently be included in the risk data transmitted by the wireless transmission means 1320.

[0123] Of course, depending on the energy consumption associated with image processing and the transmission of the risk data or even depending on the available memory of the electronic module 1300, the remote electronic entity 2000 and / or the server 3000 can implement all or part of the image processing means 1360 in place of the device 1000 so that the autonomy of the device 1000 is maximized.

[0124] Additional processing operations resulting from the at least one risk data item and allowing monitoring of the risk of infestation of the storage environment 4000 can also be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, for example a processing operation taking into account the activation of the at least one sensor 1310 and / or the detection of at least one insect, combined with information representative of ambient temperature and / or the period of the year considered to estimate a risk indicator associated with the device 1000. The algorithm used to carry out such a processing operation naturally varies according to the at least one risk data item, the particularities of the pest species considered and the final information to be delivered to the user.

[0125] Thus, it will be understood that the present invention provides an insect trap device allowing the generation and transmission of at least one risk data item so as to remotely provide appropriate information to a user of the type responsible or manager of a storage environment comprising a stock of cereals. The user can then remotely monitor the health status of the stock of cereals in order to facilitate the management of pest control operations. This device can be included in a communication network at the scale of a storage environment comprising several devices in communication with a remote electronic entity of the relay type, or at the scale of several storage environments comprising a server in communication with the respectively associated remote electronic entities.

[0126] It should be noted that this detailed description relates to a particular embodiment of the present invention, but that in no case does this description have any limiting character with respect to the subject of the invention; on the contrary, its objective is to remove any possible imprecision or any misinterpretation of the claims which follow.

[0127] It should also be noted that the reference signs placed in parentheses in the following claims are in no way limiting; these signs have the sole purpose of improving the intelligibility and understanding of the following claims as well as the scope of the protection sought.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1000) for trapping insects in a grain storage environment comprising an elongated hollow body (1100) having: - a middle portion (1110) comprising a plurality of openings (1112) opening into an internal volume of said middle portion (1110) defining a capture zone (1111) for said insects; - a lower portion (1120) whose internal volume defines a trapping zone (1121) for said insects, said middle portion (1110) and said lower portion (1120) being connected by a non-return opening system (1200), said device (1000) being characterized in that it comprises an on-board electronic module (1300) comprising: a) at least one detection sensor (1310) configured to capture at least one piece of information representative of a risk of infestation in said trapping zone (1121) and generate at least one piece of risk data containing said at least one piece of information;and b) wireless transmission means (1320) configured to transmit said at least one risk data item to a remote electronic entity (2000), and in that said at least one sensor (1310) is of the camera type and is configured to capture at least one image of the trapping zone (1121), said trapping zone (1121) being made of a material having a low coefficient of light reflection avoiding the presence of reflections on the lens of said camera.;

2. Device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein said electronic module (1300) comprises a control circuit (1330) for said at least one sensor (1310) configured to control said information capture according to a determined capture frequency.

3. Device (1000) according to claim 2, wherein said capture frequency is substantially equal to one capture per day.

4. Device (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which said at least one risk data item contains: - information representative of a visual representation of said trapping zone (1121); and / or - information representative of a presence of said insects; and / or - information representative of a number of said insects; and / or - information representative of a filling rate of said trapping zone (1121); and / or - information representative of an ambient temperature; and / or - information representative of an ambient humidity.

5. Device (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one sensor (1310) comprises: - a camera; and / or - a thermal sensor; and / or - a vibration sensor; and / or - a sound sensor; and / or - a hygrometer.

6. Device (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one sensor (1310) is arranged in said trapping zone (1121).

7. Device (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said non-return opening system (1200) comprises means (1210) for fixing said at least one sensor (1310).

8. Device (1000) according to claim 7, wherein said non-return opening system (1200) has a funnel shape comprising a channel (1220), said fixing means (1210) being arranged in said channel (1220).

9. Device (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said body (1100) comprises in the upper portion (1130) a storage area (1131) configured to house at least one electronic component of said electronic module (1300) among the following: - said transmission means (1320); and / or - said control circuit (1330); and / or - a battery-type power supply (1340).

10. Device (1000) according to claim 9, wherein said storage area (1131) comprises at least one positioning pin (1132) configured for receiving and positioning said at least one electronic component.

11. Device (1000) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said capture area (1111) and said storage area (1131) are separated from each other by a partition (1400) preventing the passage of said insects towards said storage area (1131).

12. Device (1000) according to one of claims 9 to 11 in combination with claim 6, wherein said middle portion (1110) of said body (1100) comprises at least one guide (1113a, 1113b) sized for the passage of at least one cable (1350) ensuring the electronic connection between said at least one sensor (1310) and the other components of said on-board electronic module (1300).

13. A device (1000) according to any preceding claim, wherein said body (1100) is made by casting or machining.

14. A device (1000) according to any preceding claim, wherein said lower portion (1120) of said body (1100) has a plurality of graduations along its length.

15. Device (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lower portion (1120) of said body (1100) has a narrowed and elongated shape facilitating the measurement of a filling rate of said trapping volume (1121).

16. System (10000) for monitoring the risk of infestation within a grain storage environment (4000), which comprises at least one trap device (1000a, 1000b, 1000c) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 integrated into said storage environment (4000), a remote electronic entity (2000) configured to collect at least one risk data item generated by said at least one device (1000a, 1000b, 1000c) and transmit said at least one collected risk data item to a remote server (3000).

17. Tracking system (10000) according to claim 16, wherein said at least one sensor (1310) is of the camera type and is configured to capture at least one image of said trapping area (1121) and wherein said electronic module (1300) comprises image processing means (1360) implementing an image processing algorithm configured to: - detect the presence of said insects; and / or - identify at least one species associated with said insects; and / or - count said insects; and / or - estimate a filling rate of said trapping area (1121).

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