Insect yield prediction device

Abstract

To provide an insect yield prediction device in which prediction accuracy is improved.SOLUTION: An insect yield prediction device 10 calculates a prediction yield EY in harvest time of crickets C that are bred in a breeding device 20. The prediction device 10 includes: an initial information acquisition part 11 which acquires initial information II concerning crickets C when the crickets C are input in the breeding device 20; a breeding condition acquisition part 12 which acquires the breeding condition BC of crickets C; a parameter determination part 13 which determines current parameter CP concerning the current breeding condition CBC, based on the current breeding condition CBC in the breeding of crickets C and on the data base DB; and a yield calculation part 14 which calculates prediction yield EY from the current initial information CII and the current parameter CP.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an insect yield prediction device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a breeding device for breeding crickets, a type of insect. It describes that the breeding device provides a container in which absorbent cotton soaked in water is placed in the breeding container to provide water to the crickets, and provides a large number of lightly rolled up newspapers in the breeding container so that the crickets can hide in the shade. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-191834 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In producing insects, it may be necessary to predict the yield of insects in order to make a production plan for the insects. For example, it is possible to predict the yield of insects based on the number of insects to be introduced into a breeding device and parameters that are determined in advance based on past experience.

[0005] However, the yield of insects can vary depending on the type and amount of feed, and rearing conditions such as the temperature and humidity of the rearing device, etc. For this reason, when predicting the yield of insects based on predetermined parameters, there is a concern that the prediction accuracy will be low.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide an insect harvest prediction device with improved prediction accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is An insect harvest prediction device that calculates a predicted harvest yield at the time of harvesting of insects raised in a rearing device having a rearing area in which a plurality of insects are raised, an initial information acquisition unit that acquires initial information about the insects when the insects are introduced into the breeding device; A breeding condition acquisition unit that acquires breeding conditions for the insect; A storage device storing a database including the past rearing conditions in the rearing of the insects, and past parameters describing the relationship between past initial information in the rearing of the insects and past harvest yields in the rearing of the insects; a parameter determination unit that determines current parameters related to the current rearing conditions based on the current rearing conditions in the rearing of the insect and the database; The insect harvest prediction device includes a harvest calculation unit that calculates the predicted harvest from the current initial information and the current parameters in the rearing of the insects. Effect of the Invention

[0008] Since the current parameters used to calculate the predicted yield are determined based on past rearing conditions and a database, the prediction accuracy of the predicted insect yield can be improved compared to when the predicted yield is calculated based on predetermined parameters. As described above, an insect yield prediction device with improved prediction accuracy can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of an insect harvest prediction device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an insect harvest prediction device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4]5 is a graph showing changes in survival rate and individual weight at harvest for each production lot in the insect harvest yield prediction device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the insect harvest prediction device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a database according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Embodiment 1) The present invention is an insect yield prediction device that calculates a predicted yield of a plurality of insects bred in a breeding device. The insects according to this embodiment are not particularly limited, and may be ones that undergo complete metamorphosis or ones that undergo incomplete metamorphosis when they grow. Insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis are insects whose larvae and adults have similar shapes and that metamorphose from larvae to adults by repeatedly molting without going through a pupal period. For example, Orthoptera can be suitably used as insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Examples of Orthoptera include crickets, locusts, and grasshoppers. In this embodiment, crickets are exemplified. In the following description, some of the same components may be given reference symbols, and the reference symbols may be omitted for other components.

[0011] 1. Configuration of insect harvest prediction device 10 As shown in FIG. 1, an insect harvest prediction device 10 according to this embodiment calculates a predicted harvest EY of a plurality of crickets C reared in a rearing device 20. The rearing device 20 is used for rearing crickets C. The shape of the rearing device 20 is not particularly limited, and any shape can be appropriately adopted. The rearing device 20 according to this embodiment is formed in a box shape that opens upward. The inside of the rearing device 20 is a rearing area 20a in which the crickets C are housed and reared. A water supplying means (not shown) for providing water to the crickets C and a feeding means for providing food are arranged in the rearing area 20a of the rearing device 20.

[0012] When the crickets C grow to a predetermined stage in the rearing device 20, they are transferred from the rearing device 20 to a shipping container 50 and shipped. The shipping container 50 is not particularly limited and includes a container body 51 that opens upward and a lid 52 that closes the opening of the container body 51. The container body 51 and the lid 52 are configured to be lockable by a locking means (not shown). After the crickets C are housed in the container body 51, the crickets C are shipped in a state in which the lid 52 and the container body 51 are locked by the locking means.

[0013] 2 shows the configuration of an insect harvest prediction device 10 according to this embodiment. The insect harvest prediction device 10 calculates a predicted harvest EY at the time of harvest based on information about crickets C to be put into the rearing area 20a of the rearing device 20. The insect harvest prediction device 10 includes an initial information acquisition unit 11, a rearing condition acquisition unit 12, a parameter determination unit 13, a harvest calculation unit 14, and a storage device 15.

[0014] The insect harvest prediction device 10 acquires various information from an operator via an input device 30. The insect harvest prediction device 10 also teaches information to the operator via a teaching device 40. The input device 30 is not particularly limited, and any device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, or a voice input device can be appropriately selected. The teaching device 40 is not particularly limited, and any device such as a liquid crystal display or a tablet terminal can be appropriately selected.

[0015] The storage device 15 stores the current initial information CII, the current rearing conditions CBC, the current parameters CP, the predicted harvest amount EY, and the database DB. The storage device 15 is not particularly limited, and any storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive can be appropriately selected.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 3, the database DB is composed of past rearing conditions PBC in the past rearing of cricket C and past parameters PP. The past parameters PP describe the relationship between past initial information PII in the past rearing of cricket C and past harvest amount PY in the past rearing of cricket C. The past parameters PP are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the past survival rate PSR of cricket C in the rearing of cricket C and the past individual weight PW at harvest time in the rearing of cricket C are used.

[0017] The past survival rate PSR is defined as the ratio of crickets C that survived to the time of harvest among the crickets C introduced into the rearing device 20 in the past rearing of crickets C. The past individual weight at harvest PW is defined as the individual weight of crickets C at the time of harvest in the past rearing of crickets C.

[0018] The past individual weight PW at harvest may be calculated by dividing the total weight of crickets C at harvest by the total number of crickets C at harvest, or by sampling crickets C at harvest and dividing the total weight of the sampled crickets C by the number of sampled crickets C, or by recognizing crickets C from image data photographed at harvest using a known image recognition device and calculating based on the image data.

[0019] The past survival rates PSR and the past individual weights PW at harvest are calculated in advance and stored in the storage device 15 as a database DB.

[0020] The graph in Figure 4 shows the past survival rates PSR and past individual weights PW at harvest for each rearing lot of cricket C. The horizontal axis shows the rearing lot of cricket C. The vertical axis on the left shows the past survival rates PSR of cricket C. The vertical axis on the right shows the past individual weights PW at harvest. In the graph, solid symbols represent past survival rates PSR, and open symbols represent past individual weights PW at harvest. The database DB stores the past survival rates PSR and past individual weights PW at harvest for each rearing lot of cricket C.

[0021] In the graph shown in FIG. 4, the past survival rate PSR and the past individual weight PW at harvest increase as the rearing lot increases, but the relationship between the rearing lot and the past survival rate PSR and the past individual weight PW at harvest is not limited to this. For example, when the rearing lot increases in the process of searching for the optimal rearing conditions BC, the past survival rate PSR of the cricket C may decrease, or the past individual weight PW at harvest may decrease. In addition, the past survival rate PSR and the past individual weight PW at harvest may be independent of each other or may have a relationship. For example, when the past survival rate PSR decreases, the past individual weight PW at harvest may increase, and when the past survival rate PSR increases, the past individual weight PW at harvest may decrease.

[0022] The initial information acquisition unit 11 acquires initial information II about the crickets C when the crickets C are introduced into the rearing device 20. The initial information II is not particularly limited and can be any information such as the introduced weight, the number of crickets introduced, the type of crickets C, etc. The initial information II may be acquired via the input unit, or may be information detected by a detection device (not shown) arranged in the rearing device 20. The initial information II acquired by the initial information acquisition unit 11 is stored in the storage device 15 as the current initial information CII.

[0023] The rearing condition acquisition unit 12 acquires rearing conditions BC under which the crickets C are reared in the rearing device 20. The rearing conditions BC are not particularly limited, and may be one or more selected from the type of feed given to the crickets C, the installation location of the hiding place where the crickets C hide, the number of hiding places, the installation location of the feeding means for feeding the crickets C, the number of feeding means, the installation location of the water supplying means for giving water to the crickets C, the number of water supplying means, the humidity in the rearing device 20, the brightness in the rearing device 20, the color tone of the lighting device installed in the rearing device 20, the magnitude of the sound or vibration in the rearing device 20, etc. The rearing conditions BC can be acquired via the input device 30. The rearing conditions BC acquired by the rearing condition acquisition unit 12 are stored in the storage device 15 as the current rearing conditions CBC.

[0024] The parameter determination unit 13 determines a current parameter CP for the current rearing condition CBC based on the current rearing condition CBC and the database DB in the current rearing of the cricket C. The current parameter CP describes the relationship between the current initial information CII in the current rearing of the cricket C and the predicted harvest amount EY in the current rearing of the cricket C. The current parameter CP is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the current survival rate CSR of the cricket C in the rearing of the cricket C and the current individual weight CW at harvest in the rearing of the cricket C are used. The determined current parameter CP is stored in the storage device 15.

[0025] The harvest calculation unit 14 calculates the predicted harvest EY in the current rearing of the crickets C from the current initial information CII and the current parameters CP. The calculated predicted harvest EY is stored in the storage device 15.

[0026] When the current rearing of cricket C is completed, the current initial information CII is stored again in the storage device 15 as the past initial information PII, and the current rearing conditions CBC are stored again in the storage device 15 as the past rearing conditions PBC.

[0027] 2. Operation of the insect harvest prediction device 10 Next, the operation of the insect harvest prediction device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. However, the operation of the insect harvest prediction device 10 is not limited to the following description.

[0028] 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the insect harvest prediction device 10 of this embodiment. When the insect harvest prediction device 10 is started, the initial information acquisition unit 11 acquires current initial information CII about the crickets C when a plurality of crickets C are introduced into the rearing device 20 in the current rearing (S1). Examples of the current initial information CII include the weight of the crickets C introduced, the number of the crickets C introduced, and the type of the crickets C.

[0029] The weight of the crickets C introduced is obtained by measuring the total weight of all the crickets C introduced. The number of the crickets C introduced may be obtained by counting all the crickets C introduced. The number of the crickets C introduced may also be calculated by dividing the weight of all the crickets C introduced by the individual average body weight of the crickets C. The individual average body weight of the crickets C may be actually measured from all the crickets C introduced, or may be calculated for the sampled crickets C by sampling some of the crickets C introduced, or may be calculated based on the image data of the crickets C introduced by recognizing the crickets C using a known image recognition device.

[0030] Next, the rearing condition acquisition unit 12 acquires the current rearing conditions CBC for the rearing of the current cricket C (S2). The current rearing conditions CBC may be configured to be input from the input device 30, for example.

[0031] Next, the parameter determination unit 13 determines the current parameters CP related to the current rearing conditions CBC (S3). When the process of determining the current parameters CP is executed, the parameter determination unit 13 accesses a database DB related to past rearing of the cricket C. The parameter determination unit 13 accesses the database DB stored in the storage device 15 to acquire the past rearing conditions PBC and the past parameters PP.

[0032] In this embodiment, the parameter determination unit 13 determines the current survival rate CSR and the current individual weight CW at harvest as the current parameter CP. The current survival rate CSR is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the past survival rate PSR in the previous rearing of the cricket C. The current survival rate CSR may also be the average past survival rate PSR of any number of past rearings of the cricket C, and may be calculated by averaging the past five survival rates PSR. The current survival rate CSR may also be the average past survival rate PSR in the case of rearing under the same rearing conditions BC, and may be, for example, the average past survival rate PSR in the case of rearing with a specific feed. The current survival rate CSR may also be the average past survival rate PSR in the case of rearing under similar rearing conditions BC.

[0033] The current individual weight CW at harvest is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the past individual weight PW at harvest in the previous rearing of the cricket C. The current individual weight CW at harvest may be the average past individual weight PW at harvest of any number of past rearings of the cricket C, for example, the past five past individual weights PW at harvest. The current individual weight CW at harvest may be the past individual weight PW at harvest when reared under the same rearing conditions BC, for example, the past individual weight PW at harvest when reared with a specific feed. The current individual weight CW at harvest may be the past individual weight PW at harvest when reared under similar rearing conditions BC.

[0034] Next, the yield calculation unit 14 calculates the predicted yield EY from the current initial information CII and the calculated current parameters CP (S4). The method of calculating the predicted yield EY is not particularly limited, and it can be calculated, for example, by the following formula (1). Predicted yield EY = Number of fish put in × Current survival rate CSR × Current harvest weight CW (1)

[0035] In addition, the predicted harvest yield EY may be calculated based on a function having the number of fish put in, the current survival rate CSR, and the current individual weight CW at harvest as variables, by substituting the number of fish put in, the current survival rate CSR, and the current individual weight CW at harvest into a function.

[0036] Next, the teaching device 40 teaches the operator the calculated weight of the individual insect at harvest time by displaying it on, for example, a liquid crystal display (S5). With the above, the operation of the insect harvest yield prediction device 10 is completed.

[0037] 3. Effects of this Form Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. This embodiment is an insect harvest prediction device 10 that calculates a predicted harvest EY at the time of harvesting of crickets C reared in a rearing device 20 having a rearing area 20a in which a plurality of crickets C are reared. The insect harvest prediction device 10 includes an initial information acquisition unit 11, a rearing condition acquisition unit 12, a storage device 15, a parameter determination unit 13, and a harvest calculation unit 14. The initial information acquisition unit 11 acquires initial information II regarding the crickets C when the crickets C are introduced into the rearing device 20. The rearing condition acquisition unit 12 acquires rearing conditions BC of the crickets C. The storage device 15 stores a database DB consisting of past rearing conditions PBC in the rearing of the crickets C, and past parameters PP describing the relationship between past initial information PII in the rearing of the crickets C and the harvest amount in the rearing of the crickets C in the past. The parameter determination unit 13 determines current parameters CP related to the current rearing conditions CBC based on the current rearing conditions CBC and the database DB in the rearing of the crickets C. The harvest calculation unit 14 calculates a predicted harvest EY from the current initial information CII in the rearing of the crickets C and the current parameters CP.

[0038] According to this embodiment, the current parameters CP used to calculate the predicted harvest EY are determined based on the past rearing conditions PBC and the database DB, thereby improving the prediction accuracy of the predicted harvest EY of crickets C compared to the case where the predicted harvest EY is calculated based on predetermined parameters.

[0039] The initial information II in this embodiment is the number of crickets C to be released into the rearing device 20, and the current parameters CP and past parameters PP include a survival rate, which is the proportion of crickets C that survived until the time of harvest among the crickets C released into the rearing device 20, and a harvest individual weight, which is the individual weight of the crickets C at the time of harvest.

[0040] In addition, the parameter determination unit 13 according to the present embodiment determines the current parameters CP using the past parameters PP in the same rearing conditions BC as the current rearing conditions CBC. Since the current parameters CP are determined using the past parameters PP in the same rearing conditions BC as the current rearing conditions CBC, the prediction accuracy of the harvest amount of the crickets C can be improved.

[0041] In addition, the parameter determination unit 13 according to the present embodiment determines the current parameters CP using the past parameters PP in the rearing conditions BC similar to the current rearing conditions CBC. Since the current parameters CP are determined using the past parameters PP in the rearing conditions BC similar to the current rearing conditions CBC, the prediction accuracy of the harvest amount of the crickets C can be improved.

[0042] The rearing conditions BC for determining the parameter CP this time are one or more selected from the type of feed given to the crickets C, the locations of hiding places for the crickets C, the number of hiding places, the locations of feeding means for providing feed to the crickets C, the number of feeding means, the locations of water supply means for providing water to the crickets C, the number of water supply means, the humidity within the rearing apparatus 20, the brightness within the rearing apparatus 20, the color tone of the lighting device installed within the rearing apparatus 20, the magnitude of sound or vibration in the rearing apparatus 20, etc.

[0043] According to this embodiment, the rearing conditions BC can be carefully taken into consideration in order to determine the current parameter CP, thereby improving the accuracy of predicting the yield of crickets C.

[0044] (Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. In this embodiment, in S1 of Fig. 5, the initial information acquisition unit 11 acquires the initial total weight of the crickets C at the time of introduction. The initial total weight is the total weight of the crickets C introduced into the rearing device 20.

[0045] 6, in the database DB of this embodiment, the past amplification factor PAR is calculated in advance as the past parameter PP and stored in the storage device 15. The past amplification factor PAR is the ratio of the past harvest volume PY to the past initial total weight of the crickets.

[0046] In this embodiment, in S3 of FIG. 5, the parameter determination unit determines the current amplification factor CAR as the current parameter CP.

[0047] The current amplification rate CAR may be the ratio of the previous harvest amount to the previous initial total weight. The current amplification rate CAR may also be the average past amplification rate PAR of multiple (e.g., five) past rearings of crickets C. The current amplification rate CAR may also be the past amplification rate PAR when reared under the same rearing conditions BC, or, for example, the past amplification rate PAR when reared with a specific feed. The current amplification rate CAR may also be the past amplification rate PAR when reared under similar rearing conditions BC.

[0048] The parameter determining unit 13 calculates the predicted yield EY based on the following formula (2). Predicted harvest volume EY = initial total weight × current amplification rate CAR (2)

[0049] According to this modification, the predicted harvest EY can be calculated from the initial total weight of the crickets C put into the rearing device 20 when the rearing of the crickets C is started and the current amplification factor CAR calculated based on the database DB. This improves the prediction accuracy of the predicted harvest EY of the crickets C compared to the case where the predicted harvest EY is calculated based on predetermined parameters.

[0050] Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are given the same reference numerals and the duplicated explanations are omitted.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10: insect yield prediction device, 11: initial information acquisition unit, 12: rearing condition acquisition unit, 13: parameter determination unit, 14: yield calculation unit, 15: storage device, 20: rearing device, 20a: rearing area, BC: rearing conditions, C: crickets, CBC: current rearing conditions, CII: current initial information, CP: current parameters, CSR: current survival rate, CW: individual weight at current harvest, DB: database, EY: predicted yield, II: initial information, PBC: past rearing conditions, PII: past initial information, PP: past parameters, PSR: past survival rate, PW: individual weight at past harvest, PY: past yield

Claims

1. An insect harvest prediction device that calculates a predicted harvest yield at the time of harvesting of insects raised in a rearing device having a rearing area in which a plurality of insects are raised, an initial information acquisition unit that acquires initial information about the insects when the insects are introduced into the breeding device; A breeding condition acquisition unit that acquires breeding conditions for the insect; A storage device storing a database including the past rearing conditions in the rearing of the insects, and past parameters describing the relationship between past initial information in the rearing of the insects and past harvest yields in the rearing of the insects; a parameter determination unit that determines current parameters related to the current rearing conditions based on the current rearing conditions in the rearing of the insect and the database; An insect harvest prediction device comprising: a harvest calculation unit that calculates the predicted harvest from the current initial information and the current parameters in the rearing of the insects.

2. The initial information is the number of the insects to be introduced into the rearing device, The insect harvest prediction device of claim 1, wherein the current parameters and the past parameters include a survival rate, which is the proportion of the insects that survived until the time of harvest among the insects introduced into the rearing device, and a harvest individual weight, which is the individual weight of the insects at the time of harvest.

3. The initial information is an initial total weight, which is a total weight of the insects to be put into the rearing device; The insect harvest yield prediction device according to claim 1 , wherein the current parameter and the past parameter are amplification factors obtained by dividing the harvest yield at the time of harvest by the initial total weight.

4. The insect harvest prediction device according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter determination unit determines the current parameters by using the past parameters under the same rearing conditions as the current rearing conditions.

5. The insect harvest prediction device according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter determination unit determines the current parameters by using the past parameters under rearing conditions similar to the current rearing conditions.

6. The current rearing conditions for determining the current parameters are: The insect harvest prediction device of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the factors are selected from the type of feed given to the insects, the locations of hiding places for the insects, the number of hiding places, the locations of feeding means for providing feed to the insects, the number of feeding means, the locations of watering means for providing water to the insects, the number of watering means, the humidity within the rearing apparatus, the brightness within the rearing apparatus, the color tone of a lighting device installed within the rearing apparatus, the magnitude of sound or vibration in the rearing apparatus, etc.

Images