Performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry

Abstract

A performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry is disclosed, which comprises a platform, an electronic device including at least one camera, a weight measuring assembly, a rotatable hanging assembly, a connection mechanism with a function of multi-direction rotatable, and a suspended assembly, of which the electronic device is disposed in the platform, and the weight measuring assembly is disposed on the platform. Moreover, the rotatable hanging assembly is connected to the weight measuring assembly, the suspended assembly is attached to a ceiling or a crossbeam of a poultry house, and the weight measuring assembly and the platform is suspended, by the suspended assembly, under the ceiling or the crossbeam via the connection mechanism. As such, the wobbling of the platform can be balanced by the rotatable hanging assembly and the connection mechanism, such that weight measurement and body growth monitoring of the poultry can be carried out precisely.

Description

PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR POULTRYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of poultry growth and performance monitoring technology, and more particularly, to a weighing, growth monitoring, flock activity, health, and other performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry.2. Description of the Prior Art

[0002] It is well known that body weight measurement and body growth monitoring are certainly conducted during poultry farming. Accordingly, Taiwan Patent Publication No. TW202242352A discloses an automatic animal weight measurement system, which comprises a platform, a load cell, a camera, and an electronic device, of which the platform consists of a bottom plate, a plurality of columns vertically disposed on the bottom plate, and an upper plate connected to the columns. Moreover, the camera is disposed on a bottom surface of the upper plate, and the load cell is connected between an upper surface of the upper plate and at least one suspension wire.

[0003] When using the automatic animal weight measurement system, poultry like broiler, hens, egg-laying duck, or meat duck is arranged to be in the bottom plate, and in the meantime the load cell generates and transmits, a signal in response to a weight of the poultry, to the electronic device. Simultaneously, the camera acquires an image of the poultry, and then transmits the image to the electronic device. As such, the electronic device obtains a weight value of the poultry by processing thesignal, and processes the image so as to achieve an estimation of a body growth parameter of the poultry.

[0004] As explained in more detail below, one end of the suspension wire is connected to the load cell, and the other end of the suspension wire is attached to a ceiling of a poultry house. However, practical experience has revealed that the poultry certainly not always stays still while the body weight measurement of the load cell and the image capture of the camera. As a result, walking and / or jumping of the poultry on the bottom plate leads the platform to wobble, such that the signal generated by the load cell fails to map to the real weight of the poultry precisely. In addition, practical experience has also indicated that the wobbling platform may cause the poultry in the image has a vague shape, thus resulting in the electronic device failing to cany out an accurate body growth estimation by processing the image. In addition, turbulence in the poultry house as a result of ventilation can also cause wobbling and inaccuracies on the scale platform. Furthermore, without flexible hanging connection, the platform can become loose overtime and fall to the ground due to constant bird jumping on it, thereby requiring a lot of constant maintenance.

[0005] Therefore, above descriptions have expressed that there is still room for improvement in the conventional automatic animal weight measurement system that is disclosed by Taiwan Patent Publication No. TW202242352A. In view of that, inventors of the present invention have made great efforts to make inventive research and eventually provided a weighing and growth monitoring system for poultry.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to disclose a performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry. The system comprises a platform,an electronic device including at least one camera, a weight measuring assembly, a rotatable hanging assembly, a connection mechanism with a function of multidirection rotatable, and a suspended assembly, of which the electronic device is disposed in the platform, and the weight measuring assembly is disposed on the platform. Moreover, the rotatable hanging assembly is connected to the weight measuring assembly, the suspended assembly is attached to a ceiling or a crossbeam of a poultry house, and the weight measuring assembly and the platform is suspended, by the suspended assembly, under the ceiling or the crossbeam via the connection mechanism. As such, the wobbling of the platform can be balanced by the rotatable hanging assembly and the connection mechanism, such that weight measurement and body growth monitoring of the poultry can be carried out precisely.

[0007] In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, one embodiment of the performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry is provided, which comprises:a platform;a first electronic device including at least one camera, being disposed in the platform;a weight measuring assembly, being disposed on the platform;a rotatable hanging assembly, being connected to the weight measuring assembly;a connection mechanism with a function of multi-direction rotatable, being connected to the rotatable hanging assembly; anda suspended assembly;wherein the suspended assembly is attached to a ceiling or a crossbeam of a poultry house, and the weight measuring assembly and the platform is suspended, bythe suspended assembly, under the ceiling or the crossbeam via the connection mechanism.

[0008] In one embodiment, the platform comprises:a bottom plate;a plurality of columns, being disposed on the bottom plate; anda top plate, being disposed on the plurality of columns, and having a first through hole.

[0009] In one embodiment, the weight measuring assembly comprises:a load cell, being provided with a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole on a bottom side and a top side thereof, respectively;a connecting member, being provided with a first threaded rod and a second threaded rod on a bottom side and a top side thereof, respectively; anda second electronic device including a display module, being disposed on the top plate, and being coupled to the load cell;wherein the first threaded rod is arranged to pass the first through hole, and the second threaded rod is screwed into the first threaded hole of the load cell, such that the load cell is fixed on the top plate via the connecting member.

[0010] In one embodiment, the rotatable hanging assembly comprises:a hoist ring unit, having a third threaded rod and a first rotatable hanging ring, wherein the third threaded rod is arranged to be screwed into the second threaded hole of the load cell; anda swiveling snap hook unit, having a first lifting hook, a first latch member for enclosing a notch of the first lifting hook and a second rotatable hanging ring, wherein the first rotatable hanging ring is connected to the first lifting hook, thereby being suspended by the first lifting hook.

[0011] In a practicable embodiment, the performance monitoring and data collection system further comprises:a hook eyebolt unit, having a second lifting hook, a second latch member for enclosing a notch of the second lifting hook and a fourth threaded rod, wherein the second rotatable hanging ring is connected to the second lifting hook, thereby being suspended by the second lifting hook.

[0012] In one embodiment, the connection mechanism comprises:a substrate unit, comprising:a first substrate, having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side; a first side plate, being disposed on a bottom surface of the first substrate so as to be in connection with the first side of the first substrate, and being provided with a first aperture thereon;a second side plate, being disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate so as to be in connection with the second side of the first substrate, and being provided with a second aperture thereon;a third side plate, being disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate so as to be in connection with the third side of the first substrate, and being provided with a third aperture thereon; anda fourth side plate, being disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate so as to be in connection with the fourth side of the first substrate, and being provided with a fourth aperture thereon;a lower pivotally-rotatable unit, comprising:a second substrate, also having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and being provided with a second through hole thereon;a fifth side plate, being disposed on a top surface of the second substrate so as to be in connection with the first side of the second substrate, and beingprovided with a fifth aperture thereon; anda sixth side plate, being disposed on the top surface of the second substrate so as to be in connection with the second side of the second substrate, and being provided with a sixth aperture thereon; andan upper pivotally-rotatable unit, comprising:a third substrate, also having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and being provided with a third through hole thereon;a seventh side plate, being disposed on a bottom surface of the third substrate so as to be in connection with the first side of the third substrate, and being provided with a seventh aperture thereon; andan eighth side plate, being disposed on the bottom surface of the third substrate so as to be in connection with the second side of the third substrate, and being provided with an eighth aperture thereon;wherein a first screw bolt is arranged to subsequently pass the first aperture and the fifth aperture, and a second screw bolt is arranged to pass the second aperture and the sixth aperture in turns;wherein a third screw bolt is arranged to subsequently pass the third aperture and the seventh aperture, and a fourth screw bolt is arranged to pass the fourth aperture and the eighth aperture in turns;wherein the lower pivotally-rotatable unit is able to rotate relative to the substrate unit in a first free plane, the upper pivotally-rotatable unit is able to rotate relative to the substrate unit in a second free plane, and the second free plane is orthogonal to the first free plane.

[0013] In one embodiment, the fourth threaded rod of the hook eyebolt unit is arranged to pass the second through hole of the second substrate.

[0014] In one embodiment, the suspended assembly comprises a suspended unit, and the suspended unit comprises:N numbers of suspended rods, wherein N is a positive integer;N-l numbers of rod ferrules, wherein any two of the N numbers of suspended rods are connected to each other by one of the N-l numbers of rod ferrules, and a first suspended rod of the N numbers of suspended rods is connected to the third through hole of the third substrate; anda first mounting plate, being connected to a N-th suspended rod of the N numbers of suspended rods, and being provided with a plurality of ninth apertures thereon.

[0015] In one embodiment, the suspended assembly further comprises a first mounting unit, and the first mounting unit comprises:a second mounting plate, being provided with a plurality of slot holes thereon, and the plurality of slot holes being in correspondence with the plurality of ninth apertures;wherein after arranging a plurality of fastener to subsequently pass the plurality of slot holes, run through the plate-shaped object and pass the plurality of ninth apertures, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are fixed on the bottom surface and the top surface of the plate-shaped object.

[0016] In one embodiment, the suspended assembly further comprises a second mounting unit, and the second mounting unit comprises:a first vertical plate, being disposed on the second mounting plate, and having a first notch;a second vertical plate, being disposed on the second mounting plate, and having a second notch; wherein the second vertical plate and the first vertical plate are apart a specific distance;a horizontal plate, being disposed on the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate, and being provided with a fourth through hole thereon;wherein in case of the crossbeam being embedded in the first notch and the second notch, a screw bolt is arranged to pass the fourth through hole so as to downward press the crossbeam.

[0017] In one embodiment, a top side of the first electronic device is provided with a threaded hole thereon, and the first threaded rod of the connecting member passing the first through hole of the top plate is further screwed into the threaded hole, such that the first electronic device is fixed on the bottom surface of the top plate.

[0018] In one embodiment, after a poultry is arranged to stay on the bottom plate, the load cell generates and transmits, a signal in response to a weight of the poultry, to the second electronic device, such that the second electronic device acquires a weight value of the poultry by processing the signal.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first electronic device further comprises a processor and a storage device storing an application program, and the processor executes the application program so as to be configured to:acquire, by controlling the camera, an image from the poultry staying on the bottom plate;extracting, by processing the image, a poultry contour from the image; and calculate, by processing the poultry contour, a body growth parameter of the poultry.

[0020] In one embodiment, the bottom plate and the top plate (113) are all selected from a group consisting of spherical plate, elliptic plate, triangular plate, square plate, rectangular plate, pentagon plate, and hexagon plate.

[0021] In one embodiment, the bottom plate and the top plate all have a radius in a range between 10cm and 50cm.

[0022] In one embodiment, the bottom plate and the top plate all have a radius in a range between 10cm and 50cm.

[0023] In one embodiment, the bottom plate and the top plate are spaced apart by a distance in a range between 30cm and 400cm.

[0024] In one embodiment, the connecting member has a length in a range between 40cm and 6m.

[0025] In one embodiment, the suspended rods have a length in a range between 30cm and 4m.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0027] FIG. 1A shows a first stereo diagram of a performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry according to the present invention.

[0028] FIG. IB shows a second stereo diagram of the performance monitoring and data collection system according to the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the performance monitoring and data collection system according to the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows an exploded diagram of a connection mechanism with a function of multi-direction rotatable.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows an exploded diagram of a suspended assembly.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] To more clearly describe a performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry according to the present invention, embodiments of the presentinvention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings hereinafter.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 1A and FIG. IB, there are shown a first stereo diagram and a second stereo diagram of a performance monitoring and data collection system for poultry according to the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded diagram of the performance monitoring and data collection system. As FIG. 1 A, FIG. IB and FIG. 3 show, the performance monitoring and data collection system 1 (“the system 1”, hereinafter) according to the present invention comprises a platform 11, a first electronic device 12 including at least one camera 12C, a weight measuring assembly 13, a rotatable hanging assembly 14, a detachable hanging connection mechanism 15, a connection mechanism 16 with a function of multi-direction rotatable, and a suspended assembly 17, of which the first electronic device 12 is disposed in the platform 1 1 , and the weight measuring assembly 13 is disposed on the platform 11. Moreover, the rotatable hanging assembly 14 is connected to the weight measuring assembly 13, and the suspended assembly 17 is attached to a ceiling or a crossbeam of a poultry house. It is noted that the weight measuring assembly 13 and the platform 11 is suspended, by the suspended assembly 17, under the ceiling or the crossbeam via the connection mechanism 16.

[0034] In one embodiment, the platform 11 comprises a bottom plate 111, a plurality of columns 112 and a top plate 113, of which the plurality of columns 112 are disposed on the bottom plate 111, and the top plate 113 is disposed on the at least one of columns 112. In addition, there is a first through hole 1131 formed on the top plate 113. According to different scenario, any one of the bottom plate 111 and the top plate 113 can be, but is not limited to be a spherical plate, an elliptic plate, a triangular plate, a square plate, a rectangular plate, a pentagon plate, or a hexagonplate. Moreover, the bottom plate 111 and the top plate 113 all have a radius in a range between 10cm and 50cm.

[0035] As described more in detail below, the bottom plate 111 and the top plate 113 are spaced apart by a first distance in a range between 30cm and 400cm, and the bottom plate 111 and a ground in the poultry house are spaced apart by a second distance in a range between 0cm and 10cm.

[0036] As FIG. 2 shows, the weight measuring assembly 13 comprises a load cell 131, a connecting member 130 and a second electronic device 132. To be more specific, the load cell 131 is provided with a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole on a bottom side and a top side thereof, respectively. Moreover, the connecting member 130 is provided with a first threaded rod 13R1 and a second threaded rod 13R2 on a bottom side and a top side thereof, respectively. On the other hand, the second electronic device 132 is disposed on the top plate 113, and is coupled to the load cell 131. In one embodiment, the second electronic device 132 includes a load cell amplifier circuit and a display module. As explained in more detail below, the first threaded rod 13R1 is arranged to pass the first through hole 1131, and the second threaded rod 13R2 is screwed into the first threaded hole of the load cell 131, such that the load cell 131 is fixed on the top plate 113 via the connecting member 130. Further, a top side of the first electronic device 12 is provided with a threaded hole 120 thereon, and the first threaded rod 13R1 of the connecting member 130 passing the first through hole 1131 of the top plate 113 is further screwed into the threaded hole 120, such that the first electronic device 12 is fixed on the bottom surface of the top plate 113. The second electronic device 132 is electrically connected to the first electronic device 12 and relay the weight information to the first electronic device 12. And in some embodiments, the load cell 131 is electrically connected to the first electronic device 12.n

[0037] Continuing referring to FIG. 1A, FIG. IB and FIG. 2, in one embodiment the rotatable hanging assembly 14 consists of a hoist ring unit 141 and a swiveling snap hook unit 142, wherein the hoist ring unit 141 includes a third threaded rod 14R3 and a first rotatable hanging ring 1411, and the third threaded rod 14R3 is arranged to be screwed into the second threaded hole of the load cell 131. On the other hand, the swiveling snap hook unit 142 has a first lifting hook 1421 , a first latch member 1422 for enclosing a notch of the first lifting hook 1421 and a second rotatable hanging ring 1423, in which the first rotatable hanging ring 1411 is connected to the first lifting hook 1421, thereby being suspended by the first lifting hook 1421. In some embodiments, only one of the hoist ring unit 141 or the swiveling snap hook unit 142 might be included. If the hoist ring unit 141 presents with z-axis of rotation, then the swiveling snap hook unit 142 is not necessary. Conversely, if the swiveling snap hook unit 142 presents, then the hoist ring unit 141 does not need to have any axis of rotation.

[0038] It can be found from FIG. 1A, FIG. IB and FIG. 2 that a hook eyebolt unit 15 is connected between the rotatable hanging assembly 14 and the connection mechanism 16. The hook eyebolt unit 15 includes a second lifting hook 151, a second latch member 152 for enclosing a notch of the second lifting hook 151 and a fourth threaded rod 15R4, of which the second rotatable hanging ring 1423 is connected to the second lifting hook 151 , thereby being suspended by the second lifting hook 151. In some embodiments, the connection mechanism 16 could be a ball mount that could rotate in any direction. Ball mount allows multiple axis of rotation, and can be used to minimize wobbling from bird jumping and wind turbulence.

[0039] Continuing referring to FIG. 3, where an exploded diagram of the connection mechanism with the multi-direction rotatable function is depicted. As FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show, the connection mechanism 16 consists of a substrate unit160, a lower pivotally-rotatable unit 161 and an upper pivotally-rotatable unit 162. To be more specific, the substrate unit 160 comprises a first substrate 1600, a first side plate 1601, a second side plate 1602, a third side plate 1603, and a fourth side plate 1604, of which the first substrate 1600 has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. According to the present invention, the first side plate 1601 is disposed on a bottom surface of the first substrate 1600 so as to be in connection with the first side of the first substrate 1600, and is provided with a first aperture 1601 thereon. In contrast to the first side plate 1601, the second side plate 1602 is disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate 1600 so as to be in connection with the second side of the first substrate 1600, and is provided with a second aperture 1602 thereon. On the other hand, the third side plate 1603 is disposed on the top surface of the first substrate 1600 so as to be in connection with the third side of the first substrate 1600, and is provided with a third aperture 1603 thereon. In contrast to the third side plate 1603, the fourth side plate 1604 is disposed on the top surface of the first substrate 1600 so as to be in connection with the fourth side of the first substrate 1600, and is provided with a fourth aperture 1604 thereon.

[0040] As described in more detail below, the lower pivotally-rotatable unit 161 consists of a second substrate 1610, a fifth side plate 1612 and a sixth side plate 1613, wherein the second substrate 1610 also has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and is provided with a second through hole 1611 thereon. Moreover, the fifth side plate 1612 is disposed on a top surface of the second substrate 1610 so as to be in connection with the first side of the second substrate 1610, and being provided with a fifth aperture 1605 thereon. In contrast to the fifth side plate 1612, the sixth side plate 1613 is disposed on the top surface of the second substrate 1610 so as to be in connection with the second side of the second substrate 1610, and is provided with a sixth aperture 1606 thereon. In addition, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 alsodepict that the fourth threaded rod 15R4 of the hook eyebolt unit 15 is arranged to pass the second through hole 1611 of the second substrate 1610.

[0041] Continuing referring to FIG. 3, the upper pivotally -rotatable unit 162 consists of a third substrate 1620, a seventh side plate 1622 and an eighth side plate 1623, of which the third substrate 1620 also has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and is provided with a third through hole 1621 thereon. Moreover, the seventh side plate 1622 is disposed on a bottom surface of the third substrate 1620 so as to be in connection with the first side of the third substrate 1620, and is provided with a seventh aperture 1607 thereon. In contrast to the seventh side plate 1622, the eighth side plate 1623 is disposed on the bottom surface of the third substrate 1620 so as to be in connection with the second side of the third substrate 1620, and is provided with an eighth aperture 1608 thereon.

[0042] As FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show, a first screw bolt S 1 is arranged to subsequently pass the first aperture 1601 and the fifth aperture 1605, and a second screw bolt S2 is arranged to pass the second aperture 1602 and the sixth aperture 1606 in turns. As such, the lower pivotally -rotatable unit 161 is pivotally connected to the substrate unit 160, and is able to rotate relative to the substrate unit 160 in a first free plane. On the other hand, a third screw bolt S3 is arranged to subsequently pass the third aperture 1603 and the seventh aperture 1607, and a fourth screw bolt S4 is arranged to pass the fourth aperture 1604 and the eighth aperture 1608 in turns. By such arrangements, the upper pivotally -rotatable unit 162 is pivotally connected to the substrate unit 160, and is able to rotate relative to the substrate unit 160 in a second free plane. In one embodiment, the second free plane is orthogonal to the first free plane. It should be noted that the lower pivotally-rotatable unit 161 and the upper pivotally-rotatable unit 162 can respectively swing with the X-axis and the Y-axis as the axis. That is to say, if the lower pivotally-rotatable unit 161 swings with the X-axis as the axis, relatively, the upper pivotally-rotatable unit 162 will swing with the Y-axis as the axis.

[0043] Continuing referring to FIG. 4, where an exploded diagram of the suspended assembly 17 is depicted. As FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show, the suspended assembly 17 comprises a suspended unit 171, a first mounting unit 172 and a second mounting unit 173. In one embodiment, the suspended unit 171 consists of N numbers of suspended rods 1711, N-l numbers of rod ferrules 1712 and a first mounting plate 1713, wherein N is a positive integer, and any two of the N numbers of suspended rods 1711 are connected to each other by one of the N-l numbers of rod ferrules 1712. To be more specific, a first suspended rod of the N numbers of suspended rods 1711 is connected to the third through hole 1621 of the third substrate 1620, and the first mounting plate 1713 is connected to a N-th suspended rod of the N numbers of suspended rods 171 1. In addition, there is a plurality of ninth apertures 1709 formed on the first mounting plate 1713. In some embodiments, any two of the suspended rods 1711 are connected to each other by a threading connection or a button click connection, especially for very high ceiling.

[0044] As FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show, the first mounting unit 172 comprises a second mounting plate 1721, and a plurality of slot holes 1722 are formed on the second mounting plate 1721 so as to be in correspondence with the plurality of ninth apertures 1709. Moreover, after arranging a plurality of fastener 172S to subsequently pass the plurality of slot holes 1722, run through the plate-shaped object and pass the plurality of ninth apertures 1709, the first mounting plate 1713 and the second mounting plate 1721 are fixed together.

[0045] On the other hand, the second mounting unit 173 comprises a first vertical plate 1731, a second vertical plate 1732 and a horizontal plate 1733, in which the first vertical plate 1731 is disposed on the second mounting plate 1721, and has afirst notch 17N1. In contrast to the first vertical plate 1731, the second vertical plate 1732 is disposed on the second mounting plate 1721, and includes a second notch 17N2. To be more specific, the second vertical plate 1732 and the first vertical plate 1731 are apart a specific distance. In addition, the horizontal plate 1733 is disposed on the first vertical plate 1731 and the second vertical plate 1732, and is provided with a fourth through hole 1734 thereon. According to the present invention, a crossbeam of the poultry house is allowed to be embedded in the first notch 17N1 and the second notch 17N2, and in such case a screw bolt 173S can be adopted for passing the fourth through hole 1734, thereby downward pressing the crossbeam. In some embodiments, there’s a connection mechanism 16 set between the second mounting plate 1721 and the first mounting plate 1713. Because in some embodiments, the roof or ceiling may be sloped. Therefore, use the connection mechanism 16 to adjust the suspended unit 171 so that the suspended unit 171 is perpendicular to the ground. In embodiments, in most typical sloped ceiling, there is a connection mechanism 16 by joining the lower pivotally -rotatable unit 161 and the upper pivotally -rotatable unit 162 with screws. In some embodiments, the connection mechanism 16 can connect directly to the ceiling. In some embodiments, if the deployment location has no H-beam / crossbeam, then the first mounting plate 1713 can be directly used to connect to the ceiling or ceiling support without the second mounting plate 1721. the second mounting plate 1721 is only used as an option to connect to the first mounting plate 1713 if there is a H-beam / crossbeam.

[0046] It needs to further explain that, the first electronic device 12 and the ground in the poultry house are spaced apart by a third distance in a range between 100cm and 400cm. For example, the first electronic device 12 including two cameras 13C and the ground in the poultry house are spaced apart by 2-3.5m. Therefore, such particular arrangements bring benefits to the system 1, including:(1) having a wider field of view (FOV) for increasing the number of effective poultry samples (i.e., covering more poultry in the poultry house);(2) minimizing dust accumulation by being close to the ceiling, thereby making the poultry farmer be not needing to clean as much as well as the camera 12C acquire clearer picture overall; and(3) allowing the cameras 12C to remain in place during house cleaning because, being closer to the ceiling, they won’t obstruct cleaning equipment or activities.

[0047] Given all the above, the constituting devices and modules of the system 1 have been introduced completely. Therefore, when this system 1 is operated for conducting a weight measurement and a growth monitoring of a poultry, the poultry is firstly arranged to stay in the bottom plate 111 of the platform 11. It is aware of the fact that the poultry, such as broiler, pullets, breeders, hens, egg-laying duck, or meat duck, certainly not always stays still while the body weight measurement of the load cell 131 and the image capture of the camera 12C of the first electronic device 12. As a result, walking and / or jumping of the poultry on the bottom plate 111 would lead the platform 11 to wobble and rotate. In such case, the rotational freedom of the first rotatable hanging ring 141 or the swiveling snap hook unit 142 compensates the rotational movement of the platform 11, thereby preventing the first threaded rod 13R1 and second threaded rod 13R2 of the connecting member 130, the third threaded rod 14R3 of the hanging ring unit 141, and the fourth threaded rod 15R4 of the hook eye bolt unit 15, from coming loose and / or fall off overtime. In addition, the connection mechanism 16 having the multi-direction rotatable function exhibits the ability to adjust dual axis and allow positioning the hook eyebolt unit 15 to be pointing straight down. As a result, the wobbling and rotating of the platform 11 can be balanced by the rotatable hanging assembly 14, the hook eye bolt unit 15, and theconnection mechanism 16, such that the weight measurement and the (body) growth monitoring of the poultry can be carried out precisely.

[0048] It is worth further explaining that, in the hook eyebolt unit 15 the second latch member 152 is used for enclosing a notch of the second lifting hook 151, that makes putting on (taking off) the hanging assembly (Consisting of 11, 12, 13, 14) a lot simpler. This is especially important for easy maintenance in between flock cycles, as the farmer can take out the entire assembly at ease in order to do work such as cleanup. Besides, the hook eyebolt unit 15 also allows the hanging assembly to dangle freely.

[0049] As described in more detail, after the poultry is arranged to three scenarios: one, jump onto the bottom plate 111, two, where there is no poultry jumping onto the bottom plate 111, and three, where the poultry stays on the bottom plate 11 Ithe load cell 131 generates and transmits, a signal in response to real time weight, to the second electronic device 132, such that the second electronic device 132, 132 is further connected to camera 12. The weight value of the poultry is known by processing and contrasting the differences of weight between the three scenarios.

[0050] On the other hand, FIG. 2 depicts that the first electronic device 12 further comprises a processor 12M and a storage device 12M storing an application program, and the processor 12M executes the application program so as to be configured to: (1) acquire, by controlling the camera, an image from the poultry on the bottom plate 111 in three scenarios: jumping off, staying on, and jumping on; (2) extracting, by processing the image, 2D and 3D parameters of the bird; and (3) calculate, by processing 2D and 3D parameters, through 3 methods: on device, on IPC / edge computing, and on the cloud, the performance parameter of the poultry . As a result, the (body) growth monitoring of the poultry is carried out completed.

[0051] Briefly speaking, the first electronic device 12 including two cameras 12C is a machine vision device. Therefore, after simply using the data received by the cameras 12C, the weight measuring assembly 13, and / or other sensors to make a simple correction (not limited to linear correction, various other correction methods can also be used), the weight relationship corresponding to the corrected 2D and 3D characteristics of the poultry is computed and / or established by the processor of the first electronic device 12. As a result, implement weight prediction for the system 1 is achieved.

[0052] It is worth particularly explained that the above description is made on embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit scope of the present invention, and all equivalent implementations or alterations within the spirit of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A performance monitoring and data collection system (1), comprising:a platform (11):a first electronic device (12) including at least one camera (12C), being disposed in the platform (11);a weight measuring assembly (13), being disposed on the platform (11); a rotatable hanging assembly (14), being connected to the weight measuring assembly (13);a connection mechanism (16) with a function of multi -direction rotatable, being connected to the rotatable hanging assembly (14); anda suspended assembly (17);wherein the suspended assembly (17) is attached to a ceiling or a crossbeam of a poultry house, and the weight measuring assembly (13) and the platform (11) is suspended, by the suspended assembly (17), under the ceiling or the crossbeam via the connection mechanism (16).

2. The performance monitoring and data collection of claim 1, the platform (11) comprises:a bottom plate (111);a plurality of columns (1 12), being disposed on the bottom plate (111 ); and a top plate (113), being disposed on the plurality of columns (112), and having a fir st through hole ( 1131 ) .

3. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 2, wherein the weight measuring assembly (13) comprises:a load cell (131), being provided with a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole on a bottom side and a top side thereof, respectively;a connecting member (130), being provided with a first threaded rod (13R1) and a second threaded rod (13R2) on a bottom side and a top side thereof, respectively; anda second electronic device (132) including a display module, being disposed on the top plate (113), and being coupled to the load cell (131);wherein the first threaded rod (13R1) is arranged to pass the first through hole (1131), and the second threaded rod (13R2) is screwed into the first threaded hole of the load cell (131), such that the load cell (131) is fixed on the top plate (113) via the connecting member (130).

4. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 3, wherein the rotatable hanging assembly (14) comprises:a hoist ring unit (141), having a third threaded rod (14R3) and a first rotatable hanging ring (1411), wherein the third threaded rod (14R3) is arranged to be screwed into the second threaded hole of the load cell (131); anda swiveling snap hook unit (142), having a first lifting hook (1421), a first latch member (1422) for enclosing a notch of the first lifting hook (1421) and a second rotatable hanging ring (1423), wherein the first rotatable hanging ring (1411) is connected to the first lifting hook (1421), thereby being suspended by the first lifting hook ( 1421 ) .

5. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 4, further comprising:a hook eyebolt unit (15), having a second lifting hook (151), a second latchmember (152) for enclosing a notch of the second lifting hook (151) and a fourth threaded rod (15R4), wherein the second rotatable hanging ring (1423) is connected to the second lifting hook (151), thereby being suspended by the second lifting hook (151).

6. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 4, wherein the connection mechanism (16) comprises:a substrate unit (160), comprising:a first substrate (1600), having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side;a first side plate (1601), being disposed on a bottom surface of the first substrate (1600) so as to be in connection with the first side of the first substrate (1600), and being provided with a first aperture (1601 ) thereon;a second side plate (1602), being disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate (1600) so as to be in connection with the second side of the first substrate (1600), and being provided with a second aperture (1602) thereon; a third side plate (1603), being disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate (1600) so as to be in connection with the third side of the first substrate (1600), and being provided with a third aperture (1603) thereon; anda fourth side plate (1604), being disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate (1600) so as to be in connection with the fourth side of the first substrate (1600), and being provided with a fourth aperture (1604) thereon; a lower pivotally-rotatable unit (161), comprising:a second substrate (1610), also having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and being provided with a second through hole (1611)thereon;a fifth side plate (1612), being disposed on a top surface of the second substrate (1610) so as to be in connection with the first side of the second substrate (1610), and being provided with a fifth aperture (1605) thereon; and a sixth side plate (1613), being disposed on the top surface of the second substrate (1610) so as to be in connection with the second side of the second substrate (1610), and being provided with a sixth aperture (1606) thereon; andan upper pivotally-rotatable unit (162), comprising:a third substrate (1620), also having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and being provided with a third through hole (1621) thereon; a seventh side plate (1622), being disposed on a bottom surface of the third substrate (1620) so as to be in connection with the first side of the third substrate (1620), and being provided with a seventh aperture (1607) thereon; andan eighth side plate (1623), being disposed on the bottom surface of the third substrate (1620) so as to be in connection with the second side of the third substrate (1620), and being provided with an eighth aperture (1608) thereon; wherein a first screw bolt (SI) is arranged to subsequently pass the first aperture (1601) and the fifth aperture (1605), and a second screw bolt (S2) is arranged to pass the second aperture (1602) and the sixth aperture (1606) in turns;wherein a third screw bolt (S3) is arranged to subsequently pass the third aperture (1603) and the seventh aperture (1607), and a fourth screw bolt (S4) is arranged to pass the fourth aperture (1604) and the eighth aperture (1608) in turns;wherein the lower pivotally-rotatable unit (161) is able to rotate relative to the substrate unit (160) in a first free plane, the upper pivotally-rotatable unit (162) isable to rotate relative to the substrate unit (160) in a second free plane, and the second free plane is orthogonal to the first free plane.

7. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 6, wherein the fourth threaded rod (15R4) of the hook eyebolt unit (15) is arranged to pass the second through hole (1611) of the second substrate (1610).

8. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 6, wherein the suspended assembly (17) comprises a suspended unit (171), and the suspended unit (171) comprises:N numbers of suspended rods (1711), wherein N is a positive integer;N-l numbers of rod ferrules (1712), wherein any two of the N numbers of suspended rods (1711 ) are connected to each other by one of the N-l numbers of rod ferrules (1712), and a first suspended rod of the N numbers of suspended rods (1711) is connected to the third through hole (1621) of the third substrate (1620); anda first mounting plate (1713), being connected to a N-th suspended rod of the N numbers of suspended rods (1711), and being provided with a plurality of ninth apertures (1709) thereon.

9. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 8, wherein the suspended assembly (17) further comprises a first mounting unit (172), and the first mounting unit (172) comprises:a second mounting plate (1721), being provided with a plurality of slot holes (1722) thereon, and the plurality of slot holes (1722) being in correspondence with the plurality of ninth apertures (1709);wherein after arranging a plurality of fastener (172S) to subsequently pass the plurality of slot holes (1722), run through the plate-shaped object and pass the plurality of ninth apertures (1709), the first mounting plate (1713) and the second mounting plate (1721) are fixed on the bottom surface and the top surface of the plate-shaped object.

10. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 9, wherein the suspended assembly (17) further comprises a second mounting unit (173), and the second mounting unit (173) comprises:a first vertical plate (1731), being disposed on the second mounting plate (1721), and having a first notch (17N1);a second vertical plate (1732), being disposed on the second mounting plate (1721 ), and having a second notch (17N2); wherein the second vertical plate (1732) and the first vertical plate (1731) are apart a specific distance; anda horizontal plate (1733), being disposed on the first vertical plate (1731) and the second vertical plate (1732), and being provided with a fourth through hole (1734) thereon;wherein in case of the crossbeam being embedded in the first notch (17N1) and the second notch (17N2), a screw bolt (173S) is arranged to pass the fourth through hole (1734) so as to downward press the crossbeam.

11. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 9, wherein a top side of the first electronic device (12) is provided with a threaded hole (120) thereon, and the first threaded rod (13R1) of the connecting member (130) passing the first through hole (1131) of the top plate (113) is further screwed into the threaded hole (120), such that the first electronic device (12) is fixed on the bottomsurface of the top plate (113).

12. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 9, wherein after a poultry is arranged to stay on the bottom plate (111), the load cell (131) generates and transmits, a signal in response to a weight of the poultry, to the second electronic device (132), such that the second electronic device (132) acquires a weight value of the poultry by processing the signal.

13. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 12, wherein the first electronic device (12) further comprises a processor ( 12P) and a storage device (12M) storing an application program, and the processor (12P) executes the application program so as to be configured to:acquire, by controlling the camera, an image from the poultry staying on the bottom plate (111);extracting, by processing the image, a poultry contour from the image; and calculate, by processing the poultry contour, a body growth parameter of the poultry.

14. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 12, wherein the bottom plate (111) and the top plate (113) are all selected from a group consisting of spherical plate, elliptic plate, triangular plate, square plate, rectangular plate, pentagon plate, and hexagon plate.

15. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 12, wherein the bottom plate (111) and the top plate (113) all have a radius in a range between 10cm and 50cm.

16. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 14, wherein the bottom plate (111) and the top plate (113) all have a radius in a range between 10cm and 50cm.

17. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 14, wherein the bottom plate (111) and the top plate (113) are spaced apart by a distance in a range between 30cm and 400cm.

18. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 14, wherein the bottom plate (111) and a ground in the poultry house are spaced apart by a distance in a range between 0cm and 10cm.

19. The performance monitoring and data collection system of claim 14, wherein the first electronic device (12) and a ground in the poultry house are spaced apart by a distance in a range between 100cm and 400cm.

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