Animal Position Tracking via Camera Mediator in Rotary Milking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining the identity and position of animals in rotary milking parlors and separation stations is challenging due to the presence of upstanding fences and controllable gates, which make it difficult for standard readers to accurately read identification codes and determine animal positions, especially when multiple readers are needed to cover all possible positions.
Innovation Solution
Using a camera to follow animals from a second location to a first location, where the identity is initially determined, allowing for accurate position tracking without the need for multiple readers at the first location, as the camera can associate the identity with the animal's position within a single image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple readers are used to determine animal position at the first location, then position determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to the need to position readers near the rotary milking parlour without interfering with it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to determine animal position. Instead of using multiple RFID readers that would need to be physically positioned near the rotary milking parlour, the camera captures images of the animal's position, and the system processes these images to determine location. This mediator approach avoids the complexity of positioning multiple readers while maintaining position determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical positioning of multiple RFID readers with an optical system (camera). The camera captures visual information about the animal's position, and through image processing, determines the location without requiring physical placement of multiple reading devices near the rotary milking parlour.
2Reliability
If standard reader equipment is positioned close to the rotary milking parlour, then animal identification capability is improved, but interference with the rotary milking parlour operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera serves as an intermediary that can be positioned at a distance from the rotary milking parlour while still capturing images of animals. This allows the system to maintain identification capability without placing reader equipment in positions that would interfere with the parlour's operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a proximity-based identification system (where readers must be close to the animal) to a remote observation system (where the camera can capture animals from a distance). This dimensional change in the detection approach allows reliable identification without physical proximity that would cause interference.
3Device complexity
If a single reader is used at the first location, then device complexity is reduced, but position determination within the first location becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the multiple-reader RFID system with a single camera system. Instead of using multiple readers to determine position through signal strength variations, the camera captures the animal's visual position in the image, providing location information without requiring multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera creates a visual copy/image of the animal's position in the environment. By processing this image copy, the system can determine the animal's location without needing multiple physical readers, effectively using information replication to achieve position determination with a single device.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for determining the identity and a position of an animal at at least a first location wherein for example at the at least one first location at least a part of a rotary milking parlour is present or at least a part of a separation station is present, characterised in that, the method comprises the following steps: a. determining the identity of an animal by means of reading an identification code from a identification label carried by the animal at a second location; b. following the animal which is identified in step a. by means of at least one camera when the animal travels from the second location towards the at least one first location while keeping the identity as determined in step a. associated with the animal followed in step b.; c. determining by means of the at least one camera when the animal which is followed in step b. is present and/or arrives on the at least one first location while determining by means of the camera the position of the animal at the at least one first location.