Animal Detection Control Unit for Proximity Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for detecting exception animals, such as those in heat or sick, on dairy farms are inefficient due to the need for manual confirmation, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially in large herds with animals that have high autonomy and varied milking schedules.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a control unit to determine the geographical position of both the exception animal and the user's equipment, generating a notification when they are within a certain distance of each other, allowing for immediate identification and action without the need for a dedicated inspection round.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual observation is used to confirm exception animals, then the farmer can identify animals in heat or sick, but the process is time consuming and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated electronic notification system. Sensors on animals continuously transmit data to a control unit that automatically identifies exception animals and sends notifications to the farmer's mobile device, eliminating the need for manual rounds through the barn.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service detection where the animals themselves, through their embedded sensors, automatically report their status. The sensors monitor physiological parameters and autonomously trigger notifications when abnormal conditions are detected, without requiring farmer intervention for initial detection.
2Reliability
If the farmer performs dedicated inspection rounds to find exception animals, then all animals can be checked, but the time spent multiplies over time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces time-consuming manual inspection rounds with automated electronic monitoring. The control unit continuously processes sensor data from all animals simultaneously, providing real-time exception detection without requiring the farmer to physically visit each animal, thereby maintaining detection completeness while dramatically improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system operates continuously without interruption, constantly analyzing sensor data from all animals. This continuous automated monitoring ensures no exception animal is missed while freeing the farmer to perform other productive tasks, as the system works autonomously throughout the day.
3Ease of operation
If short range wireless communication is used to transmit animal data, then information can be accessed remotely, but the farmer must approach each animal closely and position the phone very close to the transmitter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces close-proximity wireless communication with a centralized automated notification system. Instead of requiring the farmer to approach each animal with a smartphone, the control unit automatically receives sensor data, processes it, and pushes notifications to the farmer's device, eliminating the need for physical proximity to individual animals.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves as an intermediary between the animal sensors and the farmer's mobile device. It collects data from multiple sensors, processes the information to identify exceptions, and communicates only relevant findings to the farmer, eliminating the need for direct farmer-animal communication and reducing time spent at each animal.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for assisting a human in detecting an exception animal, for which an abnormal measurement value has been detected, wherein a geographical position is obtained of the exception animal, a geographical position if obtained of a user equipment of the human, a distance is determined between the obtained geographical position of the exception animal and the obtained geographical position of the user equipment, and when the determined distance is smaller than a threshold limit, an indication is sent to the user equipment confirming the proximate presence of the exception animal.