Animal Weight Estimation Using Multi-Direction Shape Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight estimation systems for animals have limited freedom in imaging direction, allowing accurate weight estimation only from a specific direction, and struggle with shape adaptation accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A weight estimation device that includes an image acquisition unit, shape identification unit, information generation unit, and weight estimation unit, capable of generating estimation information from images taken from different directions and adapting to the animal's shape, allowing weight estimation from multiple angles and postures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the animal is imaged from a specific vertical direction, then the weight can be estimated accurately, but the freedom degree of imaging direction is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables weight estimation to work universally from multiple imaging directions (front, rear, left, right) rather than being limited to a single vertical direction. The shape identification unit and information generation unit are designed to process images from any direction and generate appropriate estimation information, making the system adaptable to various imaging scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different imaging directions by detecting the actual direction from which the image is captured. The information generation unit adjusts its processing based on the imaging direction, generating estimation information that is appropriate for the specific direction from which the image was taken, thereby maintaining accuracy across diverse imaging scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the animal shape is adapted based on a virtual model, then the estimation can be performed, but the difference between real shape and adapted shape reduces estimation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the animal body into multiple predetermined portions (head, trunk, legs, etc.) and identifies the shape of each portion separately. This segmentation allows the system to capture the actual shape details more accurately without forcing the entire animal into a single virtual model, thereby reducing the shape difference and improving estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing to different portions of the animal body based on their specific characteristics. Each predetermined portion is analyzed and estimated independently, allowing the system to account for local variations in shape and structure that would otherwise be lost in a global virtual model adaptation.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a weight estimation device that improves the freedom degree of an imaging direction enabling to estimate the weight of an animal. In a configuration in which an image acquisition unit that acquires an image of an animal, a shape identification unit that identifies a shape of a predetermined portion of the animal from the image, an information generation unit that, on a basis of the shape of the predetermined portion, generates estimation information used for estimating a weight of the animal, and a weight estimation unit that estimates the weight on a basis of the estimation information are provided, the information generation unit is capable of generating the estimation information both in a case where a first image (an animal image GA) in which the animal is imaged from a first direction (for example, the left side of a body) is acquired and in a case where a second image in which the animal is imaged from a second direction (for example, the right side of the body) that is different from the first direction is acquired.