Autonomous Insect Feed Delivery Platform

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current insect cultivation methods, such as using single-use cardboard boxes or immobile troughs, lead to population reduction and pathogen transmission due to human interaction, especially with larval insects, and inefficient feeding processes.

Innovation Solution

An automated feed delivery platform that navigates through facilities with multiple insect habitats, using sensors and navigation systems to deliver feed autonomously, minimizing human contact and optimizing feed distribution based on habitat-specific needs, including life stages of the insects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual feeding by replacing food trays is used, then feeding can be performed, but insects are removed with the tray and population decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual feeding operationVSAvoidinsect population

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous feed delivery platform enables the system to feed insects independently without human intervention. The platform navigates to habitats, identifies feed trays needing replacement, and performs automated replacement, allowing the insect cultivation system to serve itself and eliminating the harmful effect of manual tray removal on insect populations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of tray replacement with an autonomous robotic system equipped with sensors and navigation capabilities. This substitution eliminates direct human contact with insects during feeding operations and prevents insects from being accidentally removed with trays, thereby maintaining population stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual interaction with insects is performed, then feeding can be done, but insects may be crushed or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual feeding processVSAvoidinsect damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If human interaction with insect populations occurs, then feeding can be performed, but pathogens may be transmitted between populations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual feeding operationVSAvoidpathogen transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If automated feed delivery platform is used, then human contact is minimized and insect loss is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect population stabilityVSAvoidautomation system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous feed delivery platform is designed to perform multiple functions: navigation to habitats, identification of feed trays requiring replacement, automated tray replacement, and population monitoring. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent reduces the need for multiple separate devices and minimizes overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The platform incorporates sensors that monitor insect populations and feed tray status, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables the platform to make autonomous decisions about when and where to deliver feed, improving population stability while reducing the complexity of manual control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10881081B2Autonomous feed delivery platform for insects

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 HALALI GROUP HOLDINGS LTD

AI summary

An autonomous feed delivery platform configured to navigate through a facility and deliver insect feed to multiple insect habitats located within the facility. In some cases, the feed delivery platform may be configured to deliver the feed to multiple insect habitats at substantially the same time.