Camera-Guided Barn Cleaning Routes for Targeted Manure Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic barn cleaning devices operate on predefined schedules regardless of the actual need, leading to inefficient cleaning and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method and control unit that utilize cameras to identify manure locations and calculate efficient cleaning routes for autonomous barn cleaning devices, optimizing navigation based on the identified manure distribution and capacity constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic barn cleaning devices operate on predefined schedules, then cleaning coverage is ensured, but energy consumption increases and cleaning efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device transitions from static scheduled operation to dynamic demand-responsive operation. The control system dynamically adjusts cleaning routes and timing based on real-time manure detection data, enabling the device to operate only when and where needed, thereby improving cleaning efficiency while reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through cameras and sensors that detect manure locations and quantities. This information feeds back to the control system, which then calculates optimized routes and triggers cleaning operations only when manure thresholds are exceeded, creating a closed-loop control that eliminates wasteful scheduled cleaning and reduces energy consumption.
2Reliability
If cleaning devices follow predefined routes, then complete coverage is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning area is segmented into zones based on manure detection data. Instead of following a single predefined route covering the entire barn, the system divides the area into relevant cleaning zones and generates specific routes only for areas where manure is detected, reducing time consumption while maintaining reliable cleaning coverage of affected areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial cleaning actions by focusing only on areas where manure exceeds threshold levels. Rather than cleaning the entire barn according to a predefined route, the device targets specific locations with detected manure, reducing time consumption while ensuring reliable cleaning where it is actually needed.
3Reliability
If cleaning operations are performed frequently, then hygiene standards are maintained, but disturbance to animals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system continuously monitors manure accumulation and provides feedback to the control system. Cleaning operations are triggered only when manure levels exceed hygiene thresholds, maintaining reliable hygiene standards while avoiding unnecessary frequent cleaning operations that would disturb animals. The feedback loop ensures cleaning occurs only when actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the barn cleaning process to serve itself by automatically detecting when cleaning is needed through camera monitoring. The control system autonomously decides when to initiate cleaning operations based on detected manure levels, eliminating the need for frequent scheduled cleaning and reducing animal disturbance while maintaining hygiene standards.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, controller, computer program and arrangement for barn cleaning obtaining information from one or more cameras mounted to capture images of an area of operation of an automatic barn cleaning device and identifying at least one location in said area of operation being subjected to manure, based on the obtained information. The method further calculates a route for the automatic barn cleaning device based on the identified at least one location, and controls the automatic barn cleaning device based on the calculated route.