Livestock Camera Housing Color Zoning to Reduce Fly Soiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera devices used in livestock sheds are prone to soiling from flies, leading to unreliable image recognition and frequent cleaning needs due to fly droppings, which interfere with the imaging process.
Innovation Solution
The camera device features a housing with a lighter-colored portion around the opening to deter flies, combined with strategic placement of heat-generating components and cooling ribs to minimize fly attraction and soiling, while avoiding active cleaning mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the camera device housing is made uniform in color, then manufacturing is simpler, but flies are attracted to the opening area causing soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two distinct color zones: a first portion surrounding the opening with a first color and a second portion at a distance from the opening with a second color. This local differentiation makes the opening area less attractive to flies while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized painting or coating processes.
2Reliability
If the camera device is cleaned frequently, then image recognition reliability is maintained, but operational downtime and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The differentiated color scheme acts as a preventive measure against fly attraction before soiling occurs. By making the opening area less attractive to flies through color differentiation, the housing prevents soiling accumulation, thereby maintaining image recognition reliability without requiring frequent cleaning interventions.
3Illumination intensity
If a light source is positioned close to the opening, then image recording in low light conditions improves, but heat generation attracts more flies
Solution Approach 1:
The housing uses color differentiation to counteract the localized heat effect from the light source. The first portion surrounding the opening has a color that is less attractive to flies, compensating for the heat radiation from the nearby light source, while the second portion has a different color for overall aesthetic and functional balance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces fly visits and associated soiling, maintaining reliable image recognition and extending the time between cleaning intervals, thus enhancing the device's operational reliability in shed environments.
Implementation Method 1
a first portion of said outer surface is lighter in colour on a side of the opening at least directly around said opening than a second portion of said outer surface which is located away from said opening
Data Source
AI summary
A camera device for observing and recognizing a livestock animal in a shed environment. The camera includes a housing with an outer surface and with a light transmitting opening, an optics for forming an image of the environment, a light-sensitive sensor provided in the housing for recording the formed image, an image processing device for processing the recorded image and recognizing a portion of a shed animal, and a control unit. A first portion of the outer surface is lighter in colour on a side of the opening at least directly around than opening than a second portion of the outer surface which is located away from the opening and which is at least half the size of the first portion. The lighter colour around the one or more openings reduces soiling by flies in comparison with known cameras with black surroundings for these openings.