3D Laser Scanner for Automated Cow Body Condition Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated body condition score systems for dairy cows face challenges in consistency due to ambient illumination noise and complex barn environments, lacking a fully acceptable product for objective measurement.
Innovation Solution
The method utilizes three-dimensional images of cows, specifically referencing hook bone points and pin bone points to determine a body condition score through average height cross section profiles, incorporating standard deviation and height differences as parameters, and combines these with body weight for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If vision techniques are used to automatically determine body condition score, then automation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to ambient illumination noise and complex barn environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional vision-based optical measurement systems with a laser scanner-based 3D measurement system. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to ambient illumination noise that plagues vision techniques, while maintaining automation. The laser scanner actively emits and detects light, creating its own illumination source that is not affected by barn lighting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from 2D image-based visual assessment to 3D geometric parameter extraction. By measuring actual 3D distances and volumes of anatomical landmarks (hook bone, pin bone, tailhead) rather than relying on visual appearance in 2D images, the system achieves environment-independent measurements that are consistent regardless of lighting conditions.
2Ease of operation
If traditional visual assessment methods are used, then measurement simplicity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to subjectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective human visual assessment with an automated laser scanning and image processing system. The system automatically captures 3D images, identifies anatomical landmarks through algorithmic processing, and calculates body condition score based on objective geometric measurements, eliminating human subjectivity while maintaining operational simplicity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-assessment by automatically identifying its own measurement targets (anatomical landmarks) and calculating the body condition score without human intervention. The image processing algorithms automatically locate hook bone, pin bone, and tailhead points and compute the required parameters, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating subjective human judgment.
3Measurement precision
If 3D imaging with multiple parameters is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the essential 3D geometric parameters needed for body condition scoring from the complete 3D image data. Instead of analyzing all image data, the system specifically extracts distances between key anatomical landmarks (hook bone, pin bone, tailhead) and relevant volume measurements, simplifying the processing while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex task of body condition assessment into distinct measurement components: 3D image acquisition, anatomical landmark identification, geometric parameter extraction (distances and volumes), and score calculation. This segmentation allows each component to be processed independently and efficiently, reducing overall system complexity while achieving high precision through multiple measured parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method to determine a body condition score of an animal comprising the steps of: -providing a three-dimensional camera system configured and arranged to record at least one three-dimensional image of the animal, and an image processing device to process the image; -recording at least one three-dimensional image of the animal; -processing the image of the animal; -wherein processing of the image comprises the steps of: -forming a three-dimensional surface representation of a part of the animal from the three-dimensional image recorded by the three-dimensional camera system; -determining, in the image, reference points of the animal, in particular at least including hook bone points and pin bone points of the animal; -selecting a surface part of the animal representative for a body condition of the animal using the reference points, and -analyzing a first parameter representative for a body condition of the animal of the selected surface part; and -determining the body condition score on the basis of the first parameter.