Cow Urine Collection Device Using Sensor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for reducing ammonia emission in animal husbandry require animals to be trainable or involve permanently attached devices, which can be cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A urine collection device that uses a positioner and sensor system to detect an animal's posture and position, positioning a urine container and stimulator to encourage urination into a designated area, integrated with a fencing system for efficient and cost-effective operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If permanently attached devices are used to catch excrement separately, then ammonia emission is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the collection of liquid excrement (urine) from solid excrement by using a urine container positioned to collect only urine through the animal's vulva, while solid excrement falls separately. This segmentation allows targeted collection of the ammonia-producing liquid fraction without requiring complex complete excrement containment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and collects only the urine portion of excrement using a dedicated urine container, separating it from solid waste. This extraction approach focuses on collecting the specific substance (urine) that causes ammonia emission when mixed with feces, rather than requiring complete excrement containment.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If permanently attached devices are used to catch excrement separately, then ammonia emission is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The urine container is designed to be movable rather than permanently fixed, allowing it to be positioned in front of the animal's vulva during urination and then moved away. This dynamic positioning enables the container to be used temporarily and removed, simplifying operation and cleaning compared to permanent attachment systems.
3Productivity
If sensor means and positioner are added to position urine container, then urine collection efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensor means to automatically detect when the animal is in the correct position for urination collection, and the positioner automatically positions the urine container accordingly. This self-service automation eliminates the need for manual operation while improving collection efficiency, and the system can be integrated with existing fencing infrastructure to mitigate complexity increases.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention provides a urine collection device (2) for a cow, comprising a positioner (6), a urine container (7) coupled to said positioner, a sensor (5) for detecting a cow position, a stimulator (8) for stimulating a stimulation region of a cow, which stimulation region is ventrally with respect to a vulva of said cow, and a controller (4), wherein said controller is functionally coupled to said sensor for in operation receiving a cow position of said cow, and said controller is functionally coupled to said positioner and said stimulator, said controller adapted for controlling said positioner for bringing said stimulator at said stimulation region and for stimulating said stimulation region of said cow in response to a cow position being within a predefined range, which stimulation starts a urination, and controlling said positioner for positioning said urine container from a storage position to a working position for receiving a subsequent flow of urine from said stimulated cow, wherein said urine container comprises a front end for providing at least part of said stimulator.