Ear-Mounted Temperature Probe With Rotational Positioning for Livestock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional livestock monitoring systems face challenges in efficiently monitoring large numbers of animals and are prone to human error due to visually undetectable illnesses and inexperience of livestock managers.
Innovation Solution
A livestock health monitoring system with an ear-mounted device that includes a temperature probe and a notification system, which provides alerts via light, sound, or wireless transmission when an animal's temperature exceeds user-defined thresholds, reducing human error and enabling rapid detection of abnormal health conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection by livestock manager is used, then system complexity is low, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to human error and inability to detect visually undetectable illnesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated electronic monitoring system that uses temperature probes, rotational positioning mechanisms, and notification devices to detect and alert about livestock health conditions, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring of livestock health conditions through automated temperature detection and notification mechanisms, allowing the livestock management system to detect and report health issues without requiring continuous manual inspection by livestock managers
2Productivity
If manual monitoring of large numbers of livestock is performed, then device complexity remains low, but productivity deteriorates due to the large scale of monitoring required
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is designed to be universally applicable across multiple livestock animals through the rotational positioning mechanism that can sequentially service different animals, enabling one system to perform the work of multiple manual inspections and significantly improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a rotational positioning mechanism that dynamically moves the monitoring device between different livestock animals, allowing automated multi-animal monitoring capability that increases productivity while keeping the overall system structure relatively simple
3Reliability
If temperature monitoring with notification system is implemented, then reliability improves through reduced human error, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates notification devices that provide immediate feedback when abnormal temperature conditions are detected, creating a closed-loop monitoring system that automatically alerts operators to health issues, thereby enhancing reliability through automated detection and notification rather than manual checking
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 system effectively monitors multiple animals simultaneously and reduces human error by providing immediate visual or wireless notifications, ensuring timely intervention for health issues.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature probe (404) positioned through the rotational device (403)
Data Source
AI summary
An animal wellness notification system includes an attachment body configured to securely engage with an ear of the animal; an elongated temperature probe secured to the attachment body and configured to extend within the ear of the animal; a housing secured to the attachment body; a computer disposed within the housing and operably associated with the temperature probe; and a notification device in data communication with the computer, the notification device being configured to provide notice if a temperature of the animal goes beyond a determined threshold.