Headlock Livestock Tracking With UWB Cow Location and Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current livestock monitoring systems require location means per milking cell and yoke cells, which are costly and inefficient to reconfigure when the layout changes, and lack a solution for automatically retrieving reluctant dairy cows, leading to reduced milk production and increased effort.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses identification and locating means to track animal positions within a headlock or milking parlor without requiring location means per cell, utilizing ultra-wide-band transmitters and receivers to provide real-time location data and automatic cow retrieval mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If location means are installed in each milking cell and yoke cell, then animal location can be tracked, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location detection function from fixed cell-based sensors and relocates it to mobile animals wearing identification means. This removes the need for location means in each cell, reducing system complexity while maintaining tracking capability through animal-borne transmitters and central receivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces identification means (transmitters) as intermediaries attached to animals, which mediate between the animal and the location system. These transmitters carry location information without requiring fixed infrastructure in each cell, simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Measurement precision
If location means are installed in each milking cell, then animal location can be tracked, but reconfiguration costs and effort increase when layout changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the location system dynamic by attaching identification means to mobile animals rather than fixing sensors to static cells. This allows the system to adapt automatically to layout changes without physical reconfiguration, as the animal-borne transmitters work with any cell arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification means attached to animals serve multiple functions: identification, location tracking, and adaptability to any layout configuration. This universal approach eliminates the need for cell-specific location means, enabling easy reconfiguration when layout changes occur.
3Productivity
If manual retrieval of reluctant cows is performed, then cows can be brought to milking, but labor effort and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring animal locations through transmitters and receivers. This real-time location data enables automatic detection of reluctant cows, allowing the system to trigger automated retrieval mechanisms that reduce manual labor and time compared to traditional manual retrieval methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing animals to be automatically located and retrieved based on their transmitted signals. Reluctant cows are automatically detected and can be guided or prompted to move to milking stalls without requiring manual intervention, freeing up labor and time.
4Measurement precision
If matched identification means and location means are used per cell, then cow identification and cell location are tracked, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location tracking function from cell-based infrastructure and relocates it to animal-borne identification means. This eliminates the need for multiple location means distributed across cells, reducing the total quantity of location equipment while maintaining precise tracking of each cow's identification and location.
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
Enables efficient tracking and retrieval of livestock, reducing operational costs and improving milk production by eliminating the need for extensive reconfiguration and automating the retrieval of reluctant cows.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing ultra-wide-band transmitters and receivers to provide real-time location data
Data Source
AI summary
In a headlock system having a plurality of n headlock cells, each of the n cells being adapted to enclose at least one animal; n is an integer greater than 1; a system for locating the position of at least one animal, the system comprising: at least one identification means adapted to transmit at least one identification signal associated with said at least one animal; at least one locating means adapted to generate at least one location signal associated with said at least one animal; and, a data processing system in communication with said at least one identification means and said at least one locating means, adapted to analyze said signals, said analyzed signals comprising the position within a predetermined region in said headlock system of each of said at least one animals as a function of time.