Livestock Headlock Tracking for Flexible Stall Layouts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing livestock location systems require location means per milking cell, which necessitate costly reconfiguration and maintenance when the layout changes, and lack automatic retrieval of reluctant animals, leading to reduced efficiency and milk production.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing identification and locating means associated with individual animals, without requiring location means per cell, that tracks animal positions and behaviors, enabling automatic retrieval and health monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If location means are installed per milking cell to track animal positions, then animal location tracking capability is improved, but system complexity and maintenance costs increase when layout changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location tracking function from fixed cell-based infrastructure and relocates it to mobile animal-mounted devices. Instead of having location means in each cell, the system uses identification means on animals that can be detected by readers positioned elsewhere in the facility, thereby reducing the complexity of reconfiguring cell-specific location infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification means mounted on animals serves multiple functions: it identifies the animal, tracks its location, and enables retrieval operations. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate location tracking infrastructure in each cell, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining tracking capability across the entire facility.
2Measurement precision
If location means are installed per milking cell to track animal positions, then animal location tracking capability is improved, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts location tracking from fixed cell infrastructure and places it on mobile animal-mounted identification means. This reduces maintenance burden because the animal-mounted devices are fewer in number and can be easily replaced or updated without affecting the overall system infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The animal-mounted identification means is self-contained and requires minimal external maintenance. The device travels with the animal and can be independently serviced or replaced without requiring system-wide shutdowns or complex infrastructure maintenance, thereby reducing overall maintenance costs.
3Measurement precision
If matched identification means and location means are used per cell, then animal identification accuracy is improved, but system adaptability to layout changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing location means in fixed cells and having animals passively be detected, the system inverts the approach by mounting identification means on the animals themselves. This allows the identification system to move with the animal throughout the facility, maintaining accurate identification regardless of layout changes or animal position.
Solution Approach 2:
The animal-mounted identification means provides universal identification capability across all areas of the facility without requiring cell-specific configuration. When the layout changes, the system automatically adapts because the identification function travels with the animal rather than being fixed to specific locations.
4Measurement precision
If location means are installed per cell, then cell occupancy detection is improved, but automatic retrieval of reluctant animals is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the animal-mounted identification means to provide continuous feedback on animal location and status. This feedback enables the control system to identify reluctant animals and automatically initiate retrieval operations by activating appropriate gates, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing occupancy detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static cell-based detection to dynamic animal-mounted tracking. This dynamic approach allows the system to actively follow and monitor animals throughout the facility, enabling automatic retrieval operations based on real-time animal position and behavior data rather than relying solely on passive cell occupancy detection.
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
Facilitates efficient use of milking parlors, reduces maintenance costs, and enhances animal health monitoring and treatment, thereby improving milk production and herd management.
Implementation Method 1
at least one identification means adapted to transmit at least one identification signal associated with said at least one animal
Implementation Method 2
at least one locating means adapted to generate at least one location signal associated with said at least one animal
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.