Infrared Poultry Counting on Conveyor Belts for Precise Cage Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry caging systems rely on indirect weight-based calculations to determine the number of animals in each cage, leading to inaccuracies and difficulties in meeting specific number requirements for slaughter and compliance checks, as well as payment discrepancies for farmers and operators.
Innovation Solution
A counting system using a neural network model to identify and track poultry on a conveyor belt, calculating the number of birds based on their paths and positions, with an infrared camera and an infrared illuminating device for illuminating the portion of the conveyor belt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If weight-based indirect determination is used to count poultry in cages, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision of the number of animals is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical weighing system with an optical sensing system using infrared cameras and image processing. Instead of measuring weight and calculating headcount indirectly, the system directly captures images of poultry on the conveyor belt, processes these images to identify and count individual birds, thereby substituting mechanical measurement with optical detection to achieve direct and accurate counting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of the poultry using infrared cameras. By capturing visual representations of the birds and processing these image copies through neural networks and tracking algorithms, the system counts individual birds in the images rather than measuring physical properties, enabling direct visual counting that is both accurate and implementable with modern computer vision technology.
2Reliability
If weight-based determination is used, then the system is easy to implement, but the reliability of meeting specific number requirements is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the weight-based determination system with an optical detection system using infrared cameras and image processing algorithms. This substitution enables direct visual counting and tracking of individual poultry, providing reliable data for compliance with specific number requirements while maintaining implementability through modern computer vision technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the optical detection system continuously monitors and counts poultry in real-time, providing immediate feedback on the actual number of birds. This feedback loop ensures that the system can reliably determine when the target number of poultry has been reached, enabling precise control and compliance with number requirements.
3Productivity
If conventional weighing systems are used, then the operation is simple, but the productivity of caging operations is reduced due to delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical weighing system with an optical sensing system using infrared cameras. This substitution eliminates the delay inherent in weight-based determination, allowing for real-time visual counting and immediate decision-making in caging operations, thereby significantly improving productivity while maintaining simplicity through non-contact detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by capturing images of poultry before they are fully loaded into cages. The optical detection system counts and tracks birds in advance during their transport on the conveyor belt, allowing the system to prepare for the next caging operation while current birds are being processed, thereby eliminating idle time and improving overall productivity.
4Loss of information
If indirect weight-based counting is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the loss of information about actual number of animals occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the indirect weight-based counting system with a direct optical detection system using infrared cameras and image processing. This substitution preserves the actual number of animals by directly visualizing and counting individual birds in images, eliminating the information loss that occurs when inferring headcount from total weight divided by average individual weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies (images) of each poultry individual, preserving information about the actual number of animals. By processing these image copies through neural networks and tracking algorithms, the system maintains accurate count data that reflects the true number of birds, preventing the information loss inherent in indirect weight-based methods.
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
Accurately counts poultry in real-time, ensuring precise filling of cages and compliance with regulations, facilitating payment based on the number of animals rather than weight, and enabling efficient operation of caging machines.
Implementation Method 1
a counting system using a neural network model to identify and track poultry on a conveyor belt, calculating the number of birds based on their paths and positions, with an infrared camera and an infrared illuminating device for illuminating the portion of the conveyor belt
Data Source
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AI summary
A description is provided of a counting system for counting poultry in a caging machine configured to convey poultry on a conveyor belt in order to introduce them into a cage. The system comprises: an acquisition group for acquiring a sequence of images of a same portion of the conveyor belt during successive time instants; a processing apparatus comprising: an identification unit for processing the sequence of images in order to identify the presence of the poultry in the each image; a tracking unit for calculating poultry tracks based on the identified poultry presence, each poultry track indicating the path followed by a respective bird along the conveyor belt; a counting unit configured to calculate a count indicating a number of birds that have reached the cage on the basis of the calculated tracks; an output unit for outputting the calculated count for control of the caging machine.