Passive RFID Ear-Tag System for Feedlot Animal Behavior Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In feedlot environments, monitoring the eating and drinking habits of livestock is challenging due to the high-density and stressful conditions, which can lead to health complications, and existing systems are costly and inefficient, especially when using battery-powered active RFID tags and large-scale network coverage.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost feedlot asset-tag system using passive RF tags attached to animals, with detector stations positioned near water and feed troughs, transmitting unique identifier codes and processing data to conserve energy and reduce interference, allowing for efficient tracking of animal movement and behavior without the need for batteries or extensive network coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery-powered active RFID tags are used for monitoring livestock, then the reliability of data transmission is improved, but the operational cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery power source from the RFID tag system, using passive RFID tags that derive power from the reader's electromagnetic field rather than internal batteries. This eliminates the complexity of power management while maintaining identification reliability through the unique identifier code transmitted upon energization.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive RFID tags automatically energize and transmit their unique identifier codes when exposed to the reader's radio frequency field, requiring no manual activation or power management. The system serves itself by using the reader's transmission as the power source for tag identification.
2Measurement precision
If extensive network coverage is deployed to monitor all animals in the feedlot, then the measurement precision of animal location and behavior is improved, but the loss of energy and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple localized detection zones, each covered by a reader that monitors animals in its specific vicinity. This allows precise monitoring of animal behavior at troughs without requiring continuous network coverage across the entire feedlot, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides high measurement precision locally at critical monitoring points (water and feed troughs) where detector stations are positioned, rather than uniformly across the entire feedlot. This localized approach maintains accuracy for eating and drinking behavior monitoring while minimizing energy loss in areas where monitoring is less critical.
3Measurement precision
If detector stations are positioned within 10 meters of water and feed troughs to monitor animal behavior, then the measurement precision of eating and drinking habits is improved, but the device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detector stations serve multiple functions: they transmit radio frequency signals to energize passive RFID tags, receive and record unique identifier codes, determine animal location within the detection zone, and monitor behavior at both water and feed troughs. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, simplifying deployment despite the precision requirements.
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 provides accurate and efficient monitoring of animal behavior, reducing health risks and operational costs by using low-cost, battery-free passive RFID tags and localized detection zones, enabling real-time data analysis and reporting on eating and drinking habits.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of RF asset tags includes a non-volatile memory having a unique identifier code that is transmitted when the RF asset tag is energized by a radio signal
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for tracking certain activities of a plurality of animals in a feedlot involve a plurality of RF asset tags attached to the plurality of animals and a plurality of RF detector stations that are operable to read unique identifier codes associated with each of the plurality of RF asset tags. Members of the plurality of RF detector stations are positioned, at least for some, proximate to at least one water trough and at least one feed trough, and are operable to transmit data concerning the RF asset tags detected over a communication link to an asset management subsystem. Duplicate signals may be reduced, signal filtered and smoothed, and energy conserved with certain approaches taken with the RF detector stations. Other systems and devices are presented.