Autonomous Poultry Barn Navigation With Animal-Aware Obstacle Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for animal husbandry fail to dynamically interact with animals and their environments, are not suitable for all types of animals or environments, require significant manual intervention, and lack efficiency in energy consumption and manual intervention, while also posing health risks to human operators due to prolonged exposure in poultry environments.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous navigation device equipped with sensors, drive wheels, and a spinner assembly that encourages healthy animal movement, detects and removes expired poultry, and navigates through environments while minimizing stress and manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If manual removal of expired poultry is performed, then the task can be completed, but human operators are exposed to harmful substances and health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous navigation device performs the task of removing expired poultry without human intervention. The device navigates independently through the poultry environment, detects expired poultry using sensors, and removes them autonomously, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring human operators to perform the hazardous task
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual human operation with an autonomous robotic system equipped with sensors, navigation capabilities, and automated removal mechanisms. This substitution eliminates direct human contact with harmful substances while maintaining the functional capability of removing expired poultry
2Productivity
If existing solutions are used for animal husbandry, then some tasks can be performed, but they require significant manual intervention and are not efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous navigation device performs multiple animal husbandry tasks including encouraging healthy movement, detecting and removing expired poultry, and navigating through environments without human intervention. The system monitors and cares for animals autonomously, significantly reducing the need for manual labor and improving operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation device is designed to perform multiple functions: encouraging animal movement through controlled navigation, detecting expired poultry using sensors, removing deceased animals, and adapting to various animal types and environments. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple manual tasks into a single autonomous system, improving overall productivity
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing solutions are used, then some animal care tasks can be performed, but they fail to dynamically interact with animals and adjust in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous navigation device uses sensors to continuously monitor animals and their environment, processing input information to detect animals, obstacles, and conditions. The system adjusts its navigation and interactions in real-time based on sensor feedback, enabling dynamic adaptation to changing animal needs and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation device dynamically alters its behavior and interactions based on real-time conditions. It adjusts its navigation path, speed, and animal interaction strategies according to detected animal locations, types, and environmental factors, making the system adaptable rather than static
4Productivity
If the navigation device encourages animal movement, then healthy movement is promoted, but the device must navigate around animals and obstacles which complicates operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual navigation operations with an autonomous robotic system equipped with sensors and automated path planning. The device independently navigates around animals and obstacles using sensor input and processing, eliminating the need for manual control while promoting healthy animal movement through controlled interactions
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation device provides for autonomous interactions with animals and navigation of the animal environment, such as a poultry barn. The navigation device includes one or more cameras for detecting animals. The navigation device also includes one or more cameras for object detection purposes. The navigation device also includes a camera or a LiDAR for mapping the position and orientation (pose) of the navigation device within the environment. By the object detection and the pose information, the navigation device autonomously travels within the environment. The navigation device also includes a spinner assembly for deterring animals from the path of the navigation device.