Poultry House Object Detection Scanner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing livestock monitoring systems are inefficient in detecting stationary objects and dead animals in poultry houses due to high costs, stress on animals, and inaccurate location determination, especially in complex housing systems.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact scanner system using electromagnetic radiation to create a transit time profile by scanning in a predetermined direction, allowing for quick and reliable detection of objects and animals, with vertically spaced scanning units to reduce stress and scanning complexity, and a calibration profile for accurate location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous video surveillance systems are used to monitor livestock, then animals can be located and behavior monitored, but the systems are too expensive and complicated for economical monitoring of unforeseen objects
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring task is segmented into specialized functions: a laser scanner for distance measurement, a camera for visual identification, and a computer for analysis. Each component performs a specific function rather than a single complex system attempting all tasks, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A computer acts as an intermediary that receives data from both the laser scanner and camera, combines their information, and performs the final analysis. This mediator coordinates the specialized components, allowing the system to be complex only where necessary (in the computer) while keeping individual components simple
2Reliability
If a two-dimensional laser scanner is used to detect dead animals, then detection is possible, but additional vertical movement is required which stresses the animals
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanner performs periodic distance measurements at fixed intervals along the animal housing facility. This periodic scanning at stationary positions eliminates the need for continuous vertical movement, reducing animal stress while maintaining reliable detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary distance measurements with the laser scanner before visual identification by the camera. This preliminary action of measuring distance at fixed positions allows the system to determine if an object is present without requiring stressful vertical movement to different scanning planes
3Productivity
If the laser scanner is mounted on a feed trailer and moved horizontally along cage rows, then monitoring is possible, but the trailer must pass by multiple times causing stress and disappointment to animals
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the scanner with the feed trailer along the cage rows, the system inverts the approach by positioning the scanner at fixed locations and moving the camera along with the feed trailer. This allows monitoring to occur during normal feeding operations without requiring multiple repetitive passages, reducing animal stress while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The feed trailer is given multiple functions: it continues its primary feeding function while also serving as a platform for the camera system. This multi-functionality allows monitoring to occur during normal feeding operations, eliminating the need for separate monitoring passages and reducing animal stress
4Area of stationary object
If overview monitoring is used in livestock farming, then general area coverage is achieved, but spatial conditions prevent reliable detection of unforeseen objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical overview monitoring with an optical measurement system. The laser scanner uses light propagation to measure distances precisely to specific points, while the camera provides visual identification. This substitution of mechanical observation with optical measurement enables both wide coverage and high precision in detecting unforeseen objects
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, economical, and stress-reduced monitoring of poultry houses, allowing for prompt detection of immovable objects and animals, including sick or dead ones, without the need for complex two-dimensional scanning, and precise location calculation.
Implementation Method 1
a noncontact scanner adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation in a scanner and to receive a reflection of the electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
the evaluation unit is configured to calculate a transit time signal from the reception of a reflected signal emitted from the scanner unit and from the transit time of the signal
Data Source
AI summary
An animal surveillance device for detecting stationary objects in a poultry house comprises a noncontact scanner adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation in a scanner and to receive a reflection of the electromagnetic radiation and an electronic evaluation unit which is in signal communication with the scanner and adapted to evaluate the signals received from the scanner. The scanner includes at least one scanner unit comprising a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic scanning beam in a predetermined direction and a receiver for receiving a reflection of the scanning beam from the predetermined direction. The evaluation unit is configured to calculate a transit time signal from the reception of a reflected signal emitted from the scanner unit and from the transit time of the signal and to produce a transit time profile for the scanner unit from the transit time signal received over a period.