Poultry Scale With Multi-Sensor Health Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current poultry scales lack the capability to provide comprehensive monitoring of poultry health and development, leading to potential late detection of diseases and inaccuracies in determining the ideal time for animal release and estimating slaughter weight, due to reliance on weight measurements alone and the variability in animal behavior and movement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second sensor connected to the contact area to detect additional measurement variables such as height, temperature, or contour, allowing for simultaneous or delayed data collection with weight measurements, and using a central data transmission system to derive and forward signals to a data acquisition unit for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only weight measurements are used for monitoring poultry, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of health monitoring deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (weight sensor, temperature sensor, and optical sensor) into a single integrated poultry monitoring system. The weight sensor measures weight, the temperature sensor measures body temperature, and the optical sensor captures images of the poultry. These multiple sensing functions are merged into one system that processes all data together to comprehensively assess poultry health status, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: weight measurement, temperature monitoring, image capture, and health status assessment. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to provide comprehensive poultry health monitoring through various measurement parameters, improving reliability by cross-validating health assessments across multiple data types.
2Loss of information
If weight measurements alone are used to determine average poultry weight, then the device complexity is low, but the loss of information increases due to behavioral variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges weight measurement data with optical imaging data to create a more complete picture of poultry characteristics. The optical sensor captures images that provide information about poultry appearance, posture, and behavior, which complements the weight data. This combination reduces information loss by providing multiple dimensions of poultry assessment rather than relying solely on weight measurements that can be affected by behavioral variability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are added to the poultry scale, then the measurement precision improves, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions (weight, temperature, optical detection) are merged into a single integrated platform. The sensors are arranged on a common base structure with shared power supply and data processing circuits, which simplifies the manufacturing process compared to assembling separate independent monitoring systems. The integrated design allows for standardized production while maintaining high measurement precision through multiple sensing modalities.
4Reliability
If additional sensors and data processing are implemented, then the reliability of slaughter weight estimation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data processing system is designed to handle multiple types of sensor data (weight, temperature, images) through a unified analysis algorithm. This multi-functional processing approach uses the same computational framework to evaluate different parameters and their relationships, improving the reliability of slaughter weight estimation by considering multiple factors simultaneously rather than relying on simple weight-based predictions.
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 more accurate monitoring of poultry health, weight, and development, allowing for better detection of abnormalities and estimation of slaughter weight, while simplifying the structure and maintenance of the poultry scale system.
Implementation Method 1
a force sensor that is coupled to the contact surface in such a way that it detects the weight of the poultry animal(s) standing on the contact surface
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor connected to the contact area for detecting a measurement variable other than the weight of one or more poultry animals standing on the contact area
Implementation Method 3
detecting a measurement variable other than the weight of one or more poultry animals standing on the contact area, wherein the measurement variable is selected from the group consisting of height, temperature, and contour
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a poultry scale comprising a base designed to support at least one poultry and a force sensor coupled to the base in such a way as to detect the weight of the poultry standing on the base. According to the invention, a poultry scale of this type is provided, characterized by a second sensor connected to the base for detecting a measurement other than the weight of one or more poultry standing on the base.