Rotary Milking Platform Interface with Stall Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control and monitoring systems for rotary milking platforms face information overload and complexity, making it difficult for operators to efficiently and reliably manage multiple milking operations simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A control and monitoring system that uses a graphical representation of the platform with cells corresponding to individual stalls, allowing real-time status updates and input/output functionality through interactive displays, enabling operators to easily monitor and control operations across the platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional control systems are used for rotary milking platforms, then comprehensive monitoring and control of multiple milking operations is achieved, but information overload and system complexity make it difficult for operators to efficiently manage operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of managing multiple milking operationsVSAvoidcomplexity of control and monitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is divided into multiple visual representations, each corresponding to a specific stall on the rotary platform. Each visual representation shows only the parameters relevant to that stall, segmenting the overall information into manageable portions. This allows operators to monitor multiple stalls simultaneously without being overwhelmed by all platform information at once, while maintaining the ability to access comprehensive data when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If detailed information is displayed for each stall, then complete monitoring capability is achieved, but operators experience information overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of monitoring informationVSAvoidease of using control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each visual representation on the display device is configured with different information based on its corresponding stall's specific needs and current state. Some stalls may display milk production data, others may show animal health parameters or feed consumption. This local customization ensures that operators see relevant information for each stall without being presented with unnecessary data from other stalls, maintaining monitoring completeness while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive control features are provided for all stalls, then full operational control is achieved, but the interface becomes too complex for easy use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capability across all stallsVSAvoidease of learning and using control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display device uses a standardized visual representation format that can be universally applied to all stalls on the rotary platform. Each visual representation follows the same structure and displays the same types of parameters, making the interface consistent across different stalls. This universality allows operators to learn one interface pattern and apply it to all stalls, maintaining comprehensive control capability while significantly improving ease of operation and reducing training requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4086837A1Rotary platform user interface
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 DELAVAL HLDG AB
  • EP4086837A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4086837A1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP4086837A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Control and monitoring system for a rotating animal platform which comprises multiple animal stalls arranged about its periphery, wherein the system comprises an interactive display screen which displays output information relating to the current status of operations on the platform and which displays input channels for use by an operator, wherein the platform itself is represented at said interactive display screen by an annular shape, wherein each stall on the platform is graphically represented by a cell, wherein the cells are displayed in a spatial arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of stalls on the platform, wherein real-time status information relating to operations on the platform is represented at each cell, and wherein the rotating movement of the platform is represented by the progression of each cell about the displayed representation of the platform..