Sensor Vehicle for Contactless Animal Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring animal body temperature, especially in large herds or free-roaming animals, are labor-intensive, unreliable, and lack effective non-contact solutions, making early detection of health issues difficult and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact temperature measurement system using a self-propelled sensor vehicle equipped with temperature sensors, localization units, and animal identification means, allowing for automated and routine surface temperature monitoring of free-roaming animals without physical contact, utilizing pyrometers and thermal imaging cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual rectal measurement is used to determine body temperature, then measurement accuracy is improved, but labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical rectal measurement with automated optical/infrared temperature sensors mounted on vehicles (ground or aerial) that can remotely measure animal body temperature without physical contact, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while dramatically improving monitoring efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automated temperature monitoring where vehicles autonomously navigate to animals and perform measurements without requiring skilled personnel intervention, allowing continuous monitoring of large herds with minimal human labor
2Duration of action of stationary object
If temperature bolus is implanted in the stomach, then continuous temperature monitoring is achieved, but device complexity and veterinary intervention requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for implanted temperature boluses with external remote sensing systems using optical or infrared sensors mounted on vehicles, eliminating implantation complexity while maintaining continuous monitoring capability through repeated automated measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vehicles (drones, ground vehicles) as intermediaries to deliver temperature measurement capability to animals without requiring direct implantation or contact with the animal's body, simplifying the overall system deployment
3Measurement precision
If external temperature sensor is fixed on the animal, then surface temperature measurement is achieved, but risk of sensor detachment and battery capacity limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed external sensors on animals with mobile sensing platforms that approach animals temporarily for measurement, eliminating attachment reliability issues and battery capacity limitations of wearable devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the sensing function from the animal carrier, placing temperature sensors on independent mobile vehicles that can autonomously navigate to animals for measurement without requiring permanent attachment to the animal
4Ease of operation
If contactless temperature measurement is implemented, then ease of operation and animal welfare are improved, but measurement reliability and technical simplicity have been insufficient in previous solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs established optical and infrared sensing technologies mounted on stable mobile platforms with automated animal localization and tracking capabilities, achieving contactless measurement with high reliability through systematic approaches to target acquisition and environmental compensation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multi-functional vehicles that can perform various tasks (monitoring, measurement, navigation) to provide robust contactless temperature measurement across different animal species and environments, enhancing reliability through versatile platform design
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, cost-effective, and reliable continuous monitoring of animal temperatures, facilitating early detection of health issues and reducing the need for manual intervention, suitable for both farm and wild animals in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrometer, in particular an infrared pyrometer, and/or a thermal imaging camera and/or an infrared sensor is used
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to measure the body temperature, in particular the surface temperature of the animal's body (T), of a freely moving, especially free-roaming, animal (T) with minimal manual effort, a sensor vehicle (1) - land vehicle or aircraft - is proposed, which carries a non-contact temperature sensor (20), in particular a pyrometer (20), with which the temperature measurement is carried out after appropriate approach to the animal (T), and is evaluated and/or stored either directly in the sensor vehicle (1) or in a remote central station (60) after wireless transmission there.