Smart Leash Force Feedback for Animal Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing animal leashes lack the capability to provide preventative feedback to animals, leading to potential injuries for both the animal and the walker due to reactive force responses, as they do not allow for correction of behavior before reaching an unacceptable force level.

Innovation Solution

A smart leash system comprising a handheld unit, a collar system, and a load-measuring sensor that provides selective and programmable feedback to the animal when a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, allowing for training and behavior correction before excessive force is applied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional reactive feedback leashes are used, then the walker experiences force from the animal, but the animal cannot correct its behavior before excessive force is applied

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidbehavioral feedback timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The smart leash system performs preliminary action by detecting force threshold exceedances and providing corrective feedback to the animal before excessive force is applied. The load sensor continuously monitors leash tension, and when a predetermined threshold is exceeded, the system immediately signals the animal through the collar, enabling the animal to correct its behavior in advance rather than after injury risk occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring force applied to the leash via a load sensor and providing real-time corrective signals to the animal through the collar system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the animal to understand and adjust its behavior based on the feedback received, transforming the traditional reactive approach into a proactive behavioral correction system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If a retractable leash is used to allow animal movement, then the animal can explore its environment, but the walker loses control when the animal exerts excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal movement freedomVSAvoidwalker control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The smart leash system provides continuous feedback to the animal through the collar when force thresholds are exceeded, enabling the animal to self-regulate its pulling behavior. This allows the leash to remain extended for animal exploration while the feedback mechanism maintains walker control by training the animal to respond to corrective signals, preventing excessive force without requiring the leash to be retracted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the animal to learn and correct its own behavior through the feedback mechanism. The animal receives real-time signals when exerting excessive force and autonomously adjusts its behavior, reducing the need for direct walker intervention and maintaining control while preserving movement freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Force

If pinch-collar with spikes is used to reduce force, then the animal experiences discomfort, but the animal may ignore the discomfort and continue applying excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce applied by animalVSAvoidanimal discomfort and potential injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The smart leash system provides immediate feedback to the animal when force thresholds are exceeded, creating a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the animal's action and the corrective signal. This timely feedback is more effective than physical discomfort from spike collars because it allows the animal to correct behavior before harmful force levels are reached, preventing both the excessive force and the associated discomfort or injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by providing corrective feedback before the animal reaches force levels that would cause harm or significant discomfort. The load sensor detects threshold exceedances and triggers corrective signals in advance, preventing the animal from escalating to harmful force levels rather than reacting after harm occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS10602722B1Smart leash system

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 HETZER DESIGN & INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A smart leash system is disclosed, which includes a handheld system configured to be held by a user, a collar system configured to be worn by an animal, a leash coupled to and extended between the handheld system and the collar system, and a load measuring sensor coupled to the handheld system and configured to measure force applied to the leash, wherein one of the handheld system, the collar system, and both the handheld system and the collar system is configured to receive a force signal representing the force applied to the leash and signal the collar system to provide a feedback to the animal when the force exceeds a predetermined threshold.