Electronic Sow Body Caliper With Angle-Based Digital Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale hog operations face challenges in accurately measuring, recording, and storing body condition measurements of sows using traditional mechanical calipers, which lack precision and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electronic body caliper with a position sensor and computing device that translates the relative angle between plates into a body condition score, allowing for digital recording and storage, and adaptable scales based on animal genetics, parity, age, or prior performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mechanical caliper with a three-zone scale is used to measure sow body condition, then the measurement process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision is crude and lacks accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical three-zone scale system with an electronic position sensor and computing device that provides continuous numerical measurement. The position sensor electronically detects the angle between caliper arms and translates it into precise body condition scores, eliminating the crude mechanical scale while maintaining measurement simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from discrete three-zone categories to continuous numerical values. The computing device processes the position sensor data to generate precise body condition scores, allowing for greater measurement resolution and accuracy while maintaining ease of use through automated calculation.
2Productivity
If manual recording of body condition measurements is used in large-scale operations, then the measurement process remains simple, but the time required for data recording and storage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic body caliper performs self-recording of measurements. The position sensor automatically captures the angle data, the computing device calculates the body condition score, and the results are stored digitally without requiring manual intervention for data transcription. This eliminates the time-consuming manual recording process while maintaining measurement simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual data recording process with an automated electronic system. The position sensor and computing device work together to automatically capture, process, and store measurement data, eliminating the need for manual data entry and significantly improving recording efficiency in large-scale operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed three-zone scale is used for all sows, then the device is simple to operate, but the adaptability to different animal genetics, parity, age, or performance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic measurement system where the body condition scale can be adjusted based on animal characteristics. The computing device can be configured with different lookup tables or measurement criteria tailored to specific genetics, parity, age, or performance levels, allowing the same physical caliper to adapt to diverse measurement requirements without hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic body caliper serves multiple functions by accommodating different body condition scales and measurement criteria through software configuration. The position sensor and computing device can be reconfigured to work with various animal types and management systems, making a single device universally applicable across different production scenarios.
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
Enhances measurement accuracy and efficiency by providing digital data capture and flexible scaling, enabling efficient data management and customizable body condition assessment.
Implementation Method 1
A position sensor is coupled between the first plate and the second plate to measure a relative change in angle between the first plate and the second plate.
Data Source
AI summary
A first plate with a first downwardly extending member and a second plate with a second downwardly extending member. The second plate moves with respect to the first plate to define a change in a relative angle between the first downwardly extending member and the second downwardly extending member. A position sensor is coupled between the first plate and the second plate to measure a relative change in angle between the first plate and the second plate.