System and a method for real time detection of the position and behavior of a plurality of animals

• US 10,349,630 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Florczak, Keld
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/439,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,087 Days
• Field of Search: 3405732, 3405731, 600300
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for real time detection of the position and behavior of a plurality of animals which system comprises radio transmitter tags carried by the animals, where sensors receives signal from the tags, which system based of time delay of received signals at the sensors from the tags, perform calculation the position of the animals. It is the first object of the invention to achieve real time position of animal in a limited area. The object can be fulfilled by letting the system comprise a computer bases real time position calculation of the position of the animals, which system comprises a plurality of fixed reference radio transmitter tags, which system continuously based of received signal from the reference tags performs a calibration of the measured position of the animals. By using fixed reference radio transmitters together with tags that are performing equal radio transmission functions, it is possible by fixed placed sensors to receive first signals from the animal tags, but also signals from the fixed reference radio transmitter tags to perform an automatic calibration of all received signals from animals.

Claims

1. A system for real time detection of the position of a plurality of animals held in a limited area, the system comprising:

a fixed reference radio transmitter tag disposed in the limited area;

a plurality of radio receiver/transmitter animal tags capable of being carried by animals moving in the limited area;

a sensor, in wireless communication with the fixed reference radio transmitter tags and the radio receiver/transmitter animal tags, based on a time or a phase delay of received signals at the sensors from the radio receiver/transmitter animal tags;

a position detector comprising;

a computer that calculates an optimal placement of the sensor for communicating with the radio receiver/transmitter animal tags and the fixed reference radio transmitter tag in the limited area; and

for calculating an optimal placement of the fixed reference radio transmitter tag, and then receives a signal from the fixed reference radio transmitter tag to calibrate the system and then measure a position of at least one of the radio receiver/transmitter animal tags.

2. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a second sensor positioned to receive data from the fixed reference radio transmitter tag and the radio receiver/transmitter animal tags.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the position detector generates at least one map indicating the position of the radio receiver/transmitter animal sensors, and the position of the fixed reference radio transmitter tag.

4. The system of claim 3, and further comprising:

an internet connection in communication with the position detector and having access to the map.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the position detector stores data for individual animals associated with each radio receiver/transmitter animal tag, and the data is accessible via the internet.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the position detector records animal tag position data over a time period to divide the animals into two or more groups based on the animal tag position data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a first group of animals is categorized in a group having normal behavior, and a second group is categorized in a group having abnormal activity.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the limited area is disposed inside at least one barn.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the position detector analyzes animal tag position data over a plurality of time periods to determine where the animal tags remain for periods of time and whether the animal tags are moving.

10. A method for configuration and operation of an animal position detector system for detecting positions of a plurality of animals, with each animal carrying at least one radio receiver/transmitter tag, the method comprising the following steps:

a;

defining at least one limited area for the animals to be detected in the animal position detection system,

b;

dividing the limited area into a number of sub areas,

c;

calculating a number of sensors for monitoring the limited area;

d;

calculating an optimal position for each sensor;

e;

defining a number of fixed reference radio receiver/transmitter tags;

f;

calculating an optimal position for each fixed reference radio receiver/transmitter tag;

g;

installing each sensor and each fixed reference radio receiver/transmitter tag at its calculated optimal position within the area and sub area;

h;

performing a calibration test of the system by sensing signals from the fixed reference radio receiver/transmitter tag;

i;

calculating an actual position of at least one animal carrying a radio receiver/transmitter tag; and

j;

calculating activity of at least one animal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the animal position detection system continuously calculates a position of the animal based on the measured position of a reference radio receiver/transmitter animal tag.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each sensor communicates with at least one fixed reference radio receiver/transmitter tag.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the area is disposed in at least one barn.