Estimating physical parameters using three dimensional representations
First Claim
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1. A method for estimating a non-geometric physical parameter of an unrestrained livestock animal, comprising:
- projecting one or more predetermined light patterns onto at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal with a single calibrated device comprising a light projector and a light detector, wherein the unrestrained livestock animal is able to move relative to the single calibrated device within a commercial livestock environment;
detecting one or more light patterns resulting from an interaction of one or more of the projected light patterns and at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal using the single device;
processing, by data processing apparatus, the one or more detected light patterns to provide a three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal based on light patterns detected only by the single device; and
using, by the data processing apparatus, the three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal to estimate the non-geometric physical parameter of the unrestrained livestock animal.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus for estimating physical parameters using three dimensional representations. In one aspect, predetermined light patterns are projected onto an object and light patterns resulting from an interaction of the projected light patterns and portions of the object are detected. Three dimensional locations of multiple light elements in the detected light pattern are determined, and physical parameters of the object, for example, weight, are estimated based on the locations.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for estimating a non-geometric physical parameter of an unrestrained livestock animal, comprising:
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projecting one or more predetermined light patterns onto at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal with a single calibrated device comprising a light projector and a light detector, wherein the unrestrained livestock animal is able to move relative to the single calibrated device within a commercial livestock environment; detecting one or more light patterns resulting from an interaction of one or more of the projected light patterns and at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal using the single device; processing, by data processing apparatus, the one or more detected light patterns to provide a three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal based on light patterns detected only by the single device; and using, by the data processing apparatus, the three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal to estimate the non-geometric physical parameter of the unrestrained livestock animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer implemented medium having executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor or a computing device performs a method for estimating a physical parameter of an unrestrained livestock animal, comprising:
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projecting a plurality of predetermined light patterns onto at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal with a single calibrated device comprising a light projector and a light detector, wherein the unrestrained livestock animal is able to move relative to the single calibrated device within a commercial livestock environment; detecting one or more light patterns resulting from an interaction of the projected light patterns and at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal using the single device; processing the one or more detected light patterns to provide a three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal based on light patterns detected only by the single device; and using the three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the animal to estimate the non-geometric physical parameter of the animal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for estimating a physical parameter of an unrestrained livestock animal, comprising:
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a calibrated device comprising a light projector and a detector configured to project light onto and detect light from the unrestrained livestock animal while the unrestrained livestock animal is able to move relative to the single calibrated device within a commercial livestock environment, the light projector comprising a light source configured to project one or more predetermined light patterns comprising a plurality of light elements onto at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal; the detector configured to detect one or more light patterns comprising a plurality of light elements and resulting from an interaction of one or more projected light pattern and at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal; and a data processing apparatus configured to; provide a three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal by determining the three dimensional location of a plurality of light elements from a single detected light pattern detected from a single detector location; and use the three dimensional representation to estimate the non-geometric physical parameter of the unrestrained livestock animal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for estimating weight of an unrestrained livestock animal, comprising:
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a single calibrated device configured to project light onto and to detect light from the unrestrained livestock animal while the unrestrained livestock animal is able to move relative to the single calibrated device within a commercial livestock environment, the single calibrated device comprising; (a) a projector to project one or more predetermined light patterns onto at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal; (b) a detector to detect one or more light patterns resulting from an interaction of one or more of the projected light patterns and at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal; a data processing apparatus to process the one or more detected light patterns to provide a three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the unrestrained livestock animal based on light patterns detected only by the single device and to estimate the weight of the animal based on the three dimensional representation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification