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BR-122022017710-B1 - METHOD FOR OPERATING A STIMULATION APPARATUS AND STIMULATION APPARATUS

BR122022017710B1BR 122022017710 B1BR122022017710 B1BR 122022017710B1BR-122022017710-B1

Abstract

A method is described for operating a stimulus device configured to be attached to an animal, the stimulus device comprising a controller interfacing with a location sensor and at least one stimulus output to provide a stimulus to the animal, the method comprising: receiving, in the stimulus device, threshold parameters that define a first threshold and a second threshold, wherein each threshold is associated with a geographic area; determining, from the threshold parameters, that the first threshold defines an inclusion zone and that the second threshold defines an exclusion zone and that the first threshold encompasses the second threshold; monitoring the location of the collar in relation to the first and second thresholds; and determining that a stimulus should be applied to the animal, at least in part, due to the identification that the animal is located within the exclusion zone; and in response, applying the stimulus; and related stimulus device.

Inventors

  • Chris Leigh-Lancaster
  • Sally HAYNES
  • Tanusri BHATTACHARYA

Assignees

  • Agersens Pty Ltd

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20190902
Priority Date
20180904

Claims (14)

  1. 1. Method for operating a stimulus device (14), configured to be attached to an animal, comprising a controller (30) interfacing with a location sensor (31) and at least one stimulus output to provide a stimulus to the animal, the method comprising: receiving, in the stimulus device (14), limit parameters that define a first limit and a second limit, wherein each limit is associated with a geographical area; determining, from the limit parameters, that the first limit defines an inclusion zone and that the second limit defines an exclusion zone, and that the first limit encompasses the second limit; monitoring the location of the collar in relation to the first and second limits; the method characterized in that it further comprises: determining that a stimulus should be applied to the animal, at least in part, due to the identification that the animal is located within the exclusion zone; and in response, applying the stimulus.
  2. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulus apparatus (14) is a collar configured to be worn around the neck of an animal.
  3. 3. Method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stimulus comprises an aversive stimulus and/or a non-aversive stimulus.
  4. 4. A method, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the boundary parameters specify that the first boundary defines an inclusion zone and the second boundary defines an exclusion zone.
  5. 5. A method, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the controller is configured to determine that the second boundary defines an exclusion zone based on being encompassed by the first boundary.
  6. 6. A method, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises the step of stopping the application of the stimulus upon identifying that the animal is located within the inclusion zone.
  7. 7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the limit parameters are received from a system controller via wireless data communication.
  8. 8. Stimulation device (14), configured to be attached to an animal, comprising a controller (30) interfacing with a location sensor (31) and at least one stimulus output to provide a stimulus to the animal, the controller (30) configured to cause the stimulation device (14) to: receive threshold parameters that define a first threshold and a second threshold, wherein each threshold is associated with a geographical area; determine, from the threshold parameters, that the first threshold defines an inclusion zone and that the second threshold defines an exclusion zone, and that the first threshold encompasses the second threshold; monitor the location of the collar in relation to the first and second thresholds; the device characterized in that it additionally: determines that a stimulus should be applied to the animal, at least in part, due to the identification that the animal is located within the exclusion zone; and in response, applies the stimulus.
  9. 9. Stimulation device (14), according to claim 8, characterized in that the stimulation device (14) is a collar configured to be worn around the neck of an animal.
  10. 10. Stimulation apparatus (14), according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the stimulus comprises an aversive stimulus and/or a non-aversive stimulus.
  11. 11. Stimulation apparatus (14), according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the boundary parameters specify that the first boundary defines an inclusion zone and that the second boundary defines an exclusion zone.
  12. 12. Stimulation apparatus (14), according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the controller is configured to determine that the second boundary defines an exclusion zone based on being encompassed by the first boundary.
  13. 13. Stimulation device (14), according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the controller is configured not to apply the stimulus upon identifying that the animal is located within the inclusion zone.
  14. 14. Stimulation apparatus (14), according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the threshold parameters are received from a system controller via wireless data communication.

Description

Field of Invention [001] The present invention relates to a stimulus device, such as a wearable device, for attaching to an animal, for example, a collar that can be worn by the animal, which can be used in a virtual fencing, herding and/or grazing system, of particular, but by no means exclusive, application in the control of livestock, such as cattle. Background of the invention [002] In an existing system, a virtual fencing system uses battery-powered collar units (in some cases supplemented by solar power) attached to cattle necks to deliver aversive and non-aversive stimuli to the animal based on its detected location, speed, and direction. The stimuli deter individual animals from moving into particular predefined areas of a field or pasture, thus establishing virtual boundaries that the animals will not or are unlikely to cross. Summary of the Invention [003] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a stimulus apparatus configured to be worn by an animal is provided, the stimulus apparatus comprising a controller interfacing with a location sensor and at least one stimulus output to provide a stimulus to the animal, the method comprising: receiving a boundary specification and monitoring the location of the stimulus apparatus relative to the boundary defined by the boundary specification; determining an expanded boundary; identifying a transition condition including a transition zone, the transition zone comprising at least a portion of the expanded boundary; monitoring the location of the stimulus apparatus; determining that the location of the stimulus apparatus is within the transition zone; in response, reducing the size of the boundary so that the boundary includes the transition zone and excludes at least a portion of the boundary before expansion. [004] The method may additionally comprise the step of applying a stimulus to the animal in response to the detection that the stimulus apparatus is out of range. [005] The transition condition optionally further comprises the determination that at least one other stimulus device is also located within the transition region. The transition zone may comprise the entire portion of the expanded boundary that was not part of the boundary before expansion. The boundary after reduction may be equivalent to the transition zone. The expanded boundary may be equal to the boundary before expansion, and the transition zone may constitute an area within the boundary and smaller than the boundary. The method is optionally applied to a plurality of stimulus devices, and the transition condition may include the identification of the presence of a predetermined number of stimulus devices within the transition zone. [006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for changing from a first limit to a final limit is provided, comprising the steps of: defining a path between an original limit and a final limit and applying at least one iteration of the method of the previous method, wherein each limit expansion is in the direction along the path of the final limit. [007] The stimulus device may be a collar or the stimulus devices may be collars. The stimulus device or devices may be in wireless data communication with a system controller, the system controller being optionally configured to implement the method. [008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a stimulus apparatus configured to be worn by an animal is provided, the stimulus apparatus comprising a controller interfacing with a location sensor and at least one stimulus output to provide a stimulus to the animal, wherein the controller is configured to cause the stimulus apparatus to: receive a boundary specification and monitor the location of the stimulus apparatus relative to the boundary defined by the boundary specification; determine an expanded boundary; identify a transition condition including a transition zone, the transition zone comprising at least a portion of the expanded boundary; monitor the location of the stimulus apparatus; determine that the location of the stimulus apparatus is within the transition zone; in response, reduce the size of the boundary so that the boundary includes the transition zone and excludes at least a portion of the boundary before expansion. [009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a virtual enclosure system comprising a system controller and a plurality of stimulus devices, wherein each stimulus device is in data communication with the system controller, each stimulus device configured to controllably apply a stimulus to an animal wearing the stimulus device depending on the location of the stimulus device to a boundary associated with the stimulus device, and the system controller configured to: determine a boundary and communicate the boundary to each stimulus device; determine an expanded boundary and communicate the expanded boundary to each stimulus device; identify a transi