BR-202024017301-U2 - INTELLIGENT ANIMAL HANDLER

Abstract

This utility model falls within the technical sector of livestock equipment, being a mobile and autonomous device designed to automatically provide feed, monitor the health and control the weight of animals. It consists of: Reservoir Assembly (1) for storing feed; Supply Lid Assembly (2) for refilling and sealing; Ladder Assembly (3) for safe access; Camera (4) for identifying and monitoring animals, adjusting feed dosage according to weight targets and performing thermographic monitoring; Roof Assembly (5) for protecting electronic components; RFID Reader and Antenna Assembly (6) for animal identification; Electronic Item Support Box Assembly (7) for protecting electronic systems; Complete Dosing Assembly (8), which includes Dosing Auger Assembly (10), Connecting Bushing Assembly (11), Dosing Support Assembly (12) and Motor (13), responsible for precise feed dosage; and Chassis Assembly (9) for structural support. The device automates the feeding and monitoring of animals, distributing feed precisely, reducing human intervention and maintenance costs, and enabling real-time monitoring for efficient management.

Inventors

• JOÃO BATISTA PEDROSO CARBONELL

Assignees

• TRYBER TECNOLOGIA MECÂNICA LTDA

Dates

Publication Date

20260310

Application Date

20240823

Claims (1)

1. SMART ANIMAL TREATER, characterized by a Reservoir Assembly (1), a Supply Lid Assembly (2), a Ladder Assembly (3), a Camera (4), a Roof Assembly (5), an RFID Reader and Antenna Assembly (6), an Electronic Item Support Box Assembly (7), a Complete Dosing Assembly (8), which includes Dosing Auger Assembly (10), Connecting Bushing Assembly (11), Dosing Support Assembly (12) and Motor (13), and a Chassis Assembly (9).

Description

Field of invention [1] The present utility model is situated within the technical sector of livestock equipment, specifically focused on the automation of feeding and monitoring of animal health in beef and dairy herds. The invention applies to the field of agricultural automation, integrating real-time monitoring technologies, automated feeding systems, and data management on rural properties. Investments in livestock farming are high, particularly in animal nutrition and health, representing a significant portion of the activity's costs. Currently, few properties are able to carry out efficient management that allows for the accurate measurement of the production cost of each batch of animals and the profit obtained from them, resulting in a lack of clarity regarding the cost per kilogram of meat sold, for example. [2] Currently, most rural producers rely on annual cash flow to manage their properties, due to the difficulty of obtaining reliable indicators on their operating costs. This is done, in large part, through manual, empirical observations and based on records in electronic spreadsheets. [3] The inclusion of an autonomous and intelligent system, such as the invention shown here, which collects accurate data in real time, allows for more efficient and reliable management of costs related to animal treatment, enabling the transition from a system based on human observations to a system based on precise measurements. The invention generates a significant impact on reducing the costs of livestock farming, monitoring animal feed and health in real time, generating real-time analyses and solutions for the more efficient development of livestock farming. State of the Art [4] Although most animal feeders (troughs with reservoirs) are metal or wooden units with a feed reservoir whose release is carried out by gravity, the state of the art related to the invention already includes some examples of technologies and devices that seek to automate the feeding and monitoring of herds, but which are not to be confused with them. [5] In the state of the art, there are already examples that (i) use the application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in automatic feeding systems to distribute feed to cattle in confined indoor environments; (ii) employ real-time monitoring of cattle in feeding zones, using an individual tag with radio frequency (RFID) technology; in addition to (iii) farm control systems that include an "animal interaction" device, such as a feed dispenser, which is also linked to a tag that the animal carries, which may be RFID technology. [6] However, existing examples in the state of the art present several technical limitations for the purported automated feeding and monitoring of herds. One of the main technical limitations lies in the imprecision of animal weighing, which normally depends on weighing platforms. These platforms are susceptible to errors when multiple animals use them simultaneously and when they accumulate foreign bodies, such as feces, mud and other elements produced or carried by the animals, which compromises the accuracy of the data and requires frequent maintenance. [7] Furthermore, existing solutions are often limited to identifying animals and monitoring feeding without integrating with comprehensive animal health monitoring and without the ability to perform automated actions based on the data collected. This results in less efficient management and missed opportunities for early and preventive interventions that could treat diseases, improve health and optimize animal performance. [8] The “Intelligent Animal Handler” presents several innovations that overcome the limitations of existing state-of-the-art examples. Firstly, the invention eliminates the need for animal weighing platforms by using cameras to estimate their weight, which allows for accurate measurement even when several animals are present in the trough. Furthermore, the integration of a thermographic camera allows for continuous monitoring of animal health as it can identify changes in animal body temperature and enable intervention for the treatment of diseases, for example. [9] Secondly, the invention features an animal monitoring system that allows the generation of various data and information, such as feed supply (time and quantity), frequency of animal visits to the feed trough (number of daily events), duration of these visits (minutes and hours per day), daily feed consumption, consumption per visit, consumption rate (grams per minute), time spent in front of the trough without consumption, interval between feeding events, trough occupancy rate throughout the day, and tracing the herd hierarchy, such as the order in which animals enter the trough and preferred feeding times. This data can be accessed in real time from anywhere via computer or mobile phone. With this data and using artificial intelligence for its analysis, it is also possible to identify any anomalies in the animals' feeding pa