ES2382638A1 - Intelligent station for the monitoring of wild fauna. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Intelligent station for the monitoring of wildlife, through which it is possible to control and monitor wildlife in an automated and unassisted way, in open air places such as feeders or passage areas of said fauna. The invention has a monitoring system, a record storage system, a photovoltaic energy system, presence sensors, and an rfid reading system. The present invention allows to monitor variables related to the behavior of the species due to their local treatment, being possible to know patterns of behavior, in terms of schedules, duration, hierarchies among several individuals or periodicity of said behaviors. In short, the present invention using rfid technology, allows to advance in the obtaining of an automated system for the registration of movements of wild fauna maintaining reliably all the records derived from said movements. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Smart station for monitoring wildlife.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a station intelligent for wildlife identification and monitoring wild, based on RFID technology, which, through a series of elements, which will be described later, allows the identification, location and control of animal species wild.

The intelligent station object of the present invention, allows to detect the presence of animals in the called coverage area, registering its identifier, being is stored, as well as the moment it was detected. The possibility of automating this type of records solves the current problem of performing manual follow-ups, or with inaccurate registration systems.

The system has been designed to have autonomy, thanks to the use of photovoltaic energy, so it is susceptible to be installed in the natural environment. Thanks to a system of readers delimits a wide reading area in which Identify any previously marked copy. In this way generates an exact record of identity, date and time, which remains stored in the system.

Wildlife tracking is a basic mechanism in the study and management of populations and their habitats Currently this type of follow-up is done in a way Local and in a very manual way. The records obtained are used for private studies, but there is no location where all the records made reside.

It should be noted that scientists they need detailed knowledge of migratory movements and displacements of different species to track integrated their populations and ultimately ensure their conservation. The preservation of the populations of the different species is a social demand, a priority when they constitute a hunting or cultural resource dependent on proper management, and a need for the services they provide to ecosystems. The development of distribution atlases and monitoring programs in numerous countries have been revealed as the best tool for detect and alleviate the different threats to the populations of The different species of wildlife.

The study of displacements in different vital phases of wildlife (youth, reproduction, migrations, etc.) represents a valuable tool to prevent or minimize the impact of human activities.

Currently because the major is done part of registration tasks manually, and a follow up as an automated system can do, Records are not as reliable and accurate as you should. It also fits add the tedious thing of registering manually, since forces in a first instance to visually identify the individual, manually register the identified code and subsequently perform an update in the database. These tasks are usually done only by day and not in a way exhaustive

The identification system is designed to be installed in concentration points or forced passage of wildlife wild (water points, feeders, passageways, etc.). This system allows remote identification automatically and unambiguous of marked individuals.

One of the most novel features that provides this system, is the use of animal marking using passive type RFID tags, also called tags or transponders This type of labels does not contain battery, since which obtains the energy necessary to transmit from the energy radiated by the reading station, offering a lifespan in several years On the other hand this technology allows the tags are very small in size and weight, so it is possible apply in a large number of medium and small sized species. In addition to not incorporating active elements its cost is very low compared to other solutions that cannot be applied to a large number of subjects.

Scope

The field of application of the present invention is that of the industry or sector of direct related activity or indirectly with wildlife conservation and study wild.

Background of the invention

In terms of radio frequency for years there have been solutions but with lower frequencies, working with electromagnetic induction mechanisms. They have been analyzed different solutions that mostly work at low frequency for monitoring and control of animals in livestock farms. Due to the limitations of this technology it is necessary that animals go through very narrow arches to be able to perform the readings, this is due to the limitations of technology in As far as reading distance. These limitations are the ones that don't allow to be used for wildlife monitoring, where they need greater reading distances in order not to disturb their natural behavior.

References such as US Pat No: US 2003/0205208 A1 entitled "Method and system for monitoring physiological conditions of, and / or suitability of animal feed for ruminant animals "dated 6 November 2003

On the other hand the solutions have been analyzed of wildlife monitoring with transmission technologies of Long-range information such as GPS. This type of technology is based on the same basis of monitoring as that of present project, but there are notable differences since the type GPS tracking is more global by zones and devices that are used may not always be used in all wildlife wild. The backpacks or collars that animals must carry are very bulky and limit the movements they can perform and The costs of such devices is very high. It is also It is necessary to control the batteries since it is necessary to renew periodically They also do not allow information regarding behavioral patterns of great interest for the study of Ecology and conservation. In addition, high costs can be considered of banding of this type of systems.

References such as US Pat No: US 7,705,736 B1 entitled "Method and apparatus for data logging of physiological and environmental variables for domestic and feral animals "dated April 27, 2010.

During the last years the RFID UHF technology The latest generation with passive tags is beginning to apply novel way to track animals on farms with some satisfactory results. We can find related patents with the use of RFID technology to automate feeders for domestic and farm animals.

References such as US Pat No: US 2006/0132317 To the one entitled "Livestock data acquisition and collection "dated June 22, 2006.

Description of the invention

In order to be able to register and monitor wildlife behavior in environments natural and minimizing the visual impact, which involve facilities otherwise, the invention object of the present has been devised document. This invention greatly improves the performance of other previously existing systems due to limitations in As for the reading distance, transponder problems bulky and battery replacement needs so periodic transponders. In addition the present invention allows monitoring variables related to the behavior of species due to its local treatment, this way it is possible know behavior patterns, in terms of schedules, duration, hierarchies among several individuals or periodicity of said behaviors The monitoring station (1), is formed by several elements that are described below detailed.

A developed RFID reading system formed a reading device (2), which has connections of radio frequency where you can connect radiant elements of type antenna (3), and a communications port, which allows communication and transmit information to a computer equipment (6), where They store the records obtained.

The antennas (3), allow to radiate energy that is captured by RFID marks (10), and capture the information issued by brands. These antennas (3), are connected by means of Low loss coaxial cables with the reader (2). Energy radiated by the antennas (3), is captured by the RFID brand (10) of way that allows to feed the internal chip of the RFID brand (10), activating its own communications system. When activating the system of communications this radiates the information stored in the chip towards the station (1). The same antennas (3), receive the information radiated by the marks and this is registered in the equipment reader (2).

Subsequently the reading device (2), provide the information to the computer equipment (6) for later processed through the communications port. The team computer (6) collects the records made by the system reading, treats them by extracting the relevant information, and stores in an orderly manner, including additional data such as timing in which the registration was made. Storage is local to the computer computer (6) but also allows data export or its redirection to another computer through the network. An investor (8) allows to supply electric power to the station (1).

The central station (1) allows to have a single information store where records from are stored from different reading stations. In this way it is possible perform a processing that crosses data from all stations of reading in order to obtain behavior patterns at a level superior being able to detect migrations between stations.

One of the objectives of the system is that it be placed in passing spaces or where wildlife comes. This particularity forces the system to be autonomous from the point of view of energy. This is to ensure that your use in case you are in a remote location without connection possibilities to the electricity supply network.

The autonomous electric power system also It consists of a solar energy collection system, consisting of a solar panel (5), connected to a control panel or regulator, which allows converting the energy signal from the board solar to an energy storage system. System Energy storage consists of batteries (7), charged of carrying out the storage and feeding of the system.

A network of sensors (4), of presence that allow to detect the proximity of an individual by activating the system Reading for registration. This network of sensors (4), enables that the monitoring station (1); is at rest minimizing energy consumption until the detection of an individual, At this time the station is activated and performs the records.

Thanks to the benefits that technology offers RFID, which allows unitary identification, remotely and without need to have direct visibility, it is possible to improve these chores. The present invention tries to give solution to said need through an identification system using the RFID technology, will allow progress in obtaining a system Automated for recording wildlife movements reliably maintaining all records derived from said movements.

Through the present invention it has been achieved apply RFID technology to the need to perform a local monitoring of these species. Since all this information is stored in a computer system, to be able to expand or interconnect different zones so that they can exchange Registered information could solve current problems existing in this matter.

Description of the figures

To complement the description that is being performed and in order to facilitate the understanding of characteristics of the invention, is attached herein descriptive a set of drawings, in which with an illustrative character and not limiting the following has been represented:

- Figure 1 shows a diagram of the elements that make up the intelligent station (1).

- Figure 2 shows a diagram of the system monitoring

Claims (3)

1. Intelligent station for wildlife monitoring (1), essentially characterized in that it is composed of several elements such as an RFID reading system developed, consisting of a reader device (2), which has radiofrequency connections where it will allow to connect radiating elements of antenna type (3); a series of presence sensors (4); a computer (6). The station (1) also has a system autonomous electric power formed by a solar panel (5) connected to a rectifier (9), batteries (7) and an inverter (8). 2. Intelligent station for monitoring of wildlife (1) according to claim 1, comprising a few records of storage in the computer (6). 3. Smart station for monitoring of wildlife (1), according to claim 2, because it has a wireless communication module for sending records stored to a central station.