JP2020048484A - Temperature measuring system and temperature measuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a temperature measuring system and a temperature measuring method capable of achieving health management having higher reliability by improving accuracy of measurement of a body temperature of an animal, while suppressing deterioration of efficiency of a temperature measuring work.SOLUTION: A temperature measuring system 1 for measuring a body temperature of an animal in a non-contact way, includes a suckling sensor 14 capable of detecting suckling of a calf C, a thermography camera 3 capable of measuring a temperature distribution in a prescribed range in the non-contact way, and a control part 24 for allowing the thermography camera 3 to measure a temperature distribution in a prescribed range including an eye part E of the calf C, when suckling of the calf C is detected by the suckling sensor 14, and a prescribed condition related to the body temperature of the calf C is satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature measurement system and a temperature measurement method for measuring the body temperature of animals such as livestock.

  Conventionally, in order to measure the body temperature of an animal such as a cow, a contact-type thermometer such as a thermometer has to be inserted into the rectum or mouth and kept at a fixed position for a certain period of time. Therefore, a great deal of stress and effort was applied to both the measurer and the animal.

  Therefore, a body temperature measurement method has been developed in which a non-contact thermometer such as a thermography camera measures the body temperature of an animal during feeding a plurality of times from outside the body and calculates an average value of the measurement results (Patent Document 1). reference).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-88541

  However, since the body temperature of an animal generally rises due to feeding, there is a difference in body temperature between the start of feeding and the end of feeding. Then, an error occurs in the measurement of the body temperature, and if such an error occurs, the reliability of health care may be impaired.

  On the other hand, if the body temperature is constantly measured from the start to the end of the feeding of the animal, there is a problem that the number of data processing steps and the amount of data become enormous, and the efficiency of the temperature measurement operation deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of animal body temperature measurement while suppressing the deterioration of the efficiency of temperature measurement work, and to improve the reliability. An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature measurement system and a temperature measurement method capable of realizing highly-reliable health management.

  In order to achieve the above object, the temperature measurement system according to the present invention is a temperature measurement system that measures the body temperature of an animal in a non-contact manner, and a feeding detection unit that can detect the feeding behavior of the animal, A body temperature measurement unit capable of measuring a temperature distribution in a predetermined range in a non-contact manner, and the feeding behavior of the animal is detected by the feeding detection unit, and when a predetermined condition related to the body temperature of the animal is satisfied, A control unit that causes the body temperature measurement unit to measure a temperature distribution in a predetermined range including the temperature measurement target portion of the animal.

  In the above-described temperature measurement system, the predetermined condition may include a condition corresponding to a time of the feeding behavior.

  In the above-described temperature measurement system, the predetermined condition may include providing a predetermined interval time according to a time of the feeding behavior.

  In the above-described temperature measurement system, the predetermined condition may include a condition corresponding to a food intake.

  Further, in the above-mentioned temperature measurement system, the predetermined condition may include providing a predetermined interval amount according to a food intake amount.

  In order to achieve the above object, the temperature measurement method according to the present invention is a temperature measurement method for measuring a body temperature of an animal in a non-contact manner, wherein a feeding detection unit detects a feeding behavior of the animal. Feeding detection step, when the feeding behavior of the animal is detected by the feeding detection unit, and when a predetermined condition related to the body temperature of the animal is satisfied, the body temperature measurement unit sets the temperature measurement target portion of the animal. And a body temperature measuring step of measuring a temperature distribution in a predetermined range.

  According to the present invention using the above-described means, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the measurement of the body temperature of an animal and realize more reliable health care while suppressing the deterioration of the efficiency of the temperature measurement work.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a temperature measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the temperature measurement control routine which the control part of the temperature measurement system in this embodiment performs. It is a graph which shows the relationship between feeding time and body temperature.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a temperature measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the temperature measurement system will be described with reference to FIG.

  The temperature measurement system 1 measures the body temperature of the animal from outside the body without contact. In the present embodiment, the animal to be measured is a calf C, and the surface temperature having a high correlation with the core body temperature is determined. The eye E shown is a temperature measurement target. The temperature measurement system 1 mainly includes a baby bottle 2 (feed providing unit) for supplying milk as a feed for the calf C, and a thermography camera 3 (body temperature) for measuring a temperature distribution in a predetermined range without contact. (Measurement unit) and an arithmetic unit 4 for controlling the thermographic camera 3 and managing the health of the calf C.

  The feeding device 2 includes an artificial nipple 10 that the calf C holds for feeding (feeding behavior), a main body 11 that supports the artificial nipple 10, and a transport that transports milk from the milk tank 12 to the main body 11. And a tube 13. The main body 11 includes a cylindrical portion 11a that supports the artificial nipple 10 at the center of one end surface, and a conical portion 11b that extends conically from the other end of the cylindrical portion 11a to the transport pipe 13.

  Further, the artificial nipple 10 is provided with a feeding sensor 14 (feed detection unit) capable of detecting feeding of the calf C. The feeding sensor 14 is communicably connected to the arithmetic device 4 and transmits a feeding signal to the arithmetic device 4 while the calf C is feeding. The feeding sensor 14 may be a sensor that detects only that the calf C is sucking the artificial nipple 10 irrespective of whether the calf C is feeding.

  In addition, the milk amount set for each calf C is set in the milk tank 12, and when each calf C finishes drinking the milk having the specified amount, the milk tank 12 becomes the calf to be fed. A signal for switching C to the next calf C (calf switching signal) is transmitted to the arithmetic unit 4. Note that the switching of the calf C to be fed is not limited to the one set according to the feeding amount, and may be set according to the feeding time.

  The thermographic camera 3 is provided above the cylindrical portion 11a of the main body 11 of the baby bottle 2, and is fixed so that the lens portion is directed to the head of the calf C when feeding. The thermographic camera 3 may be configured so that the direction of the lens unit can be changed manually or automatically.

  The thermographic camera 3 is a camera capable of taking a thermal image (still image or moving image) showing a temperature distribution in a predetermined range in a non-contact manner based on the amount of infrared rays emitted from the object to be measured. It can be transmitted to the device 4.

  The arithmetic unit 4 is a computer such as a personal computer (PC) or a server connected to the above-described milk tank 12, the feeding sensor 14, and the thermographic camera 3 via a communication network such as a wired, wireless, or Internet. It has a unit 20, a storage unit 21, an output unit 22, a communication unit 23, and a control unit 24.

  The extraction unit 20 is a unit that extracts a correlation temperature that correlates with the body temperature (deep body temperature) of the calf C from the thermal image captured by the thermography camera 3. As a method of extracting the correlation temperature, for example, the extraction unit 20 specifies the eye E which is a site having a high correlation with the core body temperature in the head of the calf C, and extracts the temperature of the site, This is performed by extracting the average temperature in the highest temperature range in the thermal image. Alternatively, for example, a histogram of a thermal image may be calculated instead of the thermal image itself, and a temperature having a large temperature distribution may be extracted as a correlation temperature from the histogram.

  The storage unit 21 stores the correlation temperature of the calf C, and the body temperature data including the date and time when the correlation temperature was obtained and the thermal image, and is a part where a database of the body temperature data is constructed for each individual calf C. is there. In addition, the storage unit 21 stores a program and the like relating to shooting control of the thermographic camera 3.

  The output unit 22 is, for example, a display or a printer, and is a unit that outputs information related to a health condition such as the body temperature of the calf C on a screen or paper.

  The communication unit 23 is a part that can communicate with an external device as needed. For example, when the control unit 24 determines that there is an abnormality in the health condition of the calf C, the communication unit 23 transmits the notification to a terminal or the like possessed by an administrator or a veterinarian. It is also possible to select a destination according to the urgency of the situation. For example, if the calf C is in an abnormal state with low urgency such as slight fever, it is transmitted only to the administrator, and if the calf C is in an abnormal state with high urgency such as high fever, it is also transmitted to a veterinarian. Further, when an abnormal state is detected, an alert is displayed on the output unit 22 according to the urgency, or a warning sound is generated by an alarm (not shown) or the like, so that a person operating the arithmetic unit 4 is notified. You may be warned.

  Then, in order to measure the body temperature of the calf C from outside the body in a non-contact manner, the control unit 24 uses the eye E of the calf C during feeding (at the time of feeding) via the baby bottle 2 as a temperature measurement target, The temperature of the eye E of the calf C is measured by the thermographic camera 3. In particular, the control unit 24 of the present embodiment causes the thermography camera 3 to measure the temperature of the calf C when the feeding of the calf C is detected by the feeding sensor 14 and a predetermined condition related to the body temperature of the calf C is satisfied. . The predetermined condition is, for example, a condition corresponding to a feeding time. In the present embodiment, the temperature is set to be measured every time an interval time of 2 minutes elapses from the time when the feeding is detected. More specifically, a thermal image is captured once when feeding is detected, and thereafter, a thermal image is captured every two-minute interval until a calf switching signal is received.

  Specifically, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature measurement control routine executed by the control unit 24 of the temperature measurement system 1 according to the present embodiment, and the temperature measurement control will be described below with reference to the flowchart.

  First, as step S1, the control unit 24 determines whether a feeding signal from the feeding sensor 14 has been received (feed detection step). If the determination result is false (No), the routine returns until a feeding signal is received. On the other hand, when the determination result is true (Yes), that is, when the feeding signal from the feeding sensor 14 is received, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, the control unit 24 adjusts the focus of the thermographic camera 3 so that the eye E of the calf C in front of the baby bottle 2 and the periphery thereof are in focus.

  Subsequently, as step S3, the control unit 24 performs calibration of the thermographic camera 3. The calibration of the thermographic camera 3 here may be performed by a known method. For example, a thermometer is provided in the thermographic camera 3, and a thermograph taken by the thermographic camera 3 is obtained from an actually measured temperature measured by the thermometer. Calibrate the temperature distribution of the image.

  Then, in step S4, the control unit 24 uses the thermographic camera 3 to capture a plurality of thermal images in a range including the eye E of the calf C. In the present embodiment, one thermal image is captured every second, and is continuously captured for 10 seconds, so that a total of 10 thermal images are captured.

  Next, in step S5, the control unit 24 extracts the correlation temperature correlated with the body temperature of the calf C by the extraction unit 20, and stores the body temperature data including the extracted correlation temperature in the storage unit 21. The correlation temperature of the body temperature data stored here may be a correlation temperature extracted from each of the plurality of thermal images captured in step S4, or an averaged correlation temperature.

  In subsequent step S6, control unit 24 determines whether or not a calf switching signal has been received. If the result of the determination is false (No), that is, if the specified amount of milk has not yet been drunk, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the interval time has elapsed since the shooting of the thermal image in step S4. If the determination result is false (No), that is, if the interval time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S6, and the determination of the reception of the calf switching signal is performed again. On the other hand, if the determination result is true (Yes), that is, if the interval time has elapsed, the routine returns, and if the reception of the feeding signal is continued (Yes in S1), the thermal image is again taken. Perform (S4) (body temperature measurement step).

  Then, when the calf switching signal is received, that is, when the calf C currently suckling has finished drinking the predetermined amount of feeding, the result of the determination in step S6 is true (Yes), and the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, the control unit 24 switches the calf C to be fed to the next calf C, and returns the routine. The switching of the calf C is performed, for example, by moving the baby bottle 2 before the next calf C. When the feeding of all the calves C is completed, the routine ends.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a graph showing an example of the relationship between feeding time and body temperature. Hereinafter, the relationship between feeding time and body temperature will be described with reference to FIG. In the graph shown in the figure, the vertical axis indicates the body temperature of the calf C, and the horizontal axis indicates the number of times of imaging performed in one thermal image imaging step.

  In FIG. 3, a series of body temperature data D1 measured at the start of feeding (circular plot), a series of body temperature data D2 measured 2 minutes after the start of feeding, (a square plot), and a A series of warmed body temperature data D3 (triangular plot) is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 3, although there is some variation, the body temperature of calf C is low (about 39.5 to 39.7 ° C.) in body temperature data D1 at the start of feeding, and the body temperature measured at intervals of 2 minutes therefrom The data D2 rises (about 39.7 to 39.9 ° C.), and the body temperature data D3 measured at an interval of two minutes further rises (about 39.9 to 40.1 ° C.). The control unit 24 may average each body temperature data measured at intervals as described above and use the averaged temperature data as body temperature data for health management. For example, one of a plurality of body temperature data may be used. (For example, only the body temperature data D2) may be used as body temperature data for health management.

  Therefore, like the temperature measurement system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the feeding of the calf C is detected by the feeding sensor 14 and a predetermined condition related to the body temperature of the calf C is satisfied, the measurement by the thermal image is performed. By performing the temperature, it is possible to perform the temperature measurement according to the increase in the body temperature caused by feeding.

  In particular, the predetermined condition is a condition based on the feeding time, and specifically, by performing temperature measurement at predetermined interval times, it is possible to reduce the number of data processing steps and the data amount as compared with the case of constantly measuring, and to measure the temperature. Deterioration of work efficiency can be suppressed.

  As described above, according to the temperature measurement system 1 and the temperature measurement method according to the present embodiment, the accuracy of the measurement of the body temperature of the animal is improved while suppressing the deterioration of the efficiency of the temperature measurement operation, and the health management with higher reliability is achieved. Can be realized.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but aspects of the present invention are not limited to this embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the target animal for measuring the body temperature is the calf C, and the temperature measurement target is the eye E. However, the target animal or the temperature measurement target whose body temperature can be measured by the temperature measurement system and the temperature measurement method of the present invention are: However, it is not limited to this. For example, another domestic animal such as a pig can be used as a target animal, or a portion other than the eye portion can be used as a temperature measurement target if the portion shows a surface temperature highly correlated with the core body temperature.

  Further, in the temperature measurement system 1 in the above embodiment, the thermographic camera 3 and the arithmetic device 4 are installed separately, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the arithmetic device may be incorporated in the thermographic camera.

  In the side temperature control routine of the above embodiment, the focus adjustment (S2) and the camera calibration (S3) are performed before the thermal image is captured (S4), but before the second and subsequent thermal images are captured. Alternatively, these processes may be omitted. Alternatively, these processes may be performed during the interval time. Thereby, the deterioration of the efficiency of the temperature measuring operation can be further suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the interval time is set as the predetermined condition for performing the temperature measurement, but the predetermined condition for performing the temperature measurement is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined condition may include a condition corresponding to a food consumption. Specifically, a fixed interval amount may be provided for the feeding amount, and the temperature may be measured each time the interval amount is fed. Thereby, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, regarding the predetermined condition, in addition to this, in addition to the biological information of the animal such as the type, sex, age, etc. of the animal, or the time when the body temperature is stabilized from the start of feeding according to each individual or the amount of food to be consumed By setting predetermined conditions, it is also possible to realize more precise temperature measurement.

1 Temperature measurement system 2 Feeding device (feed provision department)
3 thermography camera (body temperature measurement part)
4 arithmetic unit 12 milk tank 14 feeding sensor (feed detection unit)
24 Control part C Calf E Eye part

Claims (6)

A non-contact temperature measurement system for measuring the temperature of an animal,
A feeding detection unit capable of detecting the feeding behavior of the animal,
A body temperature measurement unit that can measure a temperature distribution in a predetermined range without contact,
When the feeding detection unit detects the feeding behavior of the animal and satisfies a predetermined condition related to the body temperature of the animal, the body temperature measurement unit determines a predetermined range including a temperature measurement target portion of the animal. A control unit for measuring the temperature distribution,
Temperature measurement system equipped with.   The temperature measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition corresponding to a time of the feeding behavior.   The temperature measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition includes providing a predetermined interval time according to a time of the feeding behavior.   The temperature measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition corresponding to a food intake.   The temperature measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes providing a predetermined interval amount according to a food intake amount. A temperature measurement method for measuring the body temperature of an animal in a non-contact manner,
A feeding detection step of detecting a feeding behavior of the animal by a feeding detection unit,
When the feeding detection unit detects the feeding behavior of the animal and satisfies a predetermined condition related to the body temperature of the animal, the body temperature measurement unit detects a temperature in a predetermined range including a temperature measurement target portion of the animal. A body temperature measuring step of measuring the distribution,
A temperature measuring method comprising:

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