NZ741825B2 - System and method for imaging and processing animal data - Google Patents

Abstract

Within a view field (115), a camera (110) records image data (Dimg) representing a body portion of an animal (A). A reader unit (120) registers identity data (Dm) from a data carrier (150) on the animal (A) and a data processor (130) associates the recorded image data (Dimg) with the registered identity data (Dm). A passageway (140) only allows a single animal (A) at the time within the camera's view field (115). The camera (110) is arranged so that the view field (115) covers an identification zone (Z) within the passageway (140). To reduce the risk that the readerunit (120) interferes with other nearby equipment, the data processor (130) detects the presence of any animal (A) within the view field (115) of the camera (110) based on the recorded image data (Dimg), and activates the reader unit (120) if and only if an animal (A) is detected within the identification zone (Z).

Description

Within a view field (115), a camera (110) records image data (Dimg) representing a body portion of an animal (A). A reader unit (120) registers identity data (Dm) from a data carrier (150) on the animal (A) and a data processor (130) ates the recorded image data (Dimg) with the registered identity data (Dm). A passageway (140) only allows a single animal (A) at the time within the 's view field (115). The camera (110) is arranged so that the view field (115) covers an identification zone (Z) within the passageway (140). To reduce the risk that the readerunit (120) interferes with other nearby equipment, the data processor (130) detects the presence of any animal (A) within the view field (115) of the camera (110) based on the recorded image data (Dimg), and activates the reader unit (120) if and only if an animal (A) is detected within the identification zone (Z).

NZ 741825 System and Method for Imaging and Processing Animal Data THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The t invention relates generally to data processing in connection with animal handling. More particularly the invention relates to a system and a corresponding method. The invention also relates to a computer program and a processor-readable medium.

The so-called body condition score (BCS) of a g animal provides a reasonably accurate measure of the animal’s energy reserves by reflecting the amount of body fat, and how this fat is distributed on the rear body of the animal. The BCS targets at key stages of lactation, and has been developed for dairy production systems. The BCS affects dry matter intake, milk production , reproduction, cow health and welfare. Especially, the BCS is an ant factor in connection with dry-off. However, it is also important to keep track of the BCS during peak ion and the period thereafter in order to feed the animal adequately.

In addition, the BCS in early lactation may affect the sex of future calves and the productive and reproductive capa- city of heifers yet to be born. Irrespective of the farming system or cow genetics, it has been found that milk production is optimized when mature cows calve between BCS 5.0 and 6.0. The production benefits decline with increasing BCS and the risk of metabolic health disorders at calving is greater, such that in- creasing BCS beyond 5.0 in mature cows and 5.5 in first and second s cannot be justified. Recommended calving BCS s are a compromise between wanting cows with ient energy reserves for milk production, while not being so fat as to compromise cow health.

BCS of an animal, which arrangement ns a three-dimen- sional (3D) camera system directed towards the animal and provided for recording at least one 3D image of the . An image processing device forms a 3D e representation of a portion of the animal from the 3D image. The surface is statis- y analysed for determining the BCS of the animal based on the statistically analysed surface of the 3D surface representation.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIOR ART Although the existing systems for deriving BCS data may be ef- ficient as such, there is still room for improvement. Specifically, if an independent provider of a BCS-data-collecting system wishes to co-locate their system with another provider’s equipment , for instance an tic milking arrangement, there is a risk that the two systems interfere with one another. Namely, on one hand, both systems are likely to operate in the same, or at least neighboring radio bands for exchanging data with radio transponders for identifying the animals; and, on the other hand, the two systems will not be coordinated with one another. This lack of coordination leads to a relatively high probability that ra- dio energy emitted from one of the s disturbs the radio communication in the other system, and vice versa. It is therefore generally problematic for systems from different providers to co-exist in the same area, such as a given farm environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Consequently, the object of the t invention is to mitigate the above problem, and offer a stand-alone solution for associating various image data with dual animals in a herd of animals.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by the system of the ion, which provides a system for data processing, comprising: a camera configured to record image data within a view field, which image data represents at least one specific body portion of an animal, a reader unit configured to register identity data from a data carrier on the animal of which the camera is configured to record the image data, and a data processor configured to associate the recorded image data with the registered identity data, wherein the system further comprises: a passageway configured to only allow a single animal at the time within the view field of the camera, the camera being arranged so that the view field covers an fication zone within the passageway, and the data processor is configured to: detect the presence of any animal within the view field of the camera based on the recorded image data, generate a trigger signal if and only if an animal is detected within the identification zone, the trigger signal being configured to activate the reader unit, maintain the reader unit in an active state during a given interval after having generated the trigger signal, and to cause the given interval to end when: the identity data has been ered, a particular time has elapsed since the trigger signal was generated, or the recorded image data reflects that the animal no longer is located within the identification zone.

The camera is preferably arranged in the exit passageway associated with a parlour, such as a rotary parlour. When the animals exit the parlour the have to pass the passageway in a particular direction through the view field. The eway has a width at least in the area of the view filed which only allows one animal at a time to pass the view field. ing to another preferred ment the passageway has a gate configured to enable animals to pass in a particular direction through the view filed. In this embodiment the camera is arranged so that the view field covers an identification zone within the passageway in the proximity to the gate. The gate is preferably a turn gate, wherein the gate is configured to exclusively enable animals to pass in a particular direction through the view field. This embodiment may be ed anywhere within the barn that houses the animals. It is also possible to e this embodiment in a pasture. 4 (followed by page 4A) This system is advantageous because it s that the reader unit is active exclusively when needed, i.e. when there is an animal within the camera’s view field.

According to a preferred ment of this aspect of the inven- tion, the data processor is configured to maintain the reader unit in an active state during a given interval after having generated the trigger . Preferably, the given interval is defined to end when: the identity data has been registered; a particular time has elapsed since the trigger signal was generated and/or the recorded image data reflects that the animal no longer is located within the identification zone, whichever occurs first. This is advantageous e it further reduces the risk of any unnecessary ion of the reader unit.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the reader unit contains a scanner ured to register the identity data from data carriers on the animals in the form of radio-frequency identification tags. Thus, the data carriers may be represented by conventional radio transponders.

This, in turn, enables a straightforward implementation of the system in cooperation with existing systems, for instance for milking animals in order to effect body condition scoring.

According to a further preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the recorded image data is presumed to represent a rear body n of a milking animal and the data processor is specifically configured to derive a BCS measure based on the recorded image data. Hence, BCS data for a herd of cows can be readily collected via a system that is fully independent from any other systems in the farm environment.

According to another aspect of the invention, the object is achie- ved by the method of the invention, which provides a method of processing data, comprising: recording, via a camera having a view field, image data representing at least one specific body n of an , registering, via a reader unit, identity data 4A (followed by page 5) from a data carrier on the animal of which the camera records image data, and associating the recorded image data with the ered identity data, the method further comprising registering the identity data when the animal is located within an identification zone of a passageway, which identification zone is configured to only allow a single animal at the time within the view field of the camera, (The eway also has a gate configured to enable animals to pass in a particular direction through the view field.) the identification zone being located within the passageway in proximity to the gate, detecting the ce of any animal within the view field of the camera, and generating a trigger signal if and only if an animal is detected within the identification zone, the trigger signal being ured to activate the reader unit, maintaining the reader unit in an active state during a given interval after having generated the trigger signal, n the given interval ends when: the identity data has been registered, a ular time has elapsed since the trigger signal was generated, or the recorded image data reflects that the animal no longer is located within the identification zone. The advantages of this method, as well as the preferred embodiments thereof, are apparent from the discussion above with reference to the proposed system. The gate is preferably a non-return gate, wherein the gate is configured to exclusively enable animals to pass in a particular direction through the view field.

According to a further aspect of the invention the object is achieved by a computer m loadable into the memory of at least one processor, and includes software adapted to imple- ment the method proposed above when said program is run on at least one processor.

According to r aspect of the invention the object is achie- ved by a processor-readable medium, having a program recor- ded thereon, where the program is to control at least one pro- 1O cessor to perform the method proposed above when the prog- ram is loaded into the at least one processor. r advantages, beneficial es and applications of the present invention will be apparent from the ing description and the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is now to be explained more closely by means of preferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a system according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates, by means of a flow diagram, the gene- ral method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In Figure 1, we see system for data sing according to one embodiment of the invention. The system contains a camera 110, a reader unit 120, a data processor 130 and a passageway The camera 110 is configured to record image data Dimg within a view field 115. The camera 110 is arranged with the view field 115 oriented in such a direction that the image data Dimg repre- sents at least one specific body portion of any animal A located in an identification zone Z.

More precisely, the passageway 140 is positioned relative to the identification zone Z such that only a single animal A at the time is allowed within the view field 115 of the camera 110. The pas- sageway 140 also has a non-return gate 145 that is configured to exclusively enable animals to pass in a particular direction D through the view field 115 and the identification zone Z. It is especially advantageous if the non-return gate 145 is of a type that is opened by the animal A by positioning its nose/front part of the head under the gate, and then pushes the gate slightly s while moving itself forwards. Namely, such a gate de- sign forces the animal A to locate its head in a relatively well- defined space in order to pass through the identification zone Z.

The reader unit 120 is therefore preferably arranged as close as possible to said well-defined space e this allows a relati- vely short readout range — and thus low emission of energy the- re from. The reader unit 120 is configured to register identity da- ta DID from a data carrier 150, eg. ed in a onder, on the animal A of which the camera 110 currently records the ima- ge data Dimg. To this aim, the reader unit 120 may n a scanner configured to register the identity data DID from data carriers 150 in the form of radio-frequency identification tags.

However, alternative remote sensing logies are also con- ceivable according to the invention, such as designs based in- ductive, ultrasonic or optic signals.

The camera 110 is arranged so that the identification zone Z defined within the passageway 140 is located in ity to the non-return gate 145. For instance, the camera 110 and the non- return gate 145 may be arranged relative to the passageway 140 in such a manner that an animal A within the identification zone Z having the data carrier‘150 attached to its ear will be positio- ned with its rear part t to the camera 110 when the animal A lowers its head for opening the non-return gate 145.

The data processor 130 is configured to associate the recorded image data Dimg with the registered identity data DID. For examp- le, the recorded image data Dimg may represent a rear body por- tion of a milking animal, and the data processor 130 may be configured to derive a BCS measure based on the recorded image data Dimg. Thus, an individual BSC rating can be provided for each animal when passing through the passageway 140. 1O ing to the invention, the data processor 130 is further configured to detect the presence of any animal A within the view field 115 of the camera 110 based on the recorded image data Dimg. If, and only if, an animal A is thus detected within the identification zone Z, the data processor 130 is ured to generate a trigger signal TS, which, in turn, is configured to activate the reader unit 120. in other words, the reader unit 120 will exclusively be activated when an animal A that can be ex- pected to have a data r 150 is found to be ed within the identification zone Z.

To further reduce the risk of unnecessary operation of the rea- der unit 120, the data processor 130 is preferably configured to maintain the reader unit 120 in an active state during a given interval after having generated the trigger signal TS. The data processor 130 is preferably configured to cause the given inter- val to end when the identity data DID has been registered, when a particular time has elapsed since the trigger signal T8 was generated; and/or when the recorded image data Dimg reflects that the animal A no longer is located within the identification zone Z, for instance, whichever occurs first. Thereby, the risk of interference from the proposed data processing system with any other -sensing system for registering identity data DID can be kept very low.

It is generally advantageous if the data processor 130 is confi- gured to associate the recorded image data Dimg with the regis- tered identity data DID in a fully automatic manner, for instance by an executing computer m. Therefore, the data proces- sor 130 may be communicatively connected to a memory unit 135 storing a computer program product, which, in turn, contains software SW for making at least one processor in the data pro- cessor execute the above-described actions when the computer m product SW is run on the at least one processor.

In order to sum up, and with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 2, we will now describe the general method for - sing data according to the invention.

In a first step 210, image data is recorded. In a uent step 220, it is checked if the recorded image data is deemed to rep- resent an animal (e.g. a cow) located within an identification zone of a passageway. If so, a step 230 follows; and otherwise, the procedure loops back and stays in step 220.

In step 230, a trigger signal is generated, which trigger signal is configured to activate a reader unit. The trigger signal is genera- ted if and only if an animal is detected within the identification zone, and the reader unit is configured to register identity data from a data carrier on the animal of which the camera records image data.

Then, in a step 240, the ed image data associated with the registered identity data. For example, this may involve lin- king a BSC measure derived from the image data to a particular animal ID.

Thereafter, the procedure ends. However, the procedure only ends with respect to said particular associating of image data with identity data. In practice, of course, the procedure conti- nues in order to e further associations between image da- ta and identity data with t to other animals, and/or with respect to updated ings of the same animal.

All of the process steps, as well as any sub-sequence of steps, described with reference to Figure 2 above may be controlled by means of a programmed processor. Moreover, although the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the drawings comprise processor and processes performed in at least one processor, the invention thus also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, ad- apted for putting the invention into practice. The program may be in the form of source code, object code, a code intermediate source and object code such as in lly compiled form, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the pro- cess according to the invention. The program may either be a part of an operating system, or be a te application. The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the prog- ram. For example, the carrier may se a storage medium, such as a Flash , a ROM (Read Only Memory), for ex- ample a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a CD ct Disc) or a semiconductor ROM, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only ), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disc or hard disc.

Further, the carrier may be a transmissible carrier such as an electrical or optical signal which may be conveyed via electrical or optical cable or by radio or by other means. When the program is embodied in a signal which may be conveyed directly by a cable or other device or means, the carrier may be consti- tuted by such cable or device or means. Alternatively, the carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is embedded, the integrated circuit being d for ming, or for use in 3O the mance of, the relevant processes.

Although the invention is advantageous in connection with cow milking, the invention is equally well adapted for implementation in milking machines for any other kind of mammals, such as goats, sheep or oes.

The term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, rs, steps or components. However, the term does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional features, inte- gers, steps or components or groups thereof.

The invention is not cted to the described embodiments in the figures, but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. A system for data sing, comprising: a camera configured to record image data within a view 5 field, which image data represents at least one specific body portion of an animal, a reader unit configured to register identity data from a data carrier on the animal of which the camera is configured to record the image data, and 10 a data processor configured to associate the recorded image data with the registered identity data, wherein the system further comprises: a passageway configured to only allow a single animal at the time within the view field of the , the camera being 15 arranged so that the view field covers an identification zone within the passageway, and the data processor is configured to: detect the presence of any animal within the view field of the camera based on the recorded image data, 20 generate a trigger signal if and only if an animal is detected within the identification zone, the trigger signal being configured to te the reader unit, maintain the reader unit in an active state during a given interval after having generated the trigger signal, 25 and to cause the given interval to end when: the ty data has been registered, a particular time has elapsed since the trigger signal was generated, or 30 the recorded image data reflects that the animal no longer is located within the identification zone.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the passageway has a gate configured to enable animals to pass in a particular 35 direction through the view field and wherein the camera is arranged so that the view field covers an fication zone within the passageway in proximity to the gate.

3. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, n the reader unit comprises a scanner configured to register the identity data from data carriers in the form of frequency identification tags. 5

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recorded image data represents a rear body portion of a milking animal and the data processor is configured to derive a body condition score based on the recorded image data. 10

5. A method of processing data, comprising: recording, via a camera having a view field, image data representing at least one specific body portion of an animal, registering, via a reader unit, identity data from a data carrier on the animal of which the camera records image data, 15 and associating the ed image data with the registered identity data, the method further comprising: registering the identity data when the animal is located 20 within an identification zone of a eway, which identification zone is configured to only allow a single animal at the time within the view field of the , the identification zone being located within the passageway, detecting the presence of any animal within the view field 25 of the camera, and generating a trigger signal if and only if an animal is detected within the identification zone, the trigger signal being configured to activate the reader unit, maintaining the reader unit in an active state during a 30 given interval after having generated the trigger , wherein the given interval ends when: the identity data has been registered, a ular time has elapsed since the trigger signal was generated, or the recorded image data reflects that the animal no longer is located within the identification zone.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the recorded image data represents a rear body portion of a milking animal and the method r comprises: deriving a body condition score based on the recorded 5 image data.

7. A computer program loadable into the memory of at least one processor, comprising software for controlling the steps of claim 5 or claim 6 when the program is run on the at least one processor. 10

8. A processor-readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is to make at least one processor l the steps of claim 5 or claim 6 when the program is loaded into the at least one processor.

9. A system according to claim 1, substantially as herein 15 described or exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method according to claim 5, substantially as herein described or exemplified with nce to the anying 20

11. A computer program according to claim 7, substantially as herein described or exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A processor-readable medium according to claim 8, substantially as herein bed or exemplified with reference 25 to the accompanying drawings. Record image data Animal in ID zone? te reader unit Associate image data with animal ID