Abstract:
A system for processing an image comprises a three-dimensional camera that captures an image of a dairy livestock. A processor is communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional camera. The processor accesses a first pixel having a first depth location, and a second pixel having a second depth location. The processor determines that the second depth location is not within a threshold distance of the first depth location, and discards the second pixel from the image based at least in part upon the determination.
Abstract:
A method for health monitoring comprises electronically receiving location information for a dairy livestock that is generated by a plurality of identification devices positioned in a pen that operate in conjunction with a tag worn by the dairy livestock. The method stores the location information associated with the dairy livestock, the location information comprising a location of the dairy livestock within the pen at each of a plurality of times during a first time period. The method determines, based on at least a portion of the stored location information, a turn index parameter indicating a number of times the particular dairy livestock reverses direction during the first time period. The method determines whether the particular dairy livestock is likely to be in estrus based at least in part upon whether the determined turn index parameter is in excess of a baseline turn index parameter by more than a predefined amount.
Abstract:
A system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores information about a milking stall where a dairy livestock is located at a first time, and a coordinate location of the dairy livestock at a second time. The processor is communicatively coupled to the memory and determines if the coordinate location of the dairy livestock at the second time is different than the milking stall where the dairy livestock is located at the first time. If the coordinate location where the dairy livestock is located at the second time is not the milking stall, the processor generates an error flag associated with the dairy livestock.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a crowd gate comprises operating a milking parlor for a plurality of dairy livestock. The milking parlor comprises an entrance located adjacent to a holding pen, and a crowd gate that forms a side of the holding pen and moves toward and away from the entrance to the milking parlor. The method further comprises determining that dairy livestock should enter the milking parlor, and operating the crowd gate in response to determining that dairy livestock should enter the milking parlor. Operating the crowd gate comprises moving the crowd gate away from the entrance to the milking parlor prior to initiating movement towards the entrance, pausing the movement of the crowd gate, and moving the crowd gate towards the entrance of the milking parlor.
Abstract:
A method for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock, comprises receiving a trigger signal indicating that a stall of a rotary milking platform housing a dairy livestock is located adjacent to a track, the track having a carriage carrying a robotic arm mounted thereto. The method continues by communicating a first signal to a first actuator coupled to the track and the carriage, the first signal causing operation of the first actuator such that the carriage moves along the track in relation to the rotary milking platform. The method concludes by communicating one or more additional signals to one or more actuators of the robotic arm, the one or more additional signals causing operation of the one or more actuators of the robotic arm such that at least a portion of the robotic arm extends between the hind legs of a dairy livestock.
Abstract:
A system includes a robotic arm on which at least one camera is attached. It further includes a memory and a controller communicatively coupled to the memory. The memory stores historical information associated with a dairy livestock. The historical information include a previously-determined location of a teat of the dairy livestock. The controller moves the camera on the robotic arm toward the previously-determined location of the teat. The camera generates an image of the teat of the dairy livestock from a position to which it is moved, and the controller determines a current location of the teat of the dairy livestock based at least in part on the image.
Abstract:
A defrost bypass dehumidifier includes an air flow path with first, second and third segments in series from upstream to downstream and passing ambient air respectively to an evaporator coil then to a condenser coil and then discharging same. The air flow path has a bypass segment passing ambient air to the evaporator coil in parallel with the noted first air flow path segment.
Abstract:
A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon having the steps of: adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a vessel, the hydrocarbon having a sulfur content; adding a catalyst and an oxidizer to create a mixture; oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon; separating the liquid hydrocarbon from the mixture; and removing at least some of the oxidized sulfur from the liquid hydrocarbon. Such methods can be carried out by batch or continuously. Systems for undertaking such methods are likewise disclosed.
Abstract:
A milking claw for efficiently drawing milk is disclosed. The milking claw includes a claw top and a claw bottom. The claw top includes a pair of front inlets, a pair of rear inlets, and an outlet. The front inlets and the rear inlets extend upwardly from a top surface of the claw top and are spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the claw top. The outlet includes an air channel along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a flow passage disposed below the air channel. The flow passage includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The claw bottom is disposed below the claw top and includes a dividing wall, a sump, and a raised knob disposed within the sump.
Abstract:
A leg (205) detection system comprising: a robotic arm (200) comprising a gripping portion (208) for holding a teat cup (203, 210) for attaching to a teat (1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, 203S, 203) of a dairy livestock (200, 202, 203); an imaging system coupled to the robotic arm (200) and configured to capture a first three-dimensional (3D) image (138, 2400, 2500) of a rearview of the dairy livestock (200, 202, 203) in a stall (402), the imaging system comprising a 3D camera (136, 138) or a laser (132), wherein each pixel of the first 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) is associated with a depth value; one or more memory (104) devices configured to store a reference (3D) 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) of the stall (402) without any dairy livestock (200, 202, 203); and a processor (102) communicatively coupled to the imaging system and the one or more memory (104) devices, the processor (102) configured to: access the first 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) and the reference (3D) 3D image (138, 2400, 2500); subtract the first 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) from the reference (3D) 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) to produce a second 3D image (138, 2400, 2500); perform morphological image (138, 2400, 2500) processing on the second 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) to produce a third 3D image (138, 2400, 2500); perform image (138, 2400, 2500) thresholding on the third 3D image (138, 2400, 2500) to produce a fourth 3D image (138, 2400, 2500); cluster (2616, 2618, 2626, 2628) data from the fourth 3D image (138, 2400, 2500); identify, using the clustered data from the fourth 3D image (138, 2400, 2500), one or more legs (205) of the dairy livestock (200, 202, 203); and provide instructions for movements of the robotic arm (200) to avoid the identified one or more legs (205) while attaching the teat cup (203, 210) to the teat (1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, 203S, 203) of the dairy livestock (200, 202, 203).