Transcript Strathclyde University Wireless Devices

PROFESSIONAL
ADAPTABLE
INDISPENSABLE
INVENTIVE
CREATIVE
Strathclyde University Wireless Devices
Craig Michie, Kae-Hsiang Kwong ,Tsungta Wu and Ivan Andonovic
Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering
HeatCycle: A revolutionary platform for precision animal monitoring
HeatCycle is a monitoring system for dairy cows and heifers based on a revolutionary neck mounted tag (collar). It
works by continuously monitoring an individual cows’ activity and automatically detecting changes in their normal
behaviour that are indicative of patterns related to the period when the female is most receptive to mating, in labour or ill.
The advanced software has the capability to be trained to capture individual cows’ patterns and as such can be deployed globally,
despite different farming practices across the world. HeatCycle continuously gathers data on individual cows’ activity, but the
advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software only sends an automatic alert at the point when the cows behaviour changes
and they enter critical states. The key alerts that require human intervention are flagged directly to a PC, mobile phone or PDA
(personal digital assistant) depending on the user’s preference.
The device maximises operational efficiency and eliminates the need for costly human observations or the use of labour
intensive alternatives such as tail paint or patches. It increases the percentage of cows that are successfully identified as
receptive to mating and therefore the success of artificial insemination programs, maximising fertility rates. Improved fertility means
higher milk yield and increased revenue.
How the wireless tag operates
The HeatCycle Artificial Intelligence module is a wireless enabled device containing:
• an accelerometer (an electromechanical device that measures movement in different
directions) that continuously records individual cows’ movements and processes the data
• GPS - a Global Positioning System that uses satellites to provide a three-dimensional
location (latitude, longitude and altitude).
• and a battery that can operate for up to 5 years before it needs changed.
When the software module identifies departures from normal behaviour the event is stored
for download to the base station. Only meaningful data is downloaded when a cow enters
the receiving area of a base station (50 – 60m range), located either within the field, or
within the milking parlour. The device transmits the data wirelessly over license free radio
bands (315MHz, 422MHz, 868MHz, 915MHz, 2400MHz) to the base station. The radio link
is two-way allowing commands to be sent to the collar and software upgrades without
removing the collar from the cows.
The base station then wirelessly transmits the information to a PC, mobile phone or PDA
depending on the user’s preference. Software on the user’s device displays the
information in a user friendly format.
Incorporating the wireless device into classroom practice
Accelerometers:
An accelerometer measures the acceleration it experiences relative to freefall and can detect the magnitude and direction of the acceleration as a vector quantity. They can
used to sense orientation, vibration and shock and are increasingly present in portable electronic devices e.g. the Apple iPhone and video game controllers such as the Wii
remote. An accelerometer can be used to:
• introduce acceleration and vectors.
• measure or evaluate both the acceleration and the deceleration of an object, for example assessing the effectiveness of crumple zones in the engineering activity Pimp My
Trolley (developed by SSERC and adapted by Balfron High School).
• measure human activities such as walking, running, dancing or skipping.
Global Positioning System (GPS):
GPS provides reliable positioning and navigation to users anywhere on or near the Earth. The system is comprised of satellites that orbit the Earth, control and monitoring
stations on Earth and the GPS receiver owned by the user. The satellites broadcast signals from space which include the time the message was sent and their precise
orbital information. The GPS receiver calculates its position by measuring the transit time of each message and computing the distance to each satellite. GPS is widely
used in navigation systems, e.g. mobile phones and car navigations systems such as the TomTom, tracking and surveillance, and the scientific study of earthquakes.
Activities in school include monitoring the habitats and location of biological species, e.g. bats in the Bat Monitoring project developed by Balfron High School.
Other activities could include discussing:
• the electromagnetic spectrum and how information is transmitted between wireless devices
• the ethics of using wireless devices, for example
• biological applications like monitoring dairy cows and marine scientists studying animals in the wild
• tracking the movements and locations of people e.g. prisoner tags, Japanese companies monitoring their workforce and keeping an eye on old age pensioners in their
homes.
Engineering the Future aims to develop a sustainable model of activities that enhance the learning experiences of pupils, develops
their knowledge and understanding of contemporary engineering and smoothes the transition into engineering from school to
university.
Engineering the Future: working together to enhance understanding, commitment
and participation in engineering
www.engineeringthefuture.info