Disclosed are a material pushing apparatus and a charging method thereof, and a material pushing machine and a material pushing method thereof. The material pushing apparatus comprises a charger (200) and a material pushing machine (100), and when the material pushing machine moves to the position where the charger is located, the charger can automatically supplement electric energy to the material pushing machine, such that the automation level of the material pushing apparatus is improved.

A method, using an autonomous, unmanned device and a control device, includes the steps of automatically harvesting feed crop in a part of a crop field by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically loading the harvested feed crop directly into a storage space provided on the autonomous, unmanned device without said harvested feed crop contacting the soil; choosing a destination location from a feeding location and a stationary crop processing location; automatically transporting the harvested feed crop from the crop field to the chosen destination location by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; and automatically unloading harvested feed from the storage space of the autonomous, unmanned device at the chosen destination location.

A feeding system for feeding animals, in particular cows, at a feeding place that includes at least one autonomous feeding device with a container for accommodating a batch of feed from a feed supply. The autonomous feeding device takes feed held in the container to the feeding place and dispenses it at that feeding place. The feeding system includes a feed-quantity measuring device for measuring a feed-quantity value for the quantity of feed at the feeding place, and a control system receives feed-quantity values from the feed-quantity measuring device. The control system stores a plurality of feed-quantity values received from the feed-quantity measuring device in a memory. The control system determines at least one value of a variable which is representative of a relation between the feed-quantity values and time, at least at and/or after the last measurement instant, based on the feed-quantity values stored in the memory.

Disclosed are an indoor navigating system and an indoor navigating method based on vision. The indoor navigating method comprises capturing a material channel image; segmenting the material channel image to obtain a material pushing machine and a walkable area from the material channel image, and determining boundaries of the material pushing machine and boundaries of the walkable area; obtaining a distance between a left boundary of the material pushing machine and a left rail of a material channel and/or a distance between a right boundary of the material pushing machine and a right rail of the material channel; obtaining a lateral deviation distance of the material pushing machine, and determining a course angle; and adjust an actual moving direction of the material pushing machine according to the course angle.

A feeding system for feeding animals, in particular cows, at a feeding place feed from a feed supply including at least one autonomous feeding device having a container for accommodating a batch of feed from the feed supply. The autonomous feeding takes feed held in the container to the feeding place and dispenses it. The feeding system further includes a feed-quantity measuring device for repeatedly measuring a feed-quantity value for the quantity of feed for consumption by the animals at the feeding place, and a control system which receives feed-quantity values from the feed-quantity measuring device measured different measurement instants. The control system stores a plurality of the feed-quantity values in a memory. The control system calculates at least one value of a feed variable at at least one point in time after the last measurement instant, on the basis of the feed-quantity values stored in the memory.

A milk cart comprises a chassis, a storage tank coupled to the chassis, and a conveyor system comprising an exit configured to connect to a return line that terminates inside the storage tank. The return line comprises a first portion extending vertically towards a bottom of the inside of the storage tank, a second portion extending vertically in a direction towards a top of the inside the storage tank, and a base portion extending from the first portion to the second portion. The second portion is positioned at a lateral distance from an interior of a wall of the storage tank and further comprises an upper end comprising at least one opening.

An animal feedstuff processing system for processing animal feedstuff includes an animal feedstuff storage device for storing a pile of animal feedstuff, a separating device for removing a quantity of feedstuff from the pile and including a rotatable separating element and a first drive for the separating element, a movement device with a second drive, and configured for moving the separating device and the pile of feedstuff towards each other. A sensor is arranged for determining a relative position of the separating element with respect to the pile of feedstuff. A controller is configured to control the animal feedstuff processing system. During at least a part of the movement of the separating device and the pile of feedstuff towards each other, the separating device is driven in an idle mode by the first drive, wherein the separating element has no operable contact with the pile of feedstuff. The sensor measures a sensor signal representative of an operating parameter of the first drive, and the controller is configured to determine contact between the separating element and the pile of feedstuff based on the sensor signal. The animal feedstuff processing system is controlled on the basis of the determined contact.

A control system dispenses an optimal amount of feed so that it is substantially evenly distributed along the length of the bunker in a feed lot. The control system can include a feedback loop. The control system controls a dispenser, such as an auger or a door actuator to dispense feed. A method for controlling is also discussed. The method can be formed as an instruction set that causes a processor to implement the method.

An autonomous feed delivery platform configured to navigate through a facility and deliver insect feed to multiple insect habitats located within the facility. In some cases, the feed delivery platform may be configured to deliver the feed to multiple insect habitats at substantially the same time.

A distribution device automates and meters distribution of feed in a commercial shrimp production facility utilizing a stacked shallow tank configuration. The device includes an elongated support surface positioned over and extending along an elongated tank having an open top. A shuttle moves along the support surface to move along a length of the tank. A hopper to hold feed is coupled to the shuttle. A spreader is in environmental communication with the hopper to distribute feed from the hopper and a meter is operationally coupled between the hopper and the spreader for controlling an amount of the feed delivered to and distributed by the spreader.