ANIMAL DETECTION

Abstract

A detection apparatus for identifying the presence of a target warm blooded animal in a detection zone and a method of detecting a warm-blooded animal are disclosed. The detection apparatus utilizes a thermal imaging camera, a sensor, and a microcontroller to capture data on an array and interpret data, and a signaller for sending data indicating the presence of a target animal.

Claims

1. A detection apparatus, for identifying the presence of a target warm blooded animal in a detection zone, comprises: i) a sensor that when triggered wakes up a microcontroller unit (MCU) powered by a battery; ii) a thermal imaging camera, positioned so as to detect the warm blooded animal in the detection zone; iii) a mechanism that captures temperature and location and displays the temperature and location as a plurality of co-ordinates on an array; iv) a computer that interrogates at least one of a temperature intensity and a location area, and based on an algorithm and machine learning records or rejects an indicator signal with an associated location and stores data simply as a product which correlates to a simple quantitative or qualitive figure including a simple numerical value associated with a co-ordinate; and v) a signaller for sending data indicating the presence of a target animal.

2. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which can discriminate animal size.

3. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, or which can determine direction of travel of the animal.

4. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal imaging camera is positioned above the detection zone.

5. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal imaging camera has a field of view of at least 90 degrees.

6. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the thermal imaging camera has a field of view of about 110 degrees.

7. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaller is configured to send data in real time.

8. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which is integrated into an internet enabled pest control management system.

9. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing that seals the battery, the MCU and the signaller.

10. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a distance sensor for calibrating a vertical distance between the thermal imaging camera and a point on the detection zone.

11. A method of detecting a warm-blooded animal comprising the steps of: i) setting up a detection apparatus above a detection zone; ii) detecting the presence of the animal using a motion sensor that triggers a waking of a microcontroller unit (MCU); iii) using a thermal imaging camera to identify the presence of the animal and using temperature and location sensing to identify a target animal; and iv) based on data captured sending data, via a signaller, to a user to inform the user of the presence of the target animal; wherein the detection apparatus utilises a mechanism that captures temperature and location and displays the temperature and location as a plurality of co-ordinates on an array; interrogates at least one of temperature intensity and location area and based on an algorithm and machine learning records or rejects a signal with an associated location and stores data simply as a product which correlates to a simple quantitative or qualitive figure including a simple numerical value associated with a co-ordinate.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising using a sensor to calibrate the detection apparatus with respect to a distance between the thermal imaging camera and a point on the detection zone.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motion sensor is used to turn on the MCU to control battery life.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the signaller manages the sending of data based on whether the target animal is present and whether the target animal has moved.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the signaller is configured to send data in real time.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the detection apparatus can discriminate animal size.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the detection apparatus can determine direction of travel of the animal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the thermal imaging camera has a field of view of at least 90 degrees.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the thermal imaging camera is positioned above the detection zone.

20. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising calibrating via a distance sensor a vertical distance between the thermal imaging camera and a point on the detection zone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 is an apparatus of one embodiment of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 2 is a simplified exploded view of an apparatus of the invention;

[0054] FIG. 3 is an apparatus of the invention in use;

[0055] FIG. 4 is array showing heat detection; and

[0056] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred operational methodology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of apparatus (10) of the invention. It comprises a housing (200) inside of which are housed a plurality of components, as described further with reference to FIG. 2. Projecting out from the housing are at least a thermal imaging camera (50) and a motion sensor (30). Preferably the apparatus also includes a sensor (60) for auto calibrating the height of the apparatus above a detection zone (20) as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 2 the housing (200) comprises two plastic mouldings which connect to one another. A thermal imaging camera (50) and PIR sensor (30), as well as an ultrasonic sensor for autocalibration of height (not shown), are mounted through a face in the housing.

[0059] Fitted within the housing, are a microcontroller unit (MCU) (40), battery (150), in a separate case (152, 154) along with a connector (156). The power is managed using a power regulator (158) and a signaller (190) manages the sending of data based on e.g. a protocol as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 3 the apparatus (10) is positioned a distance (d) above a point (22) on the detection zone (20). An ultrasonic, or other, sensor (60) may be used to provide for autocalibration as the sensitivity and range of detection is dependant upon the distance from the ground and field of view of the thermal imaging camera.

[0061] If a rodent (300) enters the detection zone it triggers a motion sensor (30) which once triggered wakes (42) a microcontroller (40). The thermal sensor (50) detects the rodent and captures thermal image data including temperature (70) and intensity (72) at a location (80) or location area (82) which are captured as an array (100)FIG. 4 capturing the data as co-ordinates (90). An algorithm interprets this data which can be used to identify whether the data is consistent with a target animal or not and depending on the conclusion can send the device back to sleep (54) or continue to monitor and send data (180), including animal size or it's direction of movement via signaller (190) wirelessly. The apparatus has a clock (not shown) enabling date and time data to be monitored as well as being able to determine time periods (t), which can be used in the management of the detection and power management process.