Patent ID: 8397670
Filing Date: 2013-03-19
Classification: A01K,G01S,G05D

Abstract:
1. Unmanned vehicle for supplying liquid feed to an animal, comprising a frame, with disposed thereon: a propulsion mechanism; a container for storing the liquid feed; a feed supplier for supplying the liquid feed; an animal identifier configured to supply an identification signal which is indicative of identity of the animal; and a navigator connected to the propulsion mechanism with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, the sensor comprising: a source of radiation for emitting modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected by an object in the observation area, comprising a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers, an optical device for displaying imaging the reflected electromagnetic radiation on the receiver device, and a sensor image processor configured to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted electromagnetic radiation and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object and generate a spatial image thereof, wherein the sensor image processor is configured to recognize at least one of a feed loading place, a feed unloading place, an animal, and a part of an animal based on the spatial image, and the navigator is controllable by the sensor image processor for controlling movement of the vehicle, and wherein the feed supplier comprises an operable valve and a drinking nozzle movably supported on a height adjusting mechanism for vertical movement of said drinking nozzle with respect to the vehicle for supplying the liquid feed, the feed supplier being controllable by the sensor image processor and the identification signal for adjusting a height of the drinking nozzle for supplying feed for the identified animal.