Robotics to detect dead hens in caged houses

At present, farm staff have to manually check each caged hen and promptly remove any dead birds to prevent the spread of diseases within cages.

The study, led by researchers from the Information Technology Research Centre at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, wanted to see if robots could streamline the process. They developed a specialised robot to enhance inspection efficiency, reduce manual labour and enable rapid identification of dead hens,

Technologies such as deep learning for real-time detection and identification, QR code-based positioning for precise localisation and autonomous navigation for seamless movement through the farm are utilised. It automates the otherwise tedious inspection process by visualising and pinpointing the location of dead hens within the cages.

Over 90% accuracy

In experimental tests, the robot achieved a detection accuracy of 90.61% by incorporating a supplementary lighting system, setting an inspection speed of 9m per minute and fine-tuning the algorithm with a probability value parameter of 0.48 and an area ratio parameter of 0.05.

Additionally, the robot demonstrated a low false detection rate of 0.14% and a minimal obvious false detection rate of 0.06%.

Compared to traditional manual inspection methods, the robotic system not only automates the task but also significantly reduces labour requirements and improves the overall management of efficiency of large-scale egg farms.

With its high accuracy and speed, the researchers say the robot presents a viable solution for modern poultry operations, ensuring timely removal of dead hens and contributing to better farm hygiene and animal welfare.