Abstract: A contactless system and method for estimating the volume, mass or weight of a target animal is provided. First, the target animal is imaged, preferably with a stereoscopic camera. A spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the stereoscopic images. Next, a virtual three-dimensional spatial model is provided, preferably having a shape resembling that of a characteristic of the animal to which the target animal belongs. A software module is provided to reshape the virtual spatial model, using a finite set of independently configurable shape variables, to approximately fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the volume, mass or weight of the target animal is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual model.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
January 8, 2013
Assignees:
Spicola Tool, LLC, Texas Tech University
Inventors:
Joseph A. Spicola, Erion Hasanbelliu, Amir C. Rubin, Eric Sinzinger, Bradley Null
Abstract: A contactless system and method for estimating the volume, mass or weight of a target animal is provided. First, the target animal is imaged, preferably with a stereoscopic camera. A spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the stereoscopic images. Next, a virtual three-dimensional spatial model is provided, preferably having a shape resembling that of a characteristic of the animal to which the target animal belongs. A software module is provided to reshape the virtual spatial model, using a finite set of independently configurable shape variables, to approximately fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the volume, mass or weight of the target animal is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual model.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 29, 2010
Publication date:
August 11, 2011
Applicants:
SPICOLA TOOL, LLC
Inventors:
Joseph A. Spicola, Erion Hasanbelliu, Amir C. Rubin, Eric Sinzinger, Bradley Null