Abstract: A method, using an autonomous, unmanned device, a control device and a crop processor includes automatically harvesting a first amount of feed crop in a part of a crop field by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically loading the first amount of harvested feed crop directly into a storage space provided on the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically transporting the first amount of harvested feed crop from the crop field to a crop processing location provided with the crop processor by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically unloading the first amount of harvested feed crop from the storage space of the autonomous, unmanned device at the crop processing location; and processing the first amount of harvested feed crop at the crop processing location by means of the crop processor.

Abstract: A animal husbandry system, where a group of animals can move about freely in a shed, a plurality of sensors being provided, suitable for monitoring respective different regions of the shed, the sensors being provided in such a way that, collectively, they are suitable for monitoring substantially the complete shed. The animal identification system provided is suitable for identifying and locating individual animals in the shed, and includes processing means operatively connected to the sensors and to the animal identification system, the processing means being programmed for determining for each individual animal a urinating and/or defecating pattern or frequency. In this way, a highly useful system is realized. Firstly, in order to be able to monitor the health status of animals, urinating and/or defecating patterns or frequencies are highly meaningful. Secondly, they render an efficient cleaning of the shed possible.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An animal shed system includes an animal shed having an animal shed floor with a first and a second surface spaced apart, such that the floor has a thickness different from zero, and multiple flow holes extending from the first to the second surface; a reservoir situated under the animal shed floor, wherein the flow holes open up to the reservoir, and the flow holes allow a fluid flow from the animal shed to the reservoir; a floor opening in the animal shed floor to allow manure to be dumped in the reservoir; an air extraction device for extracting air underneath the floor, out of the reservoir; and a device extending from the floor opening into the reservoir, wherein the device is configured to prevent an airflow from the animal shed to the reservoir through the floor opening when in use.

Abstract: A system for milking a group of milking animals includes a stationary animal accommodation space having a fixed floor, a plurality of milking stations, and an animal-free space which is closed for the milking animals in the accommodation space and extends adjacent to the milking stations. The system also includes an automatic milking system that includes milking cups and a robot device movable relative to the milking stations, the milking cups being connectable automatically to the teats of a milking animal present in the milking station. The system further includes a milk discharge system having at least one flexible milk line that connects the milking cups to a milk storage tank. The flexible milk line is configured so that the robot device can move from the animal-free space into each of the milking stations while the milk line remains connected to the robot device.

Abstract: Described is a system for milking animals, including cows, having an accommodation space in which the animals can walk around, and several stationary milking stations placed next to each other. Each milking station at a head end thereof includes a neck lock device which can be moved by way of an actuator device between a locked state in which a milking animal in said milking station can be locked at the neck by said neck lock device, and an open state in which a milking animal in said milking station is free to move its head in and/or out of the neck lock device. Also included is an automatic milking system for the automatic milking of milking animals and a control system that is actively connected to the actuator device of each neck lock device.

Abstract: A system for milking a group of animals, in particular cows, comprising an accommodation space in which the animals roam freely, and a plurality of fixed milking stations. A milk storage tank is placed outside the accommodation space. An automatic milking system for automated milking of the animals comprises at least one autonomous self-propelled trolley with milking cups. The milking system automatically connects the milking cups of the trolley to the teats of the animal. A milk discharge system connects the milking cups to the milk storage tank. The milk discharge system comprises flexible milk lines which are connected to the trolley. The trolley is connected to each milking station through a connection in an animal-free space adjacent to the milking stations. The flexible milk line is configured so the trolley can travel from the animal-free space into each of the milking stations while connected to the trolley.

Abstract: A method of feeding a group of animals at a feeding location includes automatically determining an expected feed demand for the group of animals to be fed using a computer; automatically harvesting feed crop in a crop field using an autonomous, unmanned device; automatically loading the harvested feed crop into a storage space provided on the autonomous, unmanned device; automatically transporting the feed crop from the crop field to the feeding location by means of the autonomous, unmanned device; and automatically dosing harvested feed from the storage space of the autonomous; unmanned device to the animals at the feeding location. A completely automated method for determining a feed demand and then harvesting, transporting and dosing the harvested feed to the animals is thus realized. A system for performing the method of feeding a group of animals at a feeding location is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for mowing plants, in particular grass, includes a piece of land on which the plants grow, and an autonomous, self-propelled mowing vehicle. The mowing vehicle includes a mowing device for mowing plants on the piece of land while the mowing vehicle (hives across the piece of land, and a holder for accommodating plants mowed by the mowing device. A control system is provided for controlling the mowing vehicle. The system includes a dwelling space for keeping animals, such as cows, in particular an animal shed. The dwelling space includes a feeding area for feeding mowed plants to the animals. The feeding area in the dwelling space is connected to the piece of land by means of a travelable connection. The mowing vehicle includes a dispensing device for dispensing mowed plants accommodated in the holder.

Abstract: A method and automated machine for milking dairy animals and manufacturing cheese from the milk obtained, including the steps of: milking a well-defined, measured amount of base milk which satisfies certain quality standards and which is not mixed with other milk; and manufacturing cheese directly from the base milk obtained, by means of a fully automatic production line, where the production line contains a number of separate processing locations where intermediate products from the base milk are generated and/or treated, and transportation between the processing location and the handling of the base milk is done by a fully automatic robot vehicle (robotised automatic guided vehicle).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system to carry out a floor related action. The system comprises an animal enclosure for detaining at least one animal and provided with an enclosure floor surface, a first autonomous vehicle configured to navigate over the floor surface to carry out the floor related action, and a feed providing device to provide feed to the animal. The system comprises a communication signal configured to transmit a communication signal representative for an actual or planned feeding action of the feed providing device to the first vehicle, which action influences the position of animals with the animal enclosure. In order to move the first vehicle more efficiently over the stable floor, in particular to avoid interference with animals on the stable floor, the first vehicle is capable to adapt its navigation based on the communication signal representative for the actual or planned feeding action.

Abstract: The invention provides a feed-mixing wagon (1) for animal feed, comprising a frame with a drive, a container (4) with a continuous wall (5) with a feed-unload opening, a feed auger which is arranged in the container for mixing and cutting animal feed and comprising an auger shaft (8) and an auger body (10) which is arranged around it in a spiral which has several blades, wherein the blades comprise at least one blade (11) of a first, long type and at least one blade (12) of a second, short type, and wherein at least one blade of the short type is situated closer to the bottom (6) than at least one blade of the long type. As a result of the various blades in the described configuration, the cutting and mixing behaviour can be adjusted in an optimum way.

Abstract: A livestock shed for keeping livestock animals includes a shed building for keeping the livestock animals, having a floor which is at least partially permeable to excretory products from the livestock animals, a liquid-tight manure cellar for collecting excretory products which is situated at least partly under the floor, and an air scrubber connected to the manure cellar and configured to at least partly clean polluted manure cellar air. The air scrubber is provided directly above the manure cellar.

Abstract: In an assembly of a living surface for a farm mammal, in particular cattle, and a processing device for processing urine from the farm mammal, the living surface is configured to catch the excretory products including feces and urine from the farm mammal, wherein the assembly includes a urine removal device for removing urine essentially separately from feces and draining the urine from the living surface in a urine-rich stream, and is configured to feed the urine-rich stream to the processing device, and wherein the processing device includes a nitrogen removal device for removing nitrogenous substances from the urine-rich stream.

Abstract: A system for milking a group of animals, in particular cows, comprises an accommodation space for the animals, and several fixed milking stations. The milking stations each comprise an opening for entry of the animal from the accommodation space. The system comprises an automatic milking system for automatic milking of animals in the milking stations. The milking system is configured to automatically milk the animal based on the milking animal fulfilling a predefined milking criterion. The system comprises no expulsion means and/or attraction means which can be activated by a control unit to give stimulus for the animal to leave said milking station. The system is also configured to allow animals to enter the milking stations irrespective of whether said animals fulfil the milking criterion.

Abstract: A feeding system to feed non-human animals includes a first autonomous mobile device and a second autonomous mobile device. The first autonomous mobile device includes a feed holder to receive feed, a feed mixer to mix the received feed, and a feed dispenser configured to dispense feed to the second autonomous mobile device. The second autonomous mobile device includes a feed holder to receive feed from the first autonomous mobile device.

Abstract: An implement for automatically milking a dairy animal, such as a cow, comprises a milking parlour, a sensor for observing a teat, and a milking robot for automatically attaching a teat cup to the teat. The milking robot comprises a robot control that is connected to the sensor. The sensor comprises a radiation source for emitting light, a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the dairy animal, a lens, and sensor control unit. The sensor comprises a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers. The sensor control unit is designed to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate the distance from the sensor to a plurality of points on the part to be observed of the dairy animal.

Abstract: A milking robot for completely automatically performing a teat-related action on a dairy animal. The robot includes a frame with a movable arm structure and a robot arm and actuators, a teat cup, a flexible connecting means connected between the teat cup and the arm structure, a retracting device for pulling the teat cup back onto the arm structure by means of the connecting means, a vacuum device for applying a milking vacuum to the teat cup, and a control unit for controlling the milking robot. The robot further includes at least one of an arm structure position-determining device for determining a measured value relating to an arm structure position, and an arm structure acceleration-determining device for determining an arm structure acceleration. The control unit is configured to control the retracting device and/or the vacuum device, if the determined measured value satisfies a predetermined measured value criterion.

Abstract: An implement for automatically milking a dairy animal, such as a cow, comprises a milking parlour, a sensor for observing a teat, and a milking robot for automatically attaching a teat cup to the teat. The milking robot comprises a robot control that is connected to the sensor. The sensor comprises a radiation source for emitting light, a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the dairy animal, a lens, and sensor control unit. The sensor comprises a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers. The sensor control unit is designed to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate the distance from the sensor to a plurality of points on the part to be observed of the dairy animal.

Abstract: A system for milking a group of milking animals, in particular cows, comprises an accommodation space where the animals roam freely, and a plurality of fixed milking stations. The milking stations are each connected to the accommodation space by a walkable connection. Automatic milking systems, in the milking stations, automate milking of animals. The milking systems comprise connection systems for automatic connection of milking cups to the teats of the animal. The connection systems comprise a movable robot device that connects milking cups to the teats of the animal in said milking station. Expulsion means can be activated by a control system in each of the milking stations to give an expulsion stimulus for the animal to leave said milking station. The conditions for expulsion of the animal include the animal fulfilling a predefined expulsion criterion, and all other milking stations are occupied by other animals.