Autonomous inspection robot for dead laying hens in caged layer house

Abstract

Daily inspections of individual laying hens in large-scale egg farms are both labor-intensive and time-consuming, requiring farm staff to manually check each caged hen and promptly remove any deceased birds to prevent the spread of disease within the battery cages. To streamline this process, a specialized robot has been developed to enhance inspection efficiency, reduce manual labor, and enable rapid identification of dead hens. This inspection robot integrates cutting-edge technologies such as deep learning for real-time detection and identification, QR code-based positioning for precise localization, and autonomous navigation for seamless movement through the farm. It automates the otherwise tedious inspection process by visualizing and pinpointing the location of dead hens within the cages. In experimental tests, the robot achieved a detection accuracy of 90.61 % by incorporating a supplementary lighting system, setting an inspection speed of 9 m per minute, and fine-tuning the inspection 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, this robotic system not only automates the task but also significantly reduces labor requirements and improves the overall management efficiency of large-scale egg farms. With its high accuracy and speed, 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.