Sensors for better cow milking: LMI Technologies secures patent
LMI TechnologiesTime of Flight sensors, used in livestock management, improve yield performance and farm productivity, livestock well-being, profits, and product quality in the milking process.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – LMI Technologies Inc. (LMI), a global manufacturer of machine vision applied technology announced it received its first of several worldwide patents for the use of Time of Flight sensors in livestock management from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
LMI Technologies Sensors That See division says it is the longest established developer of vision sensor technology for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators . Since 1976, customer partners have engaged LMI to develop and deliver more than 50,000 sensors for numerous automated vision, control and measurement applications.
U.S. Patent 7,490,576 B2 comprises details ones used in robot milking applications.
LMI has applied the time of flight technology to several sensors including their Tracker 4000 sensor, a technologically advanced device that will create significant improvements to yield performance and farm productivity, livestock well-being, enhance reliability, increased speed of farm operations and profitability, and improve product quality in the milking process.
Automated and voluntary milking in dairy farms is a rapidly expanding market. The automated process frees up valuable time for the farmer, and reduces the stress level of the cow to encourage a higher yield of milk. LMI says few few companies specialize in these technologies because the livestock industry is a very difficult and demanding application of machine vision and robot inspection.
LMI is a privately owned global manufacturer of leading edge machine vision technology solutions. Founded in 1976, LMI began life as a systems integrator designing 3D machine vision sensors for sawmills. Today, LMI has more than 100 patents, and installs and supports machine vision systems in vertical market niches such as livestock and horizontal machine vision markets, company says.
In separate but related news, see how sensors view objects in 3D using time of flight measurement (photos) .
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief, Control Engineering , www.controleng.com
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