Combi-tagging
Budget: €250 – €750 EUR
Hi
Our company manufactures products for the agricultural sector for the Irish, UK and European markets
One of the products that we currently produce is an animal welfare product known as an “Automatic Calf Feeder” which as the name suggests automatically mixes powdered milk with water and feeds it to calves
The machine comprises a main control unit where the mix is made and pumped to remote drinking stalls which are located in the calf pins throughout the shed where the calves consume the mix
Each stall is fitted with an RFID antenna which detects the calves individual electronic ear tags thus allowing the machine to determine the amount of feed due, if any, to a visiting animal
We now require the RFID system to detect tags that are not just ear mounted but also collar mounted i.e. mounted on neck collars on the animals
To achieve this will require somewhat of an extension of the detection range/zone of the antenna’s in the stalls
We require a computer model to help visualise and position the tag detection zone within the feed stall, the detection zone must not extend beyond the confines of the stall
The current antenna is a circular loop of copper wire c. 245mm in diameter
The ear tag is of the passive type (no power source within it) and is energised via RF transmission from the main antenna, it is also a coil of c. 20mm dia.
Once energised it transmits back to the main antenna its unique ID for the feeder computer to process
The maximum range at the moment is c. 250mm with the coils of both the antenna and tag parallel with one another, metal shielding is used on either side of the antenna to limit detection beyond the feed zone
Orientation of the tag relative to the antenna is critical to good detection but is something we can’t entirely control due to being mounted on the animal
The system is HDX and runs at 134Khz
Is it possible to provide a computer simulation model that would allow us visualise this range/zone in 3D where we could input virtual various tag angles and positions (relative to the plane of the antenna coil) and possibly then visualise and calculate a suitable tag detection range/zone within the feed stall
Thanks
Our company manufactures products for the agricultural sector for the Irish, UK and European markets
One of the products that we currently produce is an animal welfare product known as an “Automatic Calf Feeder” which as the name suggests automatically mixes powdered milk with water and feeds it to calves
The machine comprises a main control unit where the mix is made and pumped to remote drinking stalls which are located in the calf pins throughout the shed where the calves consume the mix
Each stall is fitted with an RFID antenna which detects the calves individual electronic ear tags thus allowing the machine to determine the amount of feed due, if any, to a visiting animal
We now require the RFID system to detect tags that are not just ear mounted but also collar mounted i.e. mounted on neck collars on the animals
To achieve this will require somewhat of an extension of the detection range/zone of the antenna’s in the stalls
We require a computer model to help visualise and position the tag detection zone within the feed stall, the detection zone must not extend beyond the confines of the stall
The current antenna is a circular loop of copper wire c. 245mm in diameter
The ear tag is of the passive type (no power source within it) and is energised via RF transmission from the main antenna, it is also a coil of c. 20mm dia.
Once energised it transmits back to the main antenna its unique ID for the feeder computer to process
The maximum range at the moment is c. 250mm with the coils of both the antenna and tag parallel with one another, metal shielding is used on either side of the antenna to limit detection beyond the feed zone
Orientation of the tag relative to the antenna is critical to good detection but is something we can’t entirely control due to being mounted on the animal
The system is HDX and runs at 134Khz
Is it possible to provide a computer simulation model that would allow us visualise this range/zone in 3D where we could input virtual various tag angles and positions (relative to the plane of the antenna coil) and possibly then visualise and calculate a suitable tag detection range/zone within the feed stall
Thanks