Control device, and method, for controlling the location of an animal

摘要

A control device and method controls an animal's location. A GPS receiver and a processor determine the position, velocity and heading direction of the animal relative to a target. A stimulus unit selectively applies a stimulus to the animal. If the position of the animal relative to the target is less than a predetermined distance and the animal's velocity relative to the target is within a predetermined range and the heading direction of the animal is within a predetermined orientation relative to the target, then a non-aversive stimulus is applied to the animal, and removal of a non-aversive stimulus is selectively effected when the animal's velocity relative to the target is outside of the predetermined range, or the heading direction of the animal changes by more than a predetermined amount, otherwise the non-aversive stimulus is first removed followed by application of an aversive stimulus to the animal.

主权项

1. A control device for controlling the location of an animal, the control device comprising:
a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals; a processor communicatively coupled to the GPS receiver and configured to continuously determine the position, velocity and heading direction of the animal relative to a target; a stimulus unit for selective application of a stimulus to the animal in response to signals received from the processor; wherein the processor configuration is programmed such that if the position of the animal relative to the target is less than a predetermined distance and the velocity of the animal relative to the target is within a predetermined range and the heading direction of the animal is within a predetermined orientation relative to the target, then a signal indicative of applying a non-aversive stimulus to the animal is generated, and the processor configuration is further programmed such that (A) if within a predetermined period of time (i) the velocity of the animal relative to the target is outside of the predetermined range or (ii) the heading direction of the animal changes by more than a predetermined amount, a signal indicative of removal of the non-aversive stimulus is generated, and (B) otherwise a signal is generated indicative of first removing the non-aversive stimulus followed by application of an aversive stimulus to the animal, wherein the non-aversive stimulus is a conditioning stimulus and the aversive stimulus is one of (a) an unconditioned stimulus or (b) a reinforcer.