RUGGED AUTOMATED TRAINING SYSTEM AND METHODS

摘要

Systems, kits, and methods for training animals. The system can include an animal training enclosure, an animal harness assembly, and a system controller assembly. The animal training enclosure can include a housing in which the animal to be trained is positioned, a stimuli delivery assembly that presents stimuli and distracters to the animal, and a primary reinforcement apparatus. The animal harness assembly can include a harness mounted on the animal, the harness housing a vibrotactile apparatus that can be used as a secondary reinforcement apparatus, an electronic compass that can measure orientation of the animal, and a wireless interface for communicating with the system controller assembly. The methods can include a method of training an animal using a secondary reinforcement positioned on a harness mounted on the animal, a method of concurrently training a plurality of animals, a method of detecting an unexploded landmine, and a method of demining a minefield.

主权项

1. A system for training animals, the system comprising:
an animal training enclosure, comprising:
a housing bounding a training chamber, the housing comprising a floor having a plurality of ports that communicate with the training chamber;a stimuli delivery assembly disposed below the floor, the stimuli delivery assembly comprising:
a positioner that is movable between a first position, in which a predetermined portion of the positioner is aligned with a first one of the ports, and a second position, in which the predetermined portion of the positioner is aligned with a second one of the ports;an actuator that moves the positioner between the first and second positions; anda container configured to be filled with a material that provides a stimulus, the container being securable on the predetermined portion of the positioner such that the container is aligned with the first and second ports, respectively, when the positioner is positioned in the first and second positions; anda primary reinforcement apparatus that communicates with the training chamber so as to selectively provide a primary animal reinforcement to the training chamber; an animal harness assembly configured to be mounted on an animal so as to monitor the actions of the animal when the animal is positioned within the training chamber. a system controller assembly that electronically communicates with the animal training enclosure and the animal harness assembly.