| 摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus for locating the teats of an animal, the method being carried out using an automated three-dimensional image capturing device such as a time of flight (TOF) camera associated with image data storage means and data processing means said method comprising the steps of: automatically obtaining and storing one or more three-dimensional numerical image which includes or which is expected to include the teats of said animal; making said image or images or a selection of said images, available for review by an operator e.g. by means of a graphical user interface (GUI); receiving manually input data designating the location of one or more teats in said numerical image or images; creating a teat position data file containing the location co-ordinates of each defined teat from within said numerical image or images; updating an animal data folder with said teat position data file. The method may in particular be used in connection with performing an animal related operation involving connecting a milking or cleaning apparatus to the teats of an animal, wherein the aforementioned successive method steps are performed if, after initial method steps of automatically capturing and analysing camera images of said animal including its udder and teat region, that analysis reveals that teat location determination in respect of the animal is incorrect or incomplete.</p> |
