SBIR-STTR Award

No abstract available.

American chicken farmers struggle to attract and retain the needed labor to operate farms that areexpanding in size and scale. Manual labor is currently required to walk up and down the barn tostimulate the flock and check on the birds. Birds Eye Robotics' proposed innovation the CaretakerRobot seeks to reduce labor costs associated with checking broiler barns and flock stimulationwhile improving bird welfare and performance. The Caretaker is a fully autonomous robotic in-barnsolution. Phase I successfully developed a proof-of-concept unit to autonomously navigate broilerbarns. Phase II technical objectives relate to in-barn localization indications of mortality occasionsbarn route planning and flock redistribution. Senior personnel will research and developautonomous robot technologies that incorporate the unique and under researched aspects of largescale commercial broiler barns. These are inherently dark dusty and difficult to navigateenvironments. The Birds Eye Robotics vision is to bring the cutting edge of precision ag technologyto an often-overlooked industry. Poultry farmers who desire to expand their operations will nowhave the capabilities to do so. Commercialization efforts will enable a robotics-as-a-servicebusiness model in which the Caretaker is paid for on a per-barn per-year basis. Upon completion ofphase II Birds Eye will deliver units as part of signed purchase orders and commercial agreementswith some of the largest poultry integrators in America.