W.RDE.0008 - Automated Sheep Counting on Mobile Devices

Summary

There are strict regulations around the number of animals allowed on a livestock export ship. With truckloads of sheep being loaded one after the other, keeping an accurate count is a highly skilled and intensive task.

Objectives

• Develop a portable and wireless system to support the sheep counting technology (using the existing software).
• Validate that the system can generate the same levels of accuracy in live trials under a variety of situations, including weather and lighting.

Key findings

• Automated sheep counting technology has been developed using artificial intelligence, via a system using a video camera mounted over the loading ramp of a livestock vessel.
• This project built on the original product to create a wireless and portable system that can be used in more locations and for various applications.

Benefits to industry

• Automated sheep counting technology provides independent verification of the number of sheep loaded onto export ships and reduces the human resources required to count sheep.
• Developing a wireless and portable system allows the technology to be used in a greater variety of locations and situations, including feedlots and saleyards.