Innovations: The ALIS Chirpy sensor

Founded in 2008, Greengage is a lighting company that designs LED lamps, power hubs and sensors for agricultural production.

Production
Founded in 2008, Greengage is a lighting company that designs LED lamps, power hubs and sensors for agricultural production. Later this year it expects to launch a new device called ALIS Chirpy.

Equipment specs
ALIS Chirpy is an auditory sensor that measures vocal sounds of chicks in the barn. The sensor is the result of collaborative acoustics research with several U.K. universities, but mainly Newcastle University. The researchers studied recorded vocal sounds to see if there was a correlation between them and animal welfare. They were able to identify 22 vocal sounds that were the result of different emotional states. Using that data, Greengage developed an algorithm that allows the sensor that links vocal sounds to the different emotions.

Innovation factor
For chicks, the first week or so of growth and development is essential. “If you don’t get that initial growth stage right, the bird never really recovers,” says Greengage marketing manager Steven Mitchell. “If birds are stressed or depressed it can affect the emotional state of neighbouring birds,” he adds. “That basically means that they don’t meet the target weight and the general productivity of the bird is not as expected.” Using the sensor to identify stress at an early stage will enable farmers to make changes by adjusting temperature or lighting. 

Sector – Brooders

Location – Roslin Institute Edinburgh University, U.K.

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