Enrichment device for mammals

Number: 12342794
Published: 2025-07-01
Filed: 2023-07-07
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Milluzzi; Andrew J. et al.
CPC: A01K29/005; A01K11/008; A01K15/023; H04W4/021
Verdict: Set aside animal-enrichment device, park animal-welfare operations, not show/character hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

In some implementations, a controller may obtain global positioning system (GPS) data from a GPS unit of an enrichment device. The controller may determine habitat information identifying a habitat for animals, of a plurality of habitats of animals, using the GPS data. The controller may determine a geofence of the habitat for animals based on the habitat information. The controller may determine a movement profile associated with the habitat for animals using the habitat information. The movement profile identifies one or more motions of the enrichment device. The controller may cause the enrichment device to move, within a boundary of the geofence, in accordance with the one or more motions of the movement profile. The enrichment device may move in accordance with the one or more motions to stimulate movement of one or more animals of the habitat for animals. The controller may monitor the movement and/or animal interaction.

Background

BACKGROUND (1) A ball may be used to stimulate movement of an animal to meet species appropriate behavioral goals for the animal, leading to opportunities for great animal welfare. In some situations, the ball may include a motor that causes the ball to move. SUMMARY (2) In some implementations, a method performed by a controller of an enrichment device includes obtaining global positioning system (GPS) data from a GPS unit of the enrichment device; determining habitat information identifying a habitat for animals, of a plurality of habitats of animals, using the GPS data; determining a geofence of the habitat for animals based on the habitat information; determining a movement profile associated with the habitat for animals using the habitat information, wherein the movement profile identifies one or more motions of the enrichment device; and causing the enrichment device to move, within a boundary of the geofence, in accordance with the one or more motions of the movement profile, with the enrichment device moving in accordance with the one or more motions to stimulate movement of one or more animals of the habitat for animals. (3) In some implementations, an enrichment device includes a global positioning system (GPS) unit; and a controller configured to: determine habitat information identifying a habitat for animals, of a plurality of habitats of animals, using first GPS data generated by the GPS unit; detect an animal interaction indicating that an animal, of the habita

Claims

1. A method performed by a controller included in an enrichment device, the method comprising: obtaining global positioning system (GPS) data from a GPS unit of the enrichment device; determining habitat information identifying a habitat for animals, of a plurality of habitats of animals, using the GPS data; determining a geofence of the habitat for animals based on the habitat information; determining a movement profile associated with the habitat for animals using the habitat information, wherein the movement profile identifies one or more motions of the enrichment device; and causing the enrichment device to move, within a boundary of the geofence, in accordance with the one or more motions of the movement profile, wherein the enrichment device moves in accordance with the one or more motions to stimulate movement of one or more animals of the habitat for animals. || 8. An enrichment device, comprising: a global positioning system (GPS) unit; and a controller configured to: determine habitat information identifying a habitat for animals, of a plurality of habitats of animals, using first GPS data generated by the GPS unit; detect an animal interaction indicating that an animal, of the habitat, is interacting with the enrichment device; determine a location of the animal interaction using second GPS data generated by the GPS unit; update the habitat information to include desired location information identifying the location as a desired location, wherein the desired location information includes the second GPS data; and cause the enrichment device to move from a current location of the enrichment device to the desired location to stimulate one or more additional animal interactions. || 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an enrichment device, cause the enrichment device to: determine habitat information identifying a geographical area for animals of a plurality of geographical areas for animals, wherein the geographical area is identified using first global positioning system (GPS) data generated by a GPS unit of the enrichment device; determine that an animal interaction is not detected at a first location corresponding to the first GPS data; cause the enrichment device to move to a second location; detect one or more animal interactions indicating that an animal is interacting with the enrichment device, wherein the one or more animal interactions are determined at the second location; determine a location of the one or more animal interactions using second GPS data generated by the GPS unit; and update the habitat information to include desired location information identifying the second location as a desired location, wherein the desired location information includes the second GPS data.