論文 - KHIN DAGON WIN
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Win K.D., Kawasue K., Kaneko M.
Sensors 25 ( 6 ) 2025年3月
担当区分：筆頭著者 掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌） 出版者・発行元：Sensors
Highlights: What are the main findings? A non-contact method for measuring neonatal head circumference using a 3D imaging sensor was developed. What is the implication of the main finding? A top-view 3D imaging system can be used to estimate the head circumferences of neonates without direct contact, ensuring safety for their delicate skin. Because some portions of the head may be missing in the top-view images, these missing areas are estimated using mat information. The extracted features and head surface values contribute to the head circumference measurement. This approach enhances the feasibility of non-contact head circumference measurement, which could improve neonatal monitoring in clinical settings. In Japan, birth rates are declining, but there are a rising number of underweight newborns who require specialized care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Head circumference is an important indicator of brain development for low-birth-weight infants. However, measuring head circumference requires extreme care because low-birth-weight infants have fragile skin. Therefore, a non-contact measurement system using a 3D imaging sensor was developed. Using this system, three-dimensional data for a newborn’s head can be obtained from outside the incubator. Briefly, the images are taken from above the incubator, so there is an area behind the head that cannot be captured by the camera, but the head circumference estimation takes into account the fact that the head is in contact with the mat. The proposed method allows head circumference estimation without touching the newborn. This approach minimizes stress for both the neonate and the nurse and improves efficiency and safety in the NICU.
DOI： 10.3390/s25061869
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Robust pig extraction using ground base depth images for automatic weight estimation 査読あり
Win K.D., Kawasue K., Tokunaga T.
Artificial Life and Robotics 30 ( 1 ) 42 - 50 2025年2月
担当区分：筆頭著者 掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌） 出版者・発行元：Artificial Life and Robotics
Dark colored pigs (Berkshire, Duroc, etc.) are widely recognized nationwide in Japan for their exceptional taste, with the southern Kyushu region being a renowned production area for these esteemed breeds. However, estimating the weight of these pigs using a camera presents a unique challenge. The key process in a camera-based weight estimation system is the precise extraction of the target pig from the background. Typically, cameras capture images from above, as the top-view images provide the most specific growth indicators. However, the image from above contains a ground image. Since Berkshire and Duroc pigs are black and red, respectively, they blend into the ground, making it difficult to accurately segment the pigs in the images. Thus, it is crucial to perfectly distinguish between the ground and the pigs. Therefore, a new extraction method is proposed to distinguish between the ground and pigs by converting depth data based on the pig's position. To enhance the efficiency of pig farming and alleviate the burden on workers, our goal is to develop a system that automatically measures the weight of Berkshire pigs for shipment without background interference. In this study, we installed the system at a Berkshire pig farm and demonstrated the effectiveness of this innovative extraction method for camera-based weight estimation.
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Handheld Pig-Weight Estimation Using an RGB-D Sensor 査読あり
Win K.D., Kawasue K., Tokunaga T., Iki Y.
Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering 1322 LNEE 95 - 103 2025年
担当区分：筆頭著者 掲載種別：研究論文（国際会議プロシーディングス） 出版者・発行元：Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering
Although mechanical weighing machines specialized for pigs are normally used to measure animal weights on pig farms, guiding those animals onto the weighing machines is a difficult and unpleasant chore that normally takes 20 seconds to complete after the pig is positioned on the load cell. Additionally, pig weighing machines are prone to mechanical breakdowns and are unpleasant to repair because of the farm residue they collect. Therefore, the development of a more practical and robust weight measurement apparatus is desired. In the present paper, we report on a handheld weight estimation device using a red-green-blue-depth (RGB-D) sensor with a laser slit system. An RGB-D sensor system is used to estimate pig weights, and the laser slit is used to align the measurement direction of the RGB-D sensor along the pig’s body. In operation, this system captures a depth image of the pig under examination and then uses it to create three-dimensional (3D) data. The 3D body parameters are extracted using image processing, and those extracted 3D body parameters for the pig are then fed into a random forest algorithm to produce the weight estimation. We also report on experimental results that demonstrate the reliability of our pig weight estimation system and its suitability for practical use.
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Kikuhito Kawasue, Khin Dagon Win, Kumiko Yoshida, Geunho Lee
Artificial Life and Robotics 29 ( 1 ) 37 - 42 2024年2月
掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌） 出版者・発行元：Artificial Life and Robotics
In pig production, the number of pigs raised on each farm is increasing, but the population of workers involved in pig production is decreasing, so lighter labor is expected. On the other hand, it is also important to improve pig grading and profitability. Weight is a major criterion for pig grading. Too heavy or too light will decrease profits, and pigs need to be shipped at the appropriate weight. However, since each pig weighs more than 100 kg, weighing each pig is very labor-intensive. In large farms, more than 50 pigs are kept in a single piggery, and they are shipped together at the same time, after determining the day when they have reached the proper weight for shipment. In order to improve profitability, it is important to control the growth of pigs in a piggery so that they grow uniformly and to determine the appropriate shipping date. In this study, a prototype system was developed to automatically measure daily weight distribution. If the weight distribution in the piggery is known, appropriate shipping dates can be determined. This paper reports the results of a valid experiment using the developed system.
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Kikuhito Kawasue, Pwint Phoo Wai, Khin Dagon Win, Geunho Lee, Yusuke Iki
Artificial Life and Robotics 28 ( 1 ) 89 - 95 2023年2月
掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌） 出版者・発行元：Artificial Life and Robotics
Pig weights are important indicator for the healthcare and the economic operation of pig farms, and the development of a system to easily estimate these weights is desired. Although load cells are usually used for actual measurement in pig farms, it is not easy to guide pigs weighing more than 100 kg to the scales because many pigs do not like to get on the scales. Therefore, a convenient pig weight estimation system using RGB-D sensors has been developed. An RGB-D sensor (Intel Realsense D455) is used as the sensing device for weight estimation. Weight estimation is performed on 3D point cloud data of photographed pig images. When capturing pigs, it is desirable to have a constant camera orientation toward the pigs However, it is not easy to always capture from the same direction because pigs move around quickly in the piggery. A method with a high degree of freedom in the capture direction by exploiting pig symmetry of the pig’s body is introduced in this paper. The system is applied for a wearing device using AR (Augmented Reality) glasses. Experimental results show the feasibility of this system.
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Khin Dagon Win, Kikuhito Kawasue, Kumiko Yoshida, Geunho Lee
Artificial Life and Robotics 26 ( 2 ) 155 - 161 2021年5月
掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌） 出版者・発行元：Artificial Life and Robotics
Since the delivery of different pig sizes at a same time leads to loss profits, the management of pigs to be grown up uniformly is an important task in pig farms. Therefore, automatic sorting system of pigs by size has been introduced. In our proposed system, camera is used to measure the size of pigs. Camera detects the image of a pig and pig’s size is estimated using computer vision technique. The estimated size is used to select the adequate foods for the pig. The novel mechanism that leads the pig to the adequate direction for the feeding is introduced. The proposed mechanism works robustly in the poor environment of a pig farm. It works satisfactorily without disturbing the feeding cycles of pigs in the farms. The system reduces the labor cost and enables the efficient feeding cycles on considering the size of a pig. The weight is also estimated from the size. Experimental result shows the performance of the weight estimation.
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WIN Khin Dagon, KAWASUE Kikuhito, YOSHIDA Kumiko
Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food 13 ( 3 ) 81 - 88 2020年
記述言語：英語 掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌） 出版者・発行元：Asian Agricultural and Biological Engineering Association
Because pig farms are labor intensive, computer vision-based pig weight estimation system that involve robust maintenance-free parts have been developed; with this system, information on the shape of the pig is used to estimate the pig’s weight. While 2D shape information can be useful, 3D information is preferable to ensure more accurate weight estimates. The approach described here uses multiple lines structured light laser projection to extract such 3D shape information. This method allows for the extraction of a clear pig image regardless of the environment and offers more accurate pig weight estimates. This paper introduces the robust image processing system and describes its effectiveness for practical use on pig farms.
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Black cattle body shape and temperature measurement using thermography and KINECT sensor 査読あり
Kikuhito Kawasue, Khin Dagon Win, Kumiko Yoshida & Tadaaki Tokunaga
Artificial Life and Robotics 22 464 - 470 2017年6月
掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）