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SOUNDTALKS

Early warning system in factory farming

Real-time monitoring of the respiratory health status in pig fattening

In factory farming, every minute counts when it comes to the health of the animals. Respiratory diseases in particular can spread quickly and lead to serious consequences. Soundtalks BV has developed an intelligent system that continuously monitors the noises in the pigsty and immediately sounds the alarm in the event of conspicuous coughing noises. The early warning system allows farmers to act at an early stage and thus contain the spread of disease. In close cooperation with WILDDESIGN, a solution was created that is not only technically impressive, but also has a modern, robust design that can withstand the tough conditions in the barn.

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Product Design

Rapid Prototyping

Design for Manufacturing

Packaging Design

IFU Design

3D visualizations

Task

Development of an intelligent monitoring system
Integration of sensors and routers
Protection against aggressive stable conditions
WiFi integration for cloud connection
Development of a packaging concept

Procedure

Sketch phase and development of 3 design concepts
Prototyping and construction of plastic parts
Cooperation with plastics technicians
Conception of assembly aids
Manufacturer contact & prototype support

Result

Innovative, networked system for animal health
Robust, networked system with intelligent sensors
System withstands dust, cleaning agents and ammonia
Easy installation and quick commissioning
Optimized packaging solutions (1-fold & 4-fold)

Early detection through intelligent sensor technology

The heart of the Soundtalks system is a sensor that is placed in the pigsty. This continuously records the noises and analyzes them using integrated evaluation algorithms. If a cough is detected, an alarm is triggered immediately. The special feature: Several networked units enable close monitoring of the entire barn so that outbreaks of disease can be quickly detected and contained. A visual signal display on the sensor (green/yellow/red) means that the status of the system is visible to the farmer from a distance at all times.

Robustness meets intelligent design

The conditions in pigsties are demanding: dust, aggressive cleaning agents and ammonia require the technology used to be highly resilient. WILDDESIGN developed a robust housing design made of polypropylene that not only withstands the chemical and mechanical stresses at the place of use, but also offers maximum openness for the optimal functioning of the sensors. In addition, WiFi connectivity was integrated to connect the sensors to the cloud and ensure fast and secure data transmission.

A well thought-out design process under high time pressure

The system was developed within a tight time frame of just six months. While the technical development ran in parallel, WILDDESIGN worked on the sketch phase and delivered three different design approaches. After deciding on a modern design that emphasized the digital networking with light effects, the implementation in prototype tools followed. Collaboration with an external plastics engineer was crucial to the successful implementation of pilot series production and tool optimization.

Efficient assembly and smart packaging solutions

WILDDESIGN not only conceived the product design, but also practical mounting aids to facilitate the installation of the Soundtalks systems. In addition, a packaging concept was developed that was optimized for both single and quadruple sets. The supervision of the prototype construction and cooperation with manufacturers ensured that the packaging was space-saving and cost-efficient.

A product that has conquered the market

Despite the short development time, the system was successfully launched on the market. The clear user guidance and robust design were immediately well received by users. One particularly notable success: the start-up SoundTalks was taken over by a research-based pharmaceutical company in the field of animal health after its market launch - a sign of the product's high level of innovation and practical benefits. Since its market launch in 2021, 180,000 real-time ReHS (Respiratory Health Status) alarms have already been registered in stables equipped with SoundTalks around the world.