In-situ Temperature Measurement of Eggs Using In-Contact Thin-Film Sensors

Abstract

Maintaining a habitable zone is indispensable during the development of embryos inside eggs. The temperature inside the incubator plays a vital role in artificial incubation methods. The incubators should be able to adapt themselves to the embryo temperature. Present technologies measure the embryo temperatures by examining the outer shell of the eggs using contactless infrared thermometers. Infrared thermometers are highly susceptible to Relative-Humidity (RH) interference, leading to false positives. The present work dealt with an in-contact thin-film temperature sensor used to measure the temperature of the eggs and combine it with a closed-loop control system to regulate the temperature inside the incubator throughout the incubation period without human intervention. RH interference could be easily eliminated by in-contact sensors inside the incubator. The temperature control system is robust in terms of both physical fabrication and data transfer. It uses wireless protocols to transfer the temperature data, reducing the overall size of the system and offers maximum portability. The work is also expected to be combined with a web application for real-time monitoring of temperature and online control.