Monitoring Poultry Embryo Development During Incubation Process Via Electro-Optical Signals

Abstract

Optimal incubation protocol plays an important role in increasing incubator efficiency. The incubation program includes changes and adjustments of environmental variables such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide level (CO2), corresponding to the type of the egg. Embryo development stages can be identified according to measured characteristics, such as photo-plethysmography (PPG) and transmitted light intensity through the eggshell. Monitoring the development of poultry embryos during the incubation process can improve an optimal incubator protocol. In this article, we present an analysis of PPG signals and candling light intensity for monitoring embryonic development during the incubation process.