Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-functional animal saddle that conform to animal’s body contours to provide shock absorption and airflow circulation and monitors vital physiological parameters of the animal in real time while also enables intuitive interaction through gesture-based controls for improved guidance, safety, and communication between the rider and the animal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A saddle is crucial while riding an animal, especially horses or camels, as it provides support, balance, and comfort to the rider while distributing the rider’s weight evenly across the animal’s back. Proper orientation of the saddle to match the animal's body contour is important to prevent pressure points, skin abrasions, and back injuries, ensuring both the animal's comfort and optimal performance. An ill-fitted saddle cause discomfort, behavioral issues, or long-term musculoskeletal damage. During riding, riders use various gestures to communicate, such as rein cues (pulling or loosening), leg pressure, voice commands, and posture shifts. These gestures help guide direction, speed, and behavior. Proper saddle fit and clear gestures are essential for safe, effective, and humane animal riding practices that respect the animal's well-being.

[0003] Traditionally, riders sit on an animal using saddles made from leather or fabric, often secured with straps or ropes. The saddle is placed on the animal's back, and the rider mounts by stepping into the stirrups or using a mounting block. Riders traditionally monitor the animal's health by observing its behavior, movement, and physical condition, checking for signs of fatigue, lameness, or discomfort through touch and visual cues. To stop the animal, riders use reins to pull back gently or apply pressure with their legs, signaling the animal to halt. However, these traditional methods have drawbacks. Without modern monitoring tools, detecting subtle health issues can be challenging. Over-reliance on manual observation lead to missed signs of stress or injury. Additionally, improper saddle fitting or riding techniques can cause discomfort, leading to long-term harm to the animal.

[0004] JP2011182912A discloses about an invention that includes the saddle for horse-riding includes a seat placed on the back of the horse for a horseback rider to be seated; a pair of saddle flaps suspending from the seat to either side of the back of the horse; a fixed pad formed in a strip-shape along a curved front edge of each saddle flap to abut on the front side of a knee of the horseback ride on the inner side; and a movable pad to abut on the rear side of the knee disposed at a position corresponding to the inner curved surface of the fixed pad and the position where the knee of the horseback rider can be inserted.

[0005] DE102018129205B4 discloses about an invention that includes a riding saddle, which is saddled on the horse's back and on which a rider sits astride while riding, the riding saddle having a saddle tree forming the framework, a seat supporting the saddle tree covers and forms the riding seat area of the rider, and has stirrups which are attached to the saddle tree or the seat and hold the foot of the rider while riding, and elastic components between the saddle tree and the seat to support the seat with spring force, which are constructed in such a way that shocks against the rider when riding are caused by the elastic components are absorbed and attenuated, characterized in that the saddle tree has a pair of side cantles extending on both sides right and left of the horse's back in the front-rear direction, at an intermediate position of the front -Rear direction of the side cantle a medium pommel connecting the side pommel to each other, and between the saddle tree and the seat at the position of the central pommel elastic components to secure the seat with spring force.

[0006] Conventionally, many saddle have been developed that are capable of providing basic support and comfort to the rider. However, these existing saddle lacks in lack the ability to adapt to the animal’s anatomical curvature and movements in real-time for enhanced comfort and stability. Additionally, these existing saddle also lacks in real-time physiological monitoring and gesture-based communication for improved rider-animal interaction.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a saddle that is capable of dynamically adapting to the anatomical curvature and movements of the animal’s body, ensuring enhanced comfort and stability during use. In addition, the developed saddle also integrates real-time monitoring of the animal’s physiological parameters and interprets rider gestures to facilitate more efficient communication and control over the animal.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a saddle that is capable of providing dynamic and adaptive support for riding animals by conforming to the anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s body, thereby ensuring improved fit, reduced pressure points, and enhanced comfort for the animal during prolonged usage.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a saddle that is capable of monitoring physiological parameters of the animal in real-time and accordingly provides visual alert to the rider, thus enabling timely intervention to prevent health complications and ensure the well-being of the animal during riding sessions.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to develop a saddle that is capable of allowing the rider to communicate intuitively with the animal using gesture-based commands, and facilitate targeted physical interactions to guide behavior.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a saddle that is capable of ensuring rider safety through impact-dampening measures that activate automatically in high-risk scenarios such as falls.

[0013] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention relates to a multi-functional animal saddle that is capable of dynamically adapting to the anatomical structure of an animal’s back for providing improved comfort and load distribution during riding. Further, the saddle is capable of monitoring physiological parameters of the animal, for stabilizing movement over varying terrains.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a multi-functional animal saddle is disclosed comprising of a wearable inverted U-shaped body configured to be positioned over dorsal side and thoracic region of an animal extending from withers to loin of the animal, a breathable inner layer is attached to the body and fabricated with silicon pouches that conform to animal’s body contours and provide shock absorption and airflow circulation, a camera mounted on the body for capturing multiple images of surroundings, an artificial intelligence protocol encrypted within the microcontroller for detecting anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s back, plurality of motorized hinge joints is embedded along curved arc of the body to conform to the anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s back, a sensing module integrated into bottom section of the body to monitor and analyze vital physiological parameters of the animal in real time, a plurality of cascading sliders are mounted to the body and connected to at least one motorized pivot joint, the sliders being extendable toward ground, each slider terminates in a wedge-shaped spike adapted to embed into the terrain for providing mechanical resistance and deceleration, a gesture detection sensor arranged on the body that works in synchronization with the camera for detecting hand gestures made by the user for reining the animal, a pair of flywheel inverted pendulum swing-up assembly is installed on opposite sections of the body, each integrated with a circular rotating disc that serves as a base for a pair of hand-like exoskeleton structures adapted to mimic human tapping and touch gestures on specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present saddle further comprises of a plurality of air-inflating bags strategically positioned over the body, each air bag being in direct communication with the camera configured to monitor the rider’s movements, and body positioning in real-time, upon detecting a fall or high-risk situation the corresponding air-inflating bags positioned on the side of the rider gets inflated to create a cushioning effect, an ultrasonic sensor is integrated with the body to monitor surface profile and dimensions of the animals’ back, a thermoelectric cooler is housed within the inner surface of the body and coupled with the temperature sensor to regulate skin-contact temperature through selective activation, a first exoskeleton structure is interconnected with a motorized ball and socket joint to simulate a variety of user-defined touch gestures with adjustable force intensity, a second exoskeleton structure is coupled to the disk via a motorized linear slider to simulate a flat palm forward motion or tapping action in response to user gesture inputs, the slider allowing linear actuation for targeted delivery of signals to the animal, a 3-dimensional holographic projector is installed with the body to project visual images on the surrounding area for providing real-time information to assist the user during the riding session and generating real-time visual representations of the animal’s vital health data for allowing the user to assess the animal’s health, a vibrating unit is embedded within each of the exoskeleton structures to produce controlled vibrational pulses during gesture execution, and plurality of iris diaphragms interconnected with the thermoelectric cooler are provided on the body to regulate airflow based on animal’s health parameters.

[0017] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a multi-functional animal saddle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0020] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0021] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0022] The present invention relates to a multi-functional animal saddle that is capable of adapting its structure in real-time to the anatomical curvature and movement of the animal’s back for enhanced comfort, stability, and load distribution. Additionally, the present invention is capable of interpreting user gestures and accordingly mimic human tapping and touch gestures on specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body in order to assist in intuitive communication and control of the animal without the need for physical reins.

[0023] Referring to Figure 1, an isometric view of a multi-functional animal saddle is illustrated, comprising of a wearable inverted U-shaped body 101, a breathable inner layer 102 is attached to the body 101 and fabricated with silicon pouches 103, plurality of motorized hinge joints 104 are embedded along curved arc of the body 101, a plurality of cascading sliders 105 are mounted to the body 101 and connected to at least one motorized pivot joint 106, each slider terminates in a wedge-shaped spike 107, a pair of flywheel inverted pendulum swing-up assembly 108 is installed on opposite sections of the body 101, each assembly 108 is integrated with a circular rotating disc 109, a first exoskeleton structure 110 connected to the disc 109 with a motorized ball and socket joint 111, a second exoskeleton structure 112 is coupled to the disk via a motorized linear slider 113, a 3-dimensional holographic projector 114 is installed with the body 101, a plurality of air-inflating bags 115 is strategically positioned over the body 101, a thermoelectric cooler 116 is housed within the inner surface of the body 101, plurality of iris diaphragms 117 interconnected with the thermoelectric cooler 116, and a camera 118 mounted on the body 101.

[0024] The saddle disclosed herein comprises of wearable inverted U-shaped body 101 incorporating various components associated with the saddle and configured to be positioned manually by a user, over the dorsal side and thoracic region of an animal. The body 101 is contoured to span longitudinally from the neck portion to the back of the animal, ensuring broad surface coverage across the back to facilitate uniform weight distribution and minimize localized pressure. The inverted U-shaped profile of the body 101 provides an arched structure that conforms naturally to the animal’s spine and ribcage, allowing it to rest securely without causing discomfort or restricting movement.

[0025] A breathable layer 102 is attached along the inner surface of the body 101, to interface with the animal's body. This layer 102 facilitates continuous airflow between the saddle and the animal’s skin, for reducing the risk of overheating and promoting evaporative cooling. Multiple silicon pouches 103 (ranging from 6 to 10 in numbers) are fabricated within the layer 102 and are strategically distributed and contoured to align with the natural anatomical structure of the animal’s back. These pouches are filled with a viscoelastic silicon gel material that enables them to conform adaptively to the animal’s body contours during motion, for offering both shock absorption and pressure equalization. Additionally, the spacing and arrangement of the pouches are optimized to allow ventilation channels between them, thereby enhancing air circulation and maintaining skin-contact comfort for the animal.

[0026] Upon positioning the saddle over the animal’s back, the user is required to activate the saddle by pressing a button installed on the U-shaped body 101 and linked with an inbuilt microcontroller associated with the saddle. The button is a type of switch that is internally connected with the system via multiple circuits that upon pressing by the user, the circuits get closed and starts conduction of electricity that tends to activate the saddle and vice versa.

[0027] After activation of the saddle, the microcontroller activates a camera 118 mounted on the body 101 for capturing multiple images of surroundings. The camera 118 comprises of a high-resolution camera lens, digital camera sensor and a processor, wherein the lens captures multiple images from different angles and perspectives in vicinity of the saddle with the help of digital camera sensor for providing comprehensive coverage of the animal’s surroundings as well as the dorsal surface of the animal. The captured images then go through pre-processing steps by the processor integrated with the camera 118, such as adjusting brightness, contrast, and noise removal to enhance quality. These refined images are transmitted to the microcontroller linked with the processor in the form of electrical signals.

[0028] The microcontroller linked with the camera 118, processes the received data by means of an artificial intelligence protocol encrypted within the microcontroller. The AI protocol is trained on a comprehensive dataset encompassing various animal back profiles, enabling it to accurately interpret key features such as spinal curvature, muscle distribution, and body width. By analyzing pixel patterns, depth contrasts, and surface gradients in the image data, the AI protocol reconstructs a precise 3D topographical model of the animal’s back. Once this model is generated, the AI protocol calculates dimensional parameters such as the longitudinal curvature of the spine, lateral symmetry, and elevation differences across muscle zones. These parameters are processed by the microcontroller to determine the size and anatomical curvature of the animal’s back.

[0029] Multiple motorized hinge joints 104 (ranging from 4 to 6 in numbers) are strategically embedded along the curved arc of the wearable body 101, extending from the withers to the loin region. Upon evaluating the anatomical curvature and dimensions of the animal’s back, the microcontroller generates a set of actuation commands specific to each hinge joint. These commands include angular displacement values and torque requirements for the hinge joints 104 to adjust the angle and orientation of adjacent segments of the curved arc of the body 101, and allowing the saddle to bend and shape itself in accordance with the animal’s dorsal surface.

[0030] The motorized hinge joints 104 used herein integrates an electric motor with a traditional hinge assembly to enable controlled, automated rotational movement of the segments of the curved arc of the body 101 around a fixed axis. The hinge joints 104 comprise of a pair of leaf that are screwed with the surface of the body 101. The leafs are connected with each other by means of a cylindrical member integrated with a shaft coupled with a DC (Direct Current) motor to provide required movement to the hinge. The rotation of the shaft in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction provides required tilting movement to the hinge joints 104, that in turn tilt the curved arc of the body 101 as per the detected anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s back, for a snug yet non-restrictive fit of the body 101.

[0031] Once the wearable body 101 is adjusted as per the anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s back, the user is required to get seated over the body 101 and starts riding the animal. As the ride commences, the microcontroller by means of a sensing module integrated into bottom section of the body 101, monitor and analyze vital physiological parameters of the animal, such as temperature, muscle strain, and circulatory fluctuations in real time. The sensing module comprises a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor and a temperature sensor, wherein the FBG sensor detects strain variations resulting from muscle tension or locomotor stress, while the temperature sensor continuously measures surface temperature to indicate signs of overheating or inflammation.

[0032] The Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor detects strain variations caused by muscle tension or locomotor stress by measuring shifts in the reflected wavelength of light. The sensor includes an optical fiber with Bragg gratings, a broadband light source, an optical interrogator, and a signal processor. When strain is applied to the fiber, such as from muscle movement, the grating spacing within the fiber changes. This alters the wavelength of light reflected back from the grating. The interrogator detects these shifts and sends the data to the signal processor, which translates them into strain values and transmits the data to the microcontroller.

[0033] Simultaneously, the temperature sensor measures the surface temperature of an animal’s body by detecting thermal energy and converting it into an electrical signal. The sensor includes a thermistor or thermocouple, and a signal conditioning circuit. When the sensor is placed against the animal’s skin, it detects the heat emitted. This heat changes the electrical resistance (in a thermistor) or generates a voltage (in a thermocouple). The signal conditioning circuit amplifies and filters the signal, which is then transmitted to the microcontroller.

[0034] The real-time data acquired from the sensors associated with the sensing module, is processed by the microcontroller to continuously monitor vital physiological parameters of the animal that reflect the animal’s physical exertion and potential signs of discomfort or other health concerns. The microcontroller compares the evaluated physiological parameters with a threshold value for each physiological parameter that is pre-feed in a database linked to the microcontroller. Multiple cascading sliders 105 are mounted to the body 101 of the saddle and are operably connected to at least one motorized pivot joint 106. These sliders 105 are strategically positioned to remain compact during normal riding conditions.

[0035] If the monitored values of the physiological parameters deviate beyond the acceptable range defined in the database, the microcontroller actuates the cascading sliders 105 to extend in a downward direction toward the ground. Each slider 105 terminates in a wedge-shaped spike 107, which upon deployment, embeds securely into the underlying terrain to provide immediate mechanical resistance and deceleration to the moving animal, to slow down or stabilize the animal, thereby preventing potential harm due to physiological distress.

[0036] The cascading slider 105 is a multi-tiered sliding assembly that extend or retract in sequential stages, with each stage moving independently yet interconnectedly. The cascading slider 105 consists of multiple nested segments or rails, which upon actuation, the first segment initiates movement, causing the subsequent segments to extend or collapse in a cascading manner for smooth, progressive extension or retraction of the slider 105 in order to embed the wedge-shaped spike 107 into the terrain for providing mechanical resistance and deceleration.

[0037] A thermoelectric cooler 116 is housed within the inner surface of the body 101 and is operatively coupled with the temperature sensor integrated into the sensing module. The temperature sensor continuously monitors the skin-contact temperature of the animal and relays this data to the microcontroller. Simultaneously, the microcontroller evaluates the animal’s physiological parameters, such as body temperature and stress-related indicators, obtained from the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor. Upon identifying any deviation from the desired thermal comfort range or physiological norms, the microcontroller selectively activates the thermoelectric cooler 116 to either absorb excess heat or deliver a mild warming effect, depending on the requirements for maintaining optimal skin-contact temperature.

[0038] The thermoelectric cooler 116 (TEC) regulates the skin-contact temperature of an animal using the Peltier effect, where electric current passed through two different conductors causes heat to move from one side to the other. The thermoelectric cooler 116 includes a Peltier module, and a heat sink/fan. Based on physiological parameters of the animal, the microcontroller adjusts the current supplied to the Peltier module. This causes one side to cool (in contact with the animal’s skin) and the other to dissipate heat via the heat sink for precise cooling or heating for thermal regulation. The activation is executed in a controlled manner by the microcontroller to either absorb excess heat or deliver a mild warming effect, depending on the requirements for maintaining optimal skin-contact temperature.

[0039] As the thermoelectric cooler 116 works to regulate skin-contact temperature, the microcontroller simultaneously actuates multiple iris diaphragms 117 provided on the body 101 and interconnected with the thermoelectric cooler 116, to open or close for optimizing heat exchange. When elevated body temperature or excessive sweating is detected, the diaphragms 117 open wider to enhance airflow circulation and aid the cooling process initiated by the thermoelectric cooler 116. Conversely, under normal or low-temperature conditions, the diaphragms 117 remain partially closed to retain warmth.

[0040] The iris diaphragms 117 mentioned herein, consists of a ring in bottom configured with multiple slots along periphery, multiple number of blades and blade actuating ring on the top. The blades are pivotally jointed with blade actuating ring and the base plate are hooked over the blade. The blade actuating ring is rotated clock and anticlock wise by a DC motor embedded in ball actuating ring which results in opening/closing of the diaphragms 117 for maintaining a balanced microenvironment under the wearable body 101, ensuring both effective temperature control and overall physiological comfort of the animal.

[0041] While the user is riding the animal, a gesture detection sensor arranged on the body 101, works in synchronization with the camera 118, to continuously monitor and interpret hand gestures made by the user during riding. As the rider performs specific hand motions or gestures within the predefined field of detection, such as raising a hand, swiping in a direction, or signaling with fingers, the sensor captures the movement patterns and relays them to the microcontroller. The camera 118 works in conjunction with the gesture detection sensor to provide visual confirmation and contextual awareness of the gesture’s origin, helping to eliminate false positives due to surrounding movement or animal motion.

[0042] The microcontroller processes the input data from both the sensor and camera 118 in real-time. These inputs include motion vectors, spatial coordinates, and gesture patterns performed by the user. The processed data is then compared against a set of predefined gesture templates stored in the database linked to the microcontroller. Each template corresponds to a specific reining command or directional instruction that the animal is trained to recognize. Upon matching the observed input with a stored gesture pattern, the microcontroller accurately identifies the specific gesture made by the user for reining the animal.

[0043] A pair of flywheel inverted pendulum swing-up assembly 108 are installed on opposite lateral sections of the wearable body 101. Each swing-up assembly 108 comprises a circular rotating disc 109 that acts as a foundational base for mounting a pair of hand-like exoskeleton structures 110, 112, that are configured to anatomically and functionally resemble a human hand. These structures 110, 112 are configured to simulate a range of tactile gestures, such as tapping, stroking, and pressing on specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body.

[0044] Based on the commands identified from the user’s hand gestures, the microcontroller actuates the swing-up assembly 108 to orient the rotating disc 109 over a desired position and aligns the exoskeleton structures 110, 112 with the targeted anatomical zones of the animal’s body. The swing-up assembly 108 consist of a flywheel, a DC motor, a pendulum arm, rotational encoders, and a support frame. Upon actuation, the DC motor drives the flywheel to generate angular momentum, which is used to control the pendulum arm’s swing-up motion through dynamic balancing principles. The rotational encoders continuously monitor the angular position and velocity of the pendulum arm, transmitting real-time data back to the microcontroller.

[0045] Using this feedback, the microcontroller dynamically adjusts the motor’s torque and rotational direction to bring the pendulum arm and attached rotating disc 109 into a stabilized and controlled upright orientation for aligning the exoskeleton structures 110, 112 with specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body. Once the structures 110, 112 are aligned, the microcontroller based on the user made gesture, actuates the specific exoskeleton structures 110, 112 to perform corresponding gestures such as tapping, patting, or pressing on the specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body.

[0046] The first exoskeleton structure 110 is mechanically interconnected to the disc 109 by means of a motorized ball and socket joint 111, for allowing the first exoskeleton structure 110 to achieve multi-directional movement with high precision and flexibility. This configuration enables the first exoskeleton structure 110 to simulate a range of user-defined touch gestures, such as tapping, stroking, nudging, or circular motion, that are targeted toward specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body. Based on the evaluated gesture commands, the microcontroller actuates the ball and socket joint 111 to provide multi-axis rotation for enabling the exoskeleton to follow complex movement patterns that closely mimic human hand gestures, to simulate a variety of user-defined touch gestures with adjustable force intensity.

[0047] The second exoskeleton structure 112 is mechanically coupled to the disc 109 through a motorized linear slider 113. This structural setup is configured to simulate gesture patterns such as a flat palm forward motion or a tapping action, which are commonly used by human handlers to communicate with animals. Upon receiving specific user gesture inputs, the microcontroller actuates the motorized slider 113 to propel the second exoskeleton structure 112 along the linear path to replicate the intended motion.

[0048] The motorized slider 113 used herein consists of a sliding-rail and multiple rolling members which are integrated with a step motor. On actuation, the step motor rotates the rolling members in order to provide rolling motion to the members which results in sliding of the members and provide translation to the second exoskeleton structure 112 along the slider 113 in order to simulate flat palm forward motion or tapping action in response to user gesture inputs, for targeted delivery of signals to the animal.

[0049] In synchronization with the physical motion of the exoskeleton structures 110, 112, the microcontroller actuates a vibrating unit embedded within each of the exoskeleton structures 110, 112 to produce controlled vibrational pulses during gesture execution for enhancing the tactile signal being delivered to the animal and making the gesture more distinguishable and effective. The vibrating unit consist of a small motor with unbalanced weight attached to its shaft. On actuation by the microcontroller, the motor spins the unbalanced weight creates a vibrating motion, which shakes the exoskeleton structures 110, 112 to generate vibrational sensations of pre-defined intensity in order to enhance the tactile signal being delivered to the animal.

[0050] While the user is riding, the camera 118 continuously monitors the rider’s movements and body 101 positioning in real-time. The camera 118 feeds the captured video data to the microcontroller, which utilizes the embedded artificial intelligence protocol to evaluate the dynamic posture of the rider to detect any signs of imbalance, sudden displacement, or erratic movement patterns that indicate a fall or a high-risk event. Upon detecting such high-risk conditions, the microcontroller immediately actuates one or more air-inflating bags 115 from multiple air-inflating bags 115 positioned over the body 101, to create a cushioning effect for reducing the impact and preventing injury to the rider.

[0051] The inflation is achieved using an air compressor integrated with the bags 115. Upon actuation, the air compressor extracts the air from surrounding and increases the pressure of the air by reducing the volume of the air and which is further injected in the air-inflating bags 115. The air-inflating bags 115 are laminated of multiple thin polymeric films, when air is inserted in the bags 115 by means of air compressor, the films are puffed and the bags 115 becomes soft for providing cushioning to the rider and reducing the impact and preventing injury to the rider during falls or abrupt jerks.

[0052] Further, a 3-dimensional holographic projector 114 installed with the body 101 is actuates by the microcontroller to cast real-time holographic visuals onto the surrounding area within the rider’s field of view, that aids the rider during the riding session by providing a variety of real-time data outputs, including the animal’s vital physiological parameters. The visualized data includes, but is not limited to, body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and stress indicators, that are represented through intuitive color-coded indicators, graphs, or animated visuals.

[0053] This holographic output enables the rider to assess the health and physical condition of the animal on-the-go and make informed decisions, such as adjusting the pace or stopping the ride if irregularities are detected. The holographic projections may also include navigation assistance, environmental alerts, and feedback regarding terrain resistance or slope, enhancing the safety and overall experience of the ride.

[0054] The holographic projector 114 operates by using a combination of light sources, mirrors, and lenses to create a three-dimensional visual representation. The holographic projector 114 consists of a laser light source that projects onto a beam splitter, which divides the light into multiple paths. These paths are then directed onto a diffraction grating to produce the holographic image. Micro-lenses and mirrors further focus and align the light to form a clear 3D projection. The microcontroller linked with the holographic projector 114 controls the image content, ensuring the correct visual representations of the animal’s vital health data is projected, to assist the user during the riding session.

[0055] Lastly, a battery is installed within the saddle which is connected to the microcontroller that supplies current to all the electrically powered components that needs an amount of electric power to perform their functions and operation in an efficient manner. The battery utilized here, is generally a dry battery which is made up of Lithium-ion material that gives the saddle a long-lasting as well as an efficient DC (Direct Current) current which helps every component to function properly in an efficient manner. As the saddle is battery operated and do not need any electrical voltage for functioning. Hence the presence of battery leads to the portability of the saddle i.e. user is able to place as well as moves the saddle from one place to another as per the requirement.

[0056] The present invention works best in the following manner, where the wearable inverted U-shaped body 101 is positioned over the dorsal side and thoracic region of the animal. The breathable inner layer 102 integrated with silicon pouches 103 provides both shock absorption and ventilation. Once mounted, the camera 118 captures real-time images of the animal’s back, which are processed by the AI-enabled microcontroller to determine curvature and size. Based on this data, multiple motorized hinge joints 104 adjust the saddle's fit accordingly. Physiological parameters are continuously monitored by the sensing module. In cases of abnormal readings, the thermoelectric cooler 116 selectively activates to regulate skin-contact temperature. For terrain resistance and controlled deceleration, cascading sliders 105 with wedge-shaped spikes 107 extend downward via motorized pivots. Gesture detection sensors in coordination with the camera 118 detect user hand gestures and accordingly the microcontroller actuate the pair of flywheel inverted pendulum swing-up assembly 108 to manipulate exoskeleton structures 110, 112 to tap or press on specific zones of the animal’s body. In emergencies such as rider’s fall, air-inflating bags 115 are triggered for impact cushioning. Additionally, the 3D holographic projector 114 and iris diaphragms 117 maintain user awareness and animal comfort.

[0057] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) A multi-functional animal saddle, comprising:

i) a wearable inverted U-shaped body 101 configured to be positioned over dorsal side and thoracic region of an animal extending from withers to loin of said animal, wherein a breathable inner layer 102 is attached to the body 101 and fabricated with silicon pouches 103 that conform to animal’s body contours, the pouches being configured to provide shock absorption and airflow circulation;
ii) a camera 118 mounted on said body 101 for capturing multiple images of surroundings, a microcontroller linked with said camera 118 processes said captured images by means of an artificial intelligence protocol encrypted within said microcontroller for detecting anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s back, wherein plurality of motorized hinge joints 104 are embedded along curved arc of the body 101, the joints being actuated via the microcontroller to conform to the anatomical curvature and size of the animal’s back;
iii) a sensing module integrated into bottom section of said body 101 to monitor and analyze vital physiological parameters of said animal in real time, wherein a plurality of cascading sliders 105 is mounted to the body 101 and connected to at least one motorized pivot joint 106, said sliders 105 being extendable toward ground upon activation, each slider terminates in a wedge-shaped spike 107 adapted to embed into the terrain for providing mechanical resistance and deceleration;
iv) a gesture detection sensor arranged on said body 101 that works in synchronization with the camera 118 for detecting hand gestures made by said user for reining the animal, wherein a pair of flywheel inverted pendulum swing-up assembly 108 is installed on opposite sections of the body 101, each integrated with a circular rotating disc 109 that serves as a base for a pair of hand-like exoskeleton structures 110, 112 adapted to mimic human tapping and touch gestures on specific anatomical zones of the animal’s body; and
v) a plurality of air-inflating bags 115 strategically positioned over the body 101, each air bag being in direct communication with the camera 118 configured to monitor the rider’s movements, and body positioning in real-time, wherein upon detecting a fall or high-risk situation, the microcontroller triggers the inflation of the corresponding air-inflating bags 115 positioned on the side of the rider to create a cushioning effect, thereby reducing the impact and preventing injury to the rider.

2) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing module includes a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor and a temperature sensor.

3) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thermoelectric cooler 116 is housed within the inner surface of said body 101 and coupled with said temperature sensor to regulate skin-contact temperature through selective activation, based on physiological parameters of the animal.

4) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first exoskeleton structure 110 is interconnected with a motorized ball and socket joint 111, configured to simulate a variety of user-defined touch gestures with adjustable force intensity, the gestures being triggered by specific hand motions performed by the user while riding.

5) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second exoskeleton structure 112 is coupled to said disc 109 via a motorized linear slider 113, said structure being configured to simulate a flat palm forward motion or tapping action in response to user gesture inputs, the slider 113 allowing linear actuation for targeted delivery of signals to the animal.

6) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a 3-dimensional holographic projector 114 is installed with the body 101 that to project visual images on the surrounding area, providing real-time information to assist the user during the riding session, generating real-time visual representations of the animal’s vital health data, allowing the user to assess the animal’s health.

7) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vibrating unit is embedded within each of said exoskeleton structures 110, 112, configured to produce controlled vibrational pulses during gesture execution.

8) The saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein plurality of iris diaphragms 117 interconnected with the thermoelectric cooler 116 are provided on the body 101 to regulate airflow based on animal’s health parameters, where airflow is adjusted by the microcontroller to maintain comfort during extended usage.