Anti-flow seabed base with panoramic observation function aiming at observation coral

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of seabed observation, and discloses an anti-flow seabed base with a panoramic observation function for observing coral, which comprises a frame, a plurality of anchor flukes, a waterproof holder, a camera, a support column, a motor, a control cabin and a battery pack, the anchor flukes are evenly fixed to the edge of the bottom of the frame, the supporting column, the control cabin and the battery pack are all fixed in the frame, the waterproof holder is installed on the supporting column, the camera is fixed to the waterproof holder, and the motor is fixed to the bottom of the frame. According to the anti-flow type seabed base, three core function modules, namely a panoramic observation system (a rotary holder / panoramic camera), a miniaturized light main body and a bionic anchor type anti-flow base are organically fused, and long-term, stable and dead-corner-free panoramic visual monitoring can be carried out on a small-range seabed area (such as coral).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of seabed observation technology, specifically to a current-resistant seabed substrate with panoramic observation capabilities for observing corals. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of marine ecological monitoring, seabed substrates are important in-situ observation platforms, widely used in scenarios such as monitoring seabed biological communities and hydrological parameters. Coral ecosystem observation, in particular, relies on the stable and comprehensive long-term in-situ data acquisition capabilities of seabed substrates. Currently, mainstream seabed substrates still adopt the classic configuration of "heavy-loaded base + vertical support." Their current technological status is characterized by functional simplification and structural conservatism: observation equipment (such as cameras and sensors) is mostly mounted at fixed angles on rigid supports to achieve directional or fixed-point observation; to maintain stability, heavy materials such as reinforced concrete are commonly used as ballast bases. The overall design philosophy prioritizes "achieving basic functions" and "ensuring no sinking."

[0003] Existing devices, designed to expand the observation range, simply increase the number of cameras, leading to a sharp increase in system complexity, power consumption, and cost. To achieve stability, the weight of the base is blindly increased, resulting in a vicious cycle of "the heavier, the more stable, but the more difficult to deploy and retrieve." Its structural design is disconnected from hydrodynamic performance; the massive base becomes a source of eddy-induced vibrations in ocean currents. Therefore, the equipment suffers from inherent contradictions that are difficult to reconcile in its core performance indicators such as observation range, deployment efficiency, and environmental adaptability.

[0004] The reliability bottlenecks of existing seabed-based systems lie in structural stability and system survivability. Under harsh hydrological conditions such as strong ocean currents, the bond between the flat base and the seabed is prone to liquefaction or slippage, leading to equipment overturning or displacement, resulting in interrupted observations or even equipment loss. Simultaneously, the heavy structure faces high risks during deployment and recovery, including sudden changes in lifting stress and collisions with the ship's hull; any operational error could lead to structural damage or mission failure. Its reliability is highly dependent on sea state stability and operational precision, exhibiting extremely low resistance to interference and fault tolerance, constituting a fatal weakness for long-term reliable operation.

[0005] In summary, existing seabed substrates suffer from three major bottlenecks: first, their observation capabilities are fixed, with blind spots at a fixed perspective, making it impossible to comprehensively capture coral community dynamics; second, their structures are bulky, resulting in high deployment and recovery costs and a significant risk of collision; and third, their resistance to currents is insufficient, making them prone to slipping and capsizing under strong ocean currents, affecting data continuity and equipment safety. These problems restrict their efficient and reliable application and cannot support precise coral monitoring and protection. Therefore, developing a panoramic observation seabed substrate with excellent current resistance and easy deployment is an urgent problem to be solved, as current technologies cannot simultaneously overcome the aforementioned shortcomings. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation capabilities for corals. This current-resistant seabed base organically integrates three core functional modules: a panoramic observation system (rotating gimbal / panoramic camera), a miniaturized lightweight main body, and a biomimetic anchor-type current-resistant base. It can achieve long-term, stable, and blind-spot-free panoramic visualization monitoring of small seabed areas (such as corals).

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A current-resistant seabed base for panoramic coral observation includes: a frame, several anchor claws, a waterproof gimbal, a camera, a support column, a motor, a control cabin, and a battery pack. The frame is cylindrical or prismatic. The anchor claws are uniformly fixed to the bottom edge of the frame. The support column, control cabin, and battery pack are all fixed within the frame. The waterproof gimbal is mounted on the support column, and the camera is fixed to the waterproof gimbal. The motor is fixed to the bottom of the frame, and its output shaft is connected to the support column, enabling the motor to rotate the support column. The waterproof gimbal, camera, and motor are all electrically connected to the control cabin, which is electrically connected to the battery pack.

[0008] In this invention, preferably, the root of the anchor claw is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the frame, the middle part of the anchor claw is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom and extends towards the outer edge of the bottom of the frame, the tip of the anchor claw extends towards the center of the bottom of the frame, the middle part and the tip of the anchor claw form a hook-shaped structure, the middle part and the tip of the anchor claw are both inclined to the bottom surface of the frame, and the tip of the anchor claw is pointed.

[0009] In this invention, preferably, it also includes an embedded device, which is fixed inside the frame. The embedded device includes at least one of an acoustic Doppler current profiler, a temperature, salinity, and depth gauge, a tide gauge, a balancer, and a water outlet alarm. The embedded device is electrically connected to the control cabin and the battery pack.

[0010] In this invention, preferably, a water quality meter is also included, which is fixed inside the frame and electrically connected to the control compartment and the battery pack.

[0011] In this invention, preferably, the support column is provided with a lifting track, and the waterproof gimbal can be raised and lowered on the support column.

[0012] In this invention, preferably, the frame is a hexagonal prism, and the number of anchor claws is six, with each anchor claw fixed to a vertex of the base of the hexagonal prism.

[0013] In this invention, preferably, the side of the frame is provided with a plurality of screw holes.

[0014] In this invention, preferably, the frame, anchor claw, waterproof gimbal, support column, control cabin shell, battery pack shell, and water quality meter shell are all made of titanium alloy.

[0015] In this invention, preferably, the bottom of the water quality meter is connected to a permeable cylinder, the detection port of the water quality meter is located inside the permeable cylinder, and a plurality of strip-shaped holes are evenly opened on the side of the permeable cylinder.

[0016] In this invention, preferably, the top of the support column extends beyond the frame.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. Significantly improves observation efficiency and data quality while reducing observation costs. This invention, through an innovative panoramic observation system design, utilizes a waterproof gimbal to drive the camera, achieving near 360° horizontal rotation and pitch scanning. It can acquire panoramic visualization data of a small seabed area (such as coral) without blind spots in a single pass. Unlike traditional seabed-based systems that require multiple cameras to expand the observation range, this significantly reduces the number of devices needed, lowers system complexity and power consumption, and eliminates the cumbersome process of multi-device collaborative data processing. This allows for time-saving and labor-saving completion of observation tasks, providing higher-quality continuous observation data support for marine scientific research.

[0018] 2. Reduced deployment and maintenance costs, improved operational convenience and safety. This invention adopts a miniaturized, modular configuration, using lightweight, high-strength materials such as titanium alloys and composite materials to construct a streamlined main frame and equipment compartment, significantly reducing the overall weight of the device. Compared to traditional bulky seabed foundations, this invention does not rely on large ships and heavy lifting equipment; small and medium-sized vessels can complete deployment and retrieval operations, greatly saving expensive offshore operation costs and manpower. At the same time, the lightweight design effectively avoids the structural damage risks caused by sudden stress changes and collisions with the ship hull during the lifting process of traditional devices, improving the safety and efficiency of offshore operations.

[0019] 3. Enhanced current-resistant stability, improved environmental adaptability and long-term reliability. The innovative biomimetic anchor-type current-resistant base of this invention, through the integrated structure of multiple inclined anchor claws and anti-sinking plates at the bottom, achieves superior grip through the synergistic effect of embedding into the seabed and generating negative pressure adsorption. This effectively solves the problem of liquefaction, slippage, and even capsizing that traditional flat-bottomed or lightweight bases are prone to under strong ocean currents. This design enables the device to operate stably for extended periods in real, harsh sea conditions, significantly reducing the risk of observation interruptions and equipment loss due to equipment displacement or capsizing. It ensures the long-term continuous observation needs of target areas such as coral reefs, overcoming the inherent contradiction between "stability" and "lightweight" in traditional technologies.

[0020] 4. Excellent environmental friendliness and application scalability. This invention reduces the risk of marine environmental pollution caused by equipment loss due to sinking to the bottom through its current-resistant stability design. Simultaneously, its modular integrated design facilitates the addition or removal of sensors and other functional components according to observation needs, possessing strong application scalability. It can be widely adapted to diverse observation scenarios in small seabed areas such as coral reefs, providing more comprehensive technical support for marine scientific research and engineering applications.

[0021] 5. Achieving synergistic effects across multiple systems and overcoming traditional technological barriers. This invention innovatively integrates a panoramic observation system, a biomimetic anchor-type anti-current base, and a miniaturized lightweight structure, resulting in significant synergistic effects. It successfully overcomes the technological barriers of traditional seabed-based systems in terms of "observation capability and system complexity," "stability and lightweight," and "environmental adaptability and ease of operation," enabling the device to achieve a leapfrog improvement in core performance indicators such as observation capability, deployment efficiency, and environmental stability, possessing strong practicality and promotional value. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional structure of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the anchor claw in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a right view of the anchor claw in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a front view of the anchor claw in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a rear view of the anchor claw in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a top view of the anchor claw in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the frame in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals after the frame is removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 9 This is a front view of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals after the frame has been removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 10This is a rear view of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals after the frame has been removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 11 This is a left view of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals after the frame has been removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 12 This is a right view of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals after the frame has been removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 13 This is a top view of a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for observing corals after the frame has been removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] In the attached diagram: 1. Frame; 11. Screw hole; 2. Anchor claw; 3. Waterproof pan-tilt head; 4. Camera; 5. Support column; 51. Lifting rail; 6. Motor; 7. Control cabin; 8. Battery pack; 9. Water quality meter; 91. Water-permeable cylinder. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] It should be noted that when a component is described as "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may have a component in between. When a component is considered "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or may have a component in between. When a component is considered "set on" another component, it can be directly set on the other component or may have a component in between. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0039] Please also see Figure 1 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation function for coral observation, comprising: a frame 1, several anchor claws 2, a waterproof gimbal 3, a camera 4, a support column 5, a motor 6, a control cabin 7, and a battery pack 8. The frame 1 is cylindrical or prismatic in shape, which makes it easier to maintain a stable and balanced state. Other components are installed with the frame 1 as a reference and are evenly distributed inside or outside the frame 1 to maintain balance. The anchor claws 2 are evenly fixed to the bottom edge of the frame 1. The support column 5, control cabin 7, and battery pack 8 are all fixed inside the frame 1. The waterproof gimbal 3 is mounted on the support column 5. The camera 4 is fixed on the waterproof gimbal 3. The motor 6 is fixed to the bottom of the frame 1. The output shaft of the motor 6 is connected to the support column 5, and the motor 6 can drive the support column 5 to rotate. The waterproof gimbal 3, camera 4, and motor 6 are all electrically connected to the control cabin 7, and the control cabin 7 is electrically connected to the battery pack 8. Preferably, the frame 1 is in the shape of a hexagonal prism, and there are six anchor claws 2. The anchor claws 2 are fixed at the vertices of the base of the hexagonal prism. The frame 1 is set as a hexagonal prism, which is easier to manufacture, and the anchor claws 2 are fixed at the vertices of the base, making the fixation more stable. Preferably, the side of the frame 1 has several screw holes 11, which can be used to install baffles or other expansion devices.

[0040] Specifically, such as Figures 2 to 6 As shown, the root of the anchor claw 2 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the frame 1. The middle part of the anchor claw 2 is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, extending towards the outer edge of the bottom of the frame 1. The tip of the anchor claw 2 extends towards the center of the bottom of the frame 1. The middle and tip of the anchor claw 2 form a hook-like structure. Both the middle and tip of the anchor claw 2 are inclined to the bottom surface of the frame 1. Preferably, the tip of the anchor claw 2 is pointed, that is, the tip of the anchor claw 2 is plate-shaped. Originally rectangular, the two corners of the rectangle are cut off along the oblique line passing through the midpoint of the tip of the anchor claw 2 to form a pointed tip. This allows the tip of the anchor claw 2 to more easily pierce the mud and sand on the seabed and extend into the mud and sand, thus making it easier for the anchor claw 2 as a whole to "hook" the mud and sand.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 8 to 13 As shown, a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation capabilities for coral observation also includes a water quality instrument 9. The water quality instrument 9 is fixed inside the frame 1 and electrically connected to the control cabin 7 and the battery pack 8. Figure 8 and Figure 13 As shown, the water quality instrument 9, control cabin 7, and battery pack 8 (4 battery packs) are evenly distributed within the frame 1, with the support column 5 located at the center of the frame 1, resulting in a relatively uniform weight distribution across the seabed base. Preferably, as... Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 12As shown, a permeable tube 91 is connected to the bottom of the water quality instrument 9. The detection port of the water quality instrument 9 is located inside the permeable tube 91. Several strip-shaped holes are evenly distributed on the side of the permeable tube 91, which can prevent large obstacles from entering the detection port. Preferably, the frame 1, anchor claw 2, waterproof gimbal 3, support column 5, outer shell of control cabin 7, outer shell of battery pack 8, and outer shell of water quality instrument 9 are all made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has low density and high strength, which can significantly reduce the overall weight of the seabed base and ensure the structural stability of the above components and equipment.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a current-resistant seabed substrate with panoramic observation capabilities for coral observation can, in addition to carrying a water quality meter 9, also carry other monitoring equipment. These monitoring devices are collectively referred to as embedded equipment. If there is sufficient space within the frame 1, the embedded equipment may include at least one of the following: an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), a temperature, salinity, and depth gauge (CTD), a tide gauge, a balancer, and a water escaping alarm. That is, the seabed substrate can carry all or part of these devices, depending on the number of available spaces within the frame 1 and the monitoring requirements. To power and control the embedded equipment, it is electrically connected to both the control compartment and the battery pack.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 8 to 12 As shown, a lifting track 51 is also provided on the support column 5, allowing the waterproof gimbal 3 to rise and fall on the support column 5. The waterproof gimbal 3 has its own movement system and can move independently on the lifting track 51, with the lifting and falling movements of the waterproof gimbal 3 controlled by the control cabin 7. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 As shown, the top of the support column 5 extends beyond the frame 1. When the support column 5 is no higher than the frame 1, the waterproof pan-tilt head 3 moves the camera 4 up and down within the frame 1, allowing the camera 4 to film the seabed areas such as corals through the gaps in the frame 1. When the top of the support column 5 extends beyond the frame 1, the waterproof pan-tilt head 3 can raise the camera 4 above the frame 1, providing an unobstructed view of the seabed and resulting in better filming quality.

[0044] The deployment process of this invention for a current-resistant seabed base with panoramic observation capabilities for coral observation is as follows: First, the system is powered on, sensor functions are self-tested, and program settings are completed on the deck. Then, using a shipborne crane or A-frame, the equipment is smoothly lifted off the deck and suspended into the water using a special lifting ring on top. Due to the compact and lightweight structure of the equipment, this process does not require large heavy lifting equipment. After entering the water, the operator controls the equipment to sink at a uniform speed until it is stably seated on the bottom. The key step is that the equipment base, by its own weight, causes its anchor claws 2 to embed into the seabed sediment, forming initial fixation. After confirming that the equipment is stable on the bottom, the deployment vessel can release the hook, completing the entire deployment operation. Due to the special shape and structure of the anchor claws 2, they can penetrate the seabed sediment with minimal resistance. The hook-shaped design at the tip of the anchor claws 2 firmly grips the seabed sediment, applying upward or lateral force to the frame 1, making the entire equipment less prone to movement or shaking. The deployment process of this equipment fully demonstrates its advantages of miniaturization and ease of deployment.

[0045] The above description is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made under the technical spirit of the present invention should fall within the patent scope covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A current-resistant seabed substrate with panoramic observation function for coral observation, characterized in that, include: The system consists of a frame, several anchor claws, a waterproof pan-tilt unit, a camera, support columns, an electric motor, a control cabin, and a battery pack. The frame is cylindrical or prism in shape. The anchor claws are evenly fixed to the bottom edge of the frame. The support column, control cabin, and battery pack are all fixed inside the frame. The waterproof gimbal is mounted on the support column. The camera is fixed on the waterproof gimbal. The motor is fixed to the bottom of the frame. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the support column. The motor can drive the support column to rotate. The waterproof pan-tilt unit, camera, and motor are all electrically connected to the control cabin, which is in turn electrically connected to the battery pack.

2. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The root of the anchor claw is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the frame. The middle part of the anchor claw is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, extending towards the outer edge of the bottom of the frame. The tip of the anchor claw extends towards the center of the bottom of the frame. The middle part and the tip of the anchor claw form a hook-like structure. Both the middle part and the tip of the anchor claw are inclined to the bottom surface of the frame. The tip of the anchor claw is pointed.

3. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes embedded devices fixed inside the frame. The embedded devices include at least one of an acoustic Doppler current profiler, a temperature, salinity, and depth gauge, a tide gauge, a balancer, and a water outlet alarm. The embedded devices are electrically connected to the control cabin and the battery pack.

4. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a water quality instrument, which is fixed inside the frame and electrically connected to the control compartment and the battery pack.

5. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support column is equipped with a lifting track, and the waterproof gimbal can be raised and lowered on the support column.

6. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame is in the shape of a hexagonal prism, and there are six anchor claws, which are fixed to the vertices of the base of the hexagonal prism.

7. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that, The frame has several screw holes on its side.

8. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 4, characterized in that, The frame, anchor claws, waterproof gimbal, support column, control cabin shell, battery pack shell, and water quality meter shell are all made of titanium alloy.

9. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the water quality meter is connected to a permeable cylinder, the detection port of the water quality meter is located inside the permeable cylinder, and several strip-shaped holes are evenly opened on the side of the permeable cylinder.

10. The current-resistant seabed substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the support column extends beyond the frame.

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