An adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system and method

Abstract

The application discloses a water quality safety threshold-based adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system and method, which realizes real-time monitoring of water quality through a nitrite online sensor, compares the current nitrite concentration with a safety threshold at each planned feeding time by a central control unit, normally feeds if the safety threshold is met, suspends feeding and starts delay monitoring if the safety threshold is not met, and executes compensatory feeding after water quality is recovered, so that a closed-loop control of feeding according to water quality is formed, nitrite over-standard and feed waste caused by blind feeding are fundamentally avoided, and aquaculture water quality safety and feed utilization efficiency are significantly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent aquaculture equipment technology, and in particular to an adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system and method. Background Technology

[0002] In aquaculture, feed delivery is a core factor affecting farming efficiency, aquatic environment, and fish health. Currently, common feeding methods include manual feeding and timed feeding using automatic feeders.

[0003] Manual feeding is labor-intensive, inefficient, and difficult to achieve precise and even feeding. Most mainstream automatic feeders on the market use a simple "timed + quantitative" open-loop control mode, meaning they operate at preset fixed time intervals and feeding amounts. This method has significant drawbacks: First, fish feeding intensity is dynamically affected by factors such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, weather, and growth stage; a fixed mode cannot match the fish's real-time needs, easily leading to feed waste. Second, uneaten feed accumulates and decomposes at the bottom, consuming large amounts of dissolved oxygen and producing highly toxic ammonia nitrogen and nitrite. Nitrite can cause fish to lose their blood's oxygen-carrying capacity (brown blood disease), triggering stress, decreased immunity, and even mass mortality; it is a key limiting factor in aquaculture water.

[0004] While some existing feeding machines integrate infrared sensors to detect fish feeding activity and adjust feeding accordingly, this method cannot detect the subsequent impact of uneaten feed on water quality. Water quality monitoring equipment is also used in aquaculture, but its data is typically only used for alarms or manual judgment, failing to form a closed-loop automatic control system with the feeding actuator. Therefore, how to achieve closed-loop feeding control using water quality parameters as feedback signals is a pressing technical problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention proposes an adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system and method, which mainly solves the problems of excessive nitrite and feed waste caused by the lack of water quality feedback in existing feeding methods.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the first aspect of this invention provides an adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on a water quality safety threshold, comprising:

[0007] The feeding execution unit is used to store feed and perform the scattering action;

[0008] The water quality monitoring unit includes at least one online nitrite sensor installed in the aquaculture water body for collecting nitrite concentration data in real time or periodically.

[0009] The central control unit is electrically connected to the feeding execution unit and the water quality monitoring unit, and is configured to:

[0010] At each planned feeding time, the current nitrite concentration value collected by the online nitrite sensor is received;

[0011] The current nitrite concentration value is compared with a preset safe threshold for nitrite concentration;

[0012] If the current nitrite concentration is less than the safe threshold for nitrite concentration, then the feeding execution unit is controlled to perform this feeding.

[0013] If the current nitrite concentration is greater than or equal to the nitrite concentration safety threshold, the current feeding is paused, and a delayed monitoring subprocess is initiated until the nitrite concentration is less than the nitrite concentration safety threshold. Then, the feeding execution unit is controlled to perform a compensatory feeding.

[0014] In some embodiments, the water quality monitoring unit further includes one or more of a dissolved oxygen sensor, a water temperature sensor, and an underwater camera.

[0015] In some embodiments, the feeding execution unit includes a storage bin, a screw feeder, a drive motor, and a spreading disc; the rotational speed of the screw feeder is proportional to the duty cycle of the pulse signal issued by the central control unit to achieve precise control of the feeding amount.

[0016] In some implementations, the central control unit is also equipped with a wireless communication module for uploading water quality data and feeding records to a cloud server or receiving remote commands from a user terminal.

[0017] In some implementations, a human-machine interface unit is also included, connected to the central control unit, for setting feeding parameters and the nitrite concentration safety threshold, and displaying system status.

[0018] A second aspect of this invention provides an adaptive intermittent feeding method for aquaculture based on a water quality safety threshold, comprising the following steps:

[0019] Step 1: Preset the basic feeding interval, single baseline feeding amount, and nitrite concentration safety threshold;

[0020] Step 2: When the planned feeding time arrives, obtain the current nitrite concentration value of the aquaculture water.

[0021] Step 3: Compare the current nitrite concentration with the safe nitrite concentration threshold.

[0022] If the concentration is below the safe threshold for nitrite, normal feeding is performed at the baseline feeding amount. Then, wait for the next baseline feeding interval and return to step 2.

[0023] If the concentration of nitrite is not lower than the safe threshold, the planned feeding will be suspended and the delayed monitoring subprocess will be initiated.

[0024] Step 4, the delayed monitoring sub-process includes: re-acquiring the nitrite concentration after at least one waiting period until the concentration is lower than the nitrite concentration safety threshold, and then performing a compensatory feeding;

[0025] Step 5: After completing the compensatory feeding, resume waiting for the next basic feeding interval and return to Step 2.

[0026] In some implementations, the waiting period is shorter than the basic feeding interval.

[0027] In some implementations, the amount of the compensatory feeding is less than or equal to the baseline feeding amount.

[0028] In some implementations, the amount of the compensatory feeding is equal to the baseline feeding amount multiplied by a compensation coefficient k, where 0 < k ≤ 1.

[0029] In some implementations, the compensation coefficient k is preset by the user or dynamically calculated by the system based on the extent to which the current nitrite concentration exceeds the safety threshold.

[0030] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: by setting up an online nitrite sensor to monitor water quality in real time, and by having the central control unit compare the current nitrite concentration with the safety threshold at each planned feeding time, if the standard is met, normal feeding is carried out; if the standard is not met, feeding is suspended and delayed monitoring is initiated until the water quality recovers and a compensatory feeding is carried out. This forms a closed-loop control based on water quality, which fundamentally avoids excessive nitrite and feed waste caused by blind feeding, and significantly improves the safety of aquaculture water quality and feed utilization efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on water quality safety threshold disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart of the adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding method based on water quality safety threshold disclosed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the delay monitoring sub-process disclosed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of multi-parameter fuzzy logic control disclosed in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0035] The components are: 1-Feeding execution unit, 2-Water quality monitoring unit, 3-Central control unit, 4-Human-machine interaction unit, 5-Wireless communication module, 6-Sensor socket, 7-Sprinkling plate, 8-Online nitrite sensor, 9-Dissolved oxygen sensor, 10-Water temperature sensor, 11-Underwater camera, 12-Screw feeder, 13-Drive motor, 14-Storage bin. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer and more explicit, the content of this invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, not all of them.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] This embodiment proposes an adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on a water quality safety threshold, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes:

[0039] Feeding execution unit 1 is used to store feed and perform the scattering action.

[0040] The water quality monitoring unit 2 includes at least one online nitrite sensor 8 installed in the aquaculture water body for collecting nitrite concentration data in real time or periodically.

[0041] The central control unit 3 is electrically connected to the feeding execution unit 1 and the water quality monitoring unit 2, and is configured as follows:

[0042] At each planned feeding time, the current nitrite concentration value collected by the online nitrite sensor 8 is received;

[0043] The current nitrite concentration value is compared with a preset safe threshold for nitrite concentration;

[0044] If the current nitrite concentration is less than the nitrite concentration safety threshold, then the feeding execution unit 1 is controlled to perform this feeding.

[0045] If the current nitrite concentration is greater than or equal to the nitrite concentration safety threshold, the current feeding is paused, and a delayed monitoring subprocess is initiated until the nitrite concentration is less than the nitrite concentration safety threshold. Then, the feeding execution unit 1 is controlled to perform a compensatory feeding.

[0046] Preferably, the water quality monitoring unit 2 further includes one or more of a dissolved oxygen sensor 9, a water temperature sensor 10, and an underwater camera 11. These sensors can be connected to the sensor socket 6 on the water quality monitoring unit 2 via cables. The dissolved oxygen sensor 9 and the water temperature sensor 10 are used to assist in determining the metabolic activity level of the fish, while the underwater camera 11 is used to analyze the feeding intensity of the fish population. These data are used by the central control unit 3 as reference parameters for feeding decisions to further optimize the timing and amount of feeding.

[0047] The aforementioned feeding execution unit 1 can be any mechanical feeding device, and its specific form is not limited. In one example, the feeding execution unit 1 includes a storage bin 14, a screw feeder 12, a drive motor 13, and a spreading disc 7; the rotational speed of the screw feeder 12 is proportional to the duty cycle of the pulse signal issued by the central control unit 3, so as to achieve precise control of the feeding amount.

[0048] Furthermore, the central control unit 3 is also equipped with a wireless communication module 5, which is used to upload water quality data and feeding records to a cloud server or receive remote instructions from a user terminal.

[0049] Optionally, the system also includes a human-machine interaction unit 4, which is connected to the central control unit 3, for setting feeding parameters and the safety threshold for nitrite concentration, and for displaying system status.

[0050] In this embodiment, an online nitrite sensor 8 is set up to monitor water quality in real time. The central control unit 3 compares the current nitrite concentration with the safety threshold at each planned feeding time. If the standard is met, feeding is carried out normally. If the standard is not met, feeding is suspended and delayed monitoring is started until the water quality recovers and a compensatory feeding is carried out. This forms a closed-loop control based on water quality, which fundamentally avoids excessive nitrite and feed waste caused by blind feeding, and significantly improves the safety of aquaculture water quality and feed utilization efficiency.

[0051] As another preferred embodiment, a distributed expansion scheme is also provided based on the above system, as detailed below:

[0052] For large-scale aquaculture ponds, this embodiment also provides a distributed feeding system. The system includes a master control node and multiple distributed feeding nodes. The master control node is communicatively connected to the central control unit 3 (or the central control unit 3 serves as the master control node). Each distributed feeding node is deployed at different locations within the aquaculture area, and each distributed feeding node is equipped with an independent water quality monitoring unit 2 and a feeding execution unit 1. The master control node communicates with each distributed feeding node via a wireless network (such as LoRa) and, based on the local water quality data of each node, directs it to execute differentiated feeding strategies. For example, feeding is suspended in areas with poor water quality, normal feeding is provided in areas with good water quality, and feeding is reduced in areas with average water quality. Water quality data and feeding records from all nodes are aggregated by the master control node and uploaded to a cloud platform via a 4G DTU module. Users can view the "water quality-feeding" heatmap and complete logs of the entire pond via a mobile app.

[0053] Example 2

[0054] This embodiment proposes an adaptive intermittent feeding method for aquaculture based on water quality safety thresholds, such as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0055] Step 1: Preset the basic feeding interval, single baseline feeding amount, and nitrite concentration safety threshold.

[0056] Step 2: When the planned feeding time arrives, obtain the current nitrite concentration value of the aquaculture water.

[0057] Step 3: Compare the current nitrite concentration with the safe nitrite concentration threshold.

[0058] If the concentration is below the safe threshold for nitrite, normal feeding is performed at the baseline feeding amount. Then, wait for the next baseline feeding interval and return to step 2.

[0059] If the nitrite concentration does not fall below the safe threshold, the planned feeding will be suspended and the process will proceed to the delayed monitoring subprocess.

[0060] Step 4, the delayed monitoring sub-process includes: re-acquiring the nitrite concentration after at least one waiting period until the concentration is lower than the safe threshold for nitrite concentration, and then performing a compensatory feeding.

[0061] Step 5: After completing the compensatory feeding, resume waiting for the next basic feeding interval and return to Step 2.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned waiting period is shorter than the basic feeding interval.

[0063] Preferably, the amount of the compensatory feeding is less than or equal to the baseline feeding amount.

[0064] Preferably, the amount of the above-mentioned compensatory feeding is equal to the base feeding amount multiplied by a compensation coefficient k, where 0 < k ≤ 1.

[0065] Preferably, the compensation coefficient k is preset by the user or dynamically calculated by the system based on the extent to which the current nitrite concentration exceeds the safety threshold.

[0066] In this method, nitrite concentration is measured at each planned feeding time and compared with a safety threshold. If the concentration is within the threshold, the fish are fed at the baseline amount; if not, feeding is paused and repeated monitoring is conducted until the water quality recovers before supplemental feeding resumes. This method directly links feeding behavior to water quality safety, effectively preventing the accumulation of uneaten feed and nitrite poisoning caused by overfeeding, while ensuring the fish's feeding needs are met, achieving precise, intelligent, and environmentally friendly feeding management.

[0067] Example 3

[0068] This embodiment, based on embodiment two, further introduces multi-parameter fuzzy logic control, such as... Figure 4 As shown.

[0069] In this embodiment, the water quality monitoring unit 2 includes at least an online nitrite sensor 8 and a dissolved oxygen sensor 9, and preferably also includes a water temperature sensor 10. The central control unit 3 has a pre-installed two-dimensional fuzzy logic controller, whose input variables are nitrite concentration S and dissolved oxygen concentration DO, and whose output variable is the adjustment coefficient α (α > 0) for the basic feeding interval. An example of the fuzzy rule is as follows:

[0070] Rule 1: If S is “low” and DO is “high”, then α = 1.0 (normal interval).

[0071] Rule 2: If S is “medium” or DO is “medium”, then α = 1.5 (extend the interval).

[0072] Rule 3: If S is "high" or DO is "low", then α = 2.0 (significantly extending the interval) and trigger an audible and visual alarm.

[0073] The system workflow is as follows: At each planned feeding time, the central control unit 3 reads the precise measurement values ​​of the nitrite sensor 8 and the dissolved oxygen sensor 9, and calculates the current actual feeding interval α × T0 through fuzzification, rule reasoning, and defuzzification. At the same time, the single feeding amount M0 can also be linearly compensated according to the water temperature (for example, the feeding amount is automatically reduced when the water temperature is below 20°C).

[0074] This embodiment uses multi-parameter fusion decision-making to make the feeding strategy more gentle and intelligent, and better able to adapt to the complex changes in the breeding environment.

[0075] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical concept and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. They should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made based on the essence of the content of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on water quality safety thresholds, characterized in that, include: The feeding execution unit is used to store feed and perform the scattering action; The water quality monitoring unit includes at least one online nitrite sensor installed in the aquaculture water body for collecting nitrite concentration data in real time or periodically. The central control unit is electrically connected to the feeding execution unit and the water quality monitoring unit, and is configured to: At each planned feeding time, the current nitrite concentration value collected by the online nitrite sensor is received; The current nitrite concentration value is compared with a preset safe threshold for nitrite concentration; If the current nitrite concentration is less than the safe threshold for nitrite concentration, then the feeding execution unit is controlled to perform this feeding. If the current nitrite concentration is greater than or equal to the nitrite concentration safety threshold, the current feeding is paused, and a delayed monitoring subprocess is initiated until the nitrite concentration is less than the nitrite concentration safety threshold. Then, the feeding execution unit is controlled to perform a compensatory feeding.

2. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water quality monitoring unit also includes one or more of a dissolved oxygen sensor, a water temperature sensor, and an underwater camera.

3. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding execution unit includes a storage bin, a screw feeder, a drive motor, and a spreading disc; the rotational speed of the screw feeder is proportional to the duty cycle of the pulse signal issued by the central control unit to achieve precise control of the feeding amount.

4. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The central control unit is also equipped with a wireless communication module, which is used to upload water quality data and feeding records to a cloud server or receive remote commands from user terminals.

5. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding system based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a human-machine interaction unit, which is connected to the central control unit, for setting feeding parameters and the safety threshold for nitrite concentration, and for displaying system status.

6. An adaptive intermittent feeding method for aquaculture based on water quality safety thresholds, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Preset the basic feeding interval, single baseline feeding amount, and nitrite concentration safety threshold; Step 2: When the planned feeding time arrives, obtain the current nitrite concentration value of the aquaculture water. Step 3: Compare the current nitrite concentration with the safe nitrite concentration threshold. If the concentration is below the safe threshold for nitrite, normal feeding is performed at the baseline feeding amount. Then, wait for the next baseline feeding interval and return to step 2. If the concentration of nitrite is not lower than the safe threshold, the planned feeding will be suspended and the delayed monitoring subprocess will be initiated. Step 4, the delayed monitoring sub-process includes: re-acquiring the nitrite concentration after at least one waiting period until the concentration is lower than the nitrite concentration safety threshold, and then performing a compensatory feeding; Step 5: After completing the compensatory feeding, resume waiting for the next basic feeding interval and return to Step 2.

7. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding method based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The waiting period is shorter than the basic feeding interval.

8. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding method based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The amount of the compensatory feeding is less than or equal to the baseline feeding amount.

9. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding method based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The amount of the compensatory feeding is equal to the base feeding amount multiplied by a compensation coefficient k, where 0 < k ≤ 1.

10. The adaptive intermittent aquaculture feeding method based on water quality safety threshold as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The compensation coefficient k is preset by the user or dynamically calculated by the system based on the extent to which the current nitrite concentration exceeds the safety threshold.

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