Systems and methods for monitoring marine-based carbon dioxide removal devices and target product accumulation

Abstract

The apparatus includes a first member having a housing that houses a power source and a controller, a second member coupled to the first member and in which the target product is seeded, and a sensing module coupled to the first member that enables power from the power source to be transmitted to the sensing module and sensor data from the sensing module to be transmitted to the controller. The sensing module includes a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member. The sensor is configured to obtain sensor data related to at least one characteristic of the target product.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 278,243, entitled "Systems and Methods for Monitoring Accumulation of a Target Product," filed November 11, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0002] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present disclosure relates generally to marine-based systems for capturing and sequestrating greenhouse gases, and more particularly to systems and methods for monitoring marine-based carbon dioxide removal devices and / or accumulation of target products, and for storing and / or transmitting data associated with such monitoring. [Background technology]

[0003] Human activities have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by about 50% (from about 280 to about 420 ppm) over the past 200 to 300 years due to the burning of fossil fuels, land use changes, and other industrial processes. These increases in atmospheric CO2 have caused a variety of environmental and societal problems, including global warming, increased wildfires, increased droughts, increased severity and frequency of storms, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and ocean acidification.

[0004] In general, the global carbon cycle operates through various responses and feedback mechanisms between the Earth's major carbon reservoirs, i.e., marine and terrestrial biospheres, atmosphere, oceans, and sediment layers / rocks. For atmospheric carbon dioxide, the carbon cycle can be decomposed into two distinct but overlapping components: the fast carbon cycle and the slow carbon cycle. The fast carbon cycle encompasses carbon movement by photosynthesis and respiration, and the continuous exchange of CO2 between the biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans. The fast carbon cycle is dynamic and variable, and can be best understood as the flow of carbon through living ecosystems. In contrast, the slow carbon cycle consists of carbon movement by gravity, pressure, chemical weathering, ocean currents, etc. These processes move carbon from living ecosystems to geological reservoirs such as sediments, mineral deposits (e.g., oil, gas, coal), and deep waters and / or deep sea reservoirs. The reservoirs of the slow carbon cycle evolve very slowly.

[0005] One of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century is to develop a scalable method to remove and sequester CO2 from the upper layers of the atmosphere and / or oceans to limit the environmental and socio-economic damages associated with increasing CO2 levels. Without human influence, carbon moves from the slow carbon cycle to the fast carbon cycle over millions of years through volcanism (e.g., driven by subduction and melting of limestone and oil- and gas-bearing rocks) and over intermediate timescales through ocean upwelling. The natural carbon cycle between the atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, and geological reservoirs in both the fast and slow carbon cycles is generally balanced to promote stable climate, ocean chemistry, and ecosystems. However, these geological timelines are far too slow to address the challenges we face today due to human-induced increases in atmospheric CO2.

[0006] In an attempt to reduce CO2 emissions (and / or other greenhouse gas emissions), governments and regulators set greenhouse gas emission caps and allow organizations to comply with the emissions caps, for example, by purchasing carbon credits and / or offsets. Carbon credits can be bought and sold as an amount of carbon sequestered using carbon sequestration technology. Companies that achieve a pre-set carbon offset (e.g., become "carbon neutral") are often given financial incentives and / or tax benefits in return, which can be used to subsidize future projects for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

[0007] Marine-based interventions, such as human cultivation of marine biological populations and / or other target products and sinking it / them to the ocean floor, have shown promise as carbon sequestration technologies. Predicting the growth of marine species (and thus their ability to sequester carbon dioxide) and / or predicting the outcomes of other interventions may allow the carbon sequestration capacity of such interventions to be purchased and / or sold as carbon credits in suitable markets, such as commodity markets, futures markets, etc. Some existing methodologies for assessing and / or predicting the outcomes of marine species growth and / or other interventions generally rely on human observations and are often inaccurate, contain errors, are labor intensive, and / or are infeasible for large-scale deployment. While sensors and / or other devices can be used to monitor the growth of marine biological populations and / or the status of other carbon removal interventions, monitoring devices in suitable bodies of water, such as the ocean, may pose unique challenges.

[0008] Thus, there is a need for improved methods and systems for monitoring marine-based carbon dioxide removal devices and / or marine biological population accumulation, and for storing and / or transmitting data associated with such monitoring. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In some embodiments, a marine-based carbon dioxide removal device and / or an apparatus for monitoring accumulation of a target product includes a first member having a housing that houses a power source and a controller, a second member coupled to the first member and in which the target product is seeded, and a sensing module coupled to the first member to enable power from the power source to be transmitted to the sensing module and sensor data from the sensing module to be transmitted to the controller. The sensing module includes a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member. The sensor is configured to obtain sensor data related to at least one characteristic of the target product. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cultivation device included in a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product, according to one embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of at least some of the electronic components included in the first component of the cultivation device shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of a controller included in the first component of FIG. 1B. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of at least a portion of the system of FIGS. 1A-1C, shown including the deployment of one or more growing devices (FIG. 1A) in communication with a server and / or other growing devices. [Figure 2A] 1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Figure 2B] 1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Figure 2C] 1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Figure 2D] 1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Figure 2E]1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Figure 2F] 1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Figure 2G] 1A-1D are various diagrams illustrating at least a portion of a system for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram of one or more sensors capturing sensor data from different sections of a second member of a cultivation apparatus, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4A] 1A and 1B are top and side views, respectively, showing a portion of a first member of a growing device and the electronic components housed therein, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4B] 1A and 1B are top and side views, respectively, showing a portion of a first member of a growing device and the electronic components housed therein, according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are side perspective views of a first member of a cultivation device according to a different embodiment. [Figure 6A] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a first member of a cultivation device according to a different embodiment. [Figure 6B] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a first member of a cultivation device according to a different embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of a support structure for a cultivation apparatus according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates a sensor included in a sensing module configured to detect accumulation and / or growth of a target product, according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a sensor included in a sensing module with an integrated anti-fouling device, according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a sensor included in a sensing module with an integrated anti-fouling device, according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIGS. 9 and 10. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a top view of the sensor of FIGS. 9 to 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the sensor of FIGS. 9 to 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal deployment, according to one embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a sensor buoy included in an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal deployment, according to one embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor buoy of FIG. 15 taken along line 16-16. [Figure 17] FIG. 16 is a diagram of a controller included in the sensor buoy of FIG. 15. [Figure 18] FIG. 16 is a diagram of a sensing module included in the sensor buoy of FIG. 15. [Figure 19A] 19A and 19B are perspective and side views, respectively, of an imaging system included in the sensing module of FIG. 18, according to one embodiment. [Figure 19B] 19A and 19B are perspective and side views, respectively, of an imaging system included in the sensing module of FIG. 18, according to one embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a sensor buoy with a sinking device, according to one embodiment. [Figure 21A] 21A-21C are various cross-sectional views of portions of a sinking device included in the sensor buoy of FIG. 20. [Figure 21B] 21A-21C are various cross-sectional views of portions of a sinking device included in the sensor buoy of FIG. 20. [Figure 22A] 21A-21C show various cross-sectional views of portions of the self-sinking device of FIG. 20, illustrating the self-sinking device in operation. [Figure 22B] 21A-21C show various cross-sectional views of portions of the self-sinking device of FIG. 20, illustrating the self-sinking device in operation. [Figure 22C] 21A-21C show various cross-sectional views of portions of the self-sinking device of FIG. 20, illustrating the self-sinking device in operation. [Diagram 23] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for monitoring a marine-based carbon dioxide removal device and / or accumulation of a target product, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Systems and methods for monitoring ocean-based carbon dioxide removal devices and / or target product accumulation, and for storing and / or transmitting data associated with such monitoring, are described herein. Carbon dioxide removal ("CDR"), as described herein, is any activity that moves carbon from a fast cycling reservoir of atmospheric carbon dioxide to a reservoir in a slow carbon cycle reservoir. Carbon removal is additive, durable, and quantifiable by direct measurement of mass transfer. When combined with the reconstruction and preservation of ecosystems that promote fast cycling carbon sinks, restorative carbon removal can simultaneously increase the productivity of the fast carbon cycle and move carbon from the fast carbon cycle to the slow carbon cycle. However, to be meaningful from an atmospheric perspective, it is generally desirable for carbon sequestration technologies to be able to capture carbon on a multi-gigaton scale.

[0012] The ocean presents a potentially powerful mechanism for nature-based CDR. For example, the surface ocean continuously exchanges carbon dioxide with the atmosphere, flushing about 100 gigatons ("Gt") of CO2 annually through total air / water exchange. In the euphotic zone (i.e., waters that receive enough sunlight to allow photosynthesis), it also fixes about 40 Gt of CO2 in net primary production. Most of this carbon remains in the fast carbon cycle, but the ocean's ability to capture and concentrate carbon dioxide from the air may provide a means for nature-based CDR, albeit temporarily. Furthermore, the deep ocean is a substantial carbon sink, durably holding about 37,000 Gt of CO2 in dissolved carbon away from atmospheric mixing for hundreds to thousands of years. However, natural mechanisms of carbon transfer from surface-atmosphere fluxes to deep-ocean stores are relatively limited, resulting in only about 10 Gt of CO2 sequestration per year. Thus, "marine CDR" or "marine-based CDR" as described herein refers to a set of systems, methods, and / or engineering interventions to amplify this movement of carbon from the fast carbon cycle (e.g., at the surface of the ocean) to the slow carbon cycle (e.g., in or at the deep ocean).

[0013] The embodiments and methods described herein are generally configured to perturb the chemistry and / or chemical properties of the ocean surface (or the surface layer of any other body of water) such that these perturbations result in the dissolution of atmospheric carbon into the ocean and / or an amplification of the oceanic movement of carbon from the fast carbon cycle to the slow carbon cycle. For example, increasing the yield of photosynthetic biomass in the ocean surface results in a chemical perturbation through the uptake and removal of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from the water. Another such example is the direct addition of dissolved or soluble alkaline substances to the water to change its pH. These perturbations, when applied to targeted areas of the ocean surface, can result in commercial quality carbon sequestration.

[0014] Examples of marine-based CDR may include, but are not limited to, cultivation, accumulation, and sequestration of marine biomass; chemical weathering of alkaline minerals and / or fluids; enhanced ocean alkalinity and / or mineralization; and the like. Any of the embodiments and / or methods described herein may be used to monitor and / or otherwise collect data associated with one or more marine-based CDR interventions, such as any of those described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 401,959, entitled "Ocean Based Carbon Removal Systems and Method of Using the Same," filed on August 29, 2022 (the "'959 Provisional Application"), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, in some implementations, the embodiments and / or methods described herein may be used to monitor and / or collect data associated with cultivation, accumulation, and / or sequestration of marine biomass. While this implementation is described in detail herein, it should be understood that the embodiments and / or methods described herein are not limited to such implementations. Any of the embodiments and / or methods described herein may be implemented or adapted for implementation in any suitable maritime-based CDR intervention, such as any of those described in the '959 Provisional Application.

[0015] Marine-based CDR using marine biomass generally involves providing, at least temporarily, a structure, substrate, platform, or other means for cultivating one or more marine species ("target product"), allowing the target product to accumulate biomass, and sequestering the target product after accumulation of a desired amount (e.g., by allowing the biomass, with or without the substrate, to sink to the bottom of a body of water such as the ocean). "Target products" as described herein include and / or encompass a wide variety of species, including, but not limited to, microalgae, macroalgae, plankton, marine bacteria, archaeal filter feeders (e.g., oysters or clams), and / or crustaceans, for either cultivation purposes and / or carbon dioxide sequestration purposes.

[0016] Many target products (e.g., macroalgae) show promise as carbon sequestration pathways, as their wild growth currently contributes to carbon sequestration to naturally occurring seafloors. Cultivation of target products has the potential to significantly improve said sequestration rates, as cultivation productivity and sinking / sequestration rates are increased compared to these naturally occurring phenomena. Target products can be cultivated in oceans, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and / or any other suitable water bodies. These target products can be allowed to grow and accumulate biomass. The biomass can be retained on top of the product or eroded into the water (naturally detached and allowed to sink). As the biomass / target products sink, they contribute to carbon sequestration. Thus, after a certain threshold of biomass accumulation is reached, the target products are allowed (or allowed to sink) to the bottom of the water body (e.g., seabed, ocean floor, etc.), thereby effectively sequestering the carbon dioxide associated with the target products that were accumulated.

[0017] In some implementations, cultivation can include seeding a substrate or structure with the target product, deploying the seeded substrate in a body of water, such as the open ocean, and allowing biomass to accumulate until a certain threshold is reached. After accumulating a desired or threshold amount of biomass, the target product is allowed to sink (or be allowed to sink) to the ocean floor, thereby effectively sequestering the amount of carbon dioxide captured by the target product via photosynthesis. Various devices, systems, and / or methods relating to the cultivation and sequestration of target products and / or substrates or other structures upon which they are supported or seeded, include, for example, those described in the '959 Provisional Application; U.S. Patent No. 11,382,315, entitled "Systems and Methods for the Cultivation of Target Product," filed on June 8, 2021 (the "'315 Patent"); U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 957,681, entitled "Systems and Methods for Quantifying and / or Verifying Ocean-Based Interventions for Sequestering Carbon Dioxide," filed on September 30, 2022 (the "'681 Application"); U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 957,681, entitled "Systems and Methods for Quantifying and / or Verifying Ocean-Based Interventions for Sequestering Carbon Dioxide," filed on March 24, 2022 (the "'681 Application"); No. 63 / 323,285, entitled "Floating Substrates Including Carbonic Coatings for Offshore Cultivation of Target Products and Methods of Making and Using the Same" (the "'285 Provisional Application"), filed on March 24, 2022, and entitled "Floating Substrates Including Carbonic Coatings for Offshore Cultivation of Target Products and Methods of Making and Using the Same" (the "'286 Provisional Application"), the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

[0018] Because the target products are grown in bodies of water, particularly remote areas of oceans or other large bodies of water where they can best accumulate biomass, it is desirable to construct and / or design the cultivation devices, apparatus, substrates, structures, etc., to withstand and / or be able to withstand harsh environmental and weather conditions, such as water turbulence, excessive exposure to sunlight, saltwater intrusion, etc. Therefore, it may be desirable to deploy a large number of relatively inexpensive cultivation apparatuses that passively float on the water until the target product accumulates a desired amount of biomass, at which point they and the target product are allowed to sink. Additionally, to sequester atmospherically significant amounts of carbon, it may be desirable to deploy a system having a large number (e.g., hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or more) of such passive cultivation apparatuses.

[0019] However, monitoring the accumulation of target products cultivated within or by the system and / or controlling, regulating, and / or relaying data to or from the deployed system can be a daunting challenge. For example, most components (e.g., electrical and / or electronic components, such as sensors) used to monitor marine life populations require a power source. Power degradation by components can make the power source a limiting resource in a body of water. In addition, sensors and other components used to monitor marine life populations generally rely on remote human monitoring and can be prone to failure due to seawater intrusion, turbulence, overexposure to sunlight, fouling (e.g., as a result of residue, biofilm, slime, etc.), etc., which can shorten the life of the structure and / or affect the amount and / or quality of data collected.

[0020] To overcome these challenges, systems and methods are described herein for monitoring the accumulation of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal devices and / or target products, and for storing and / or transmitting data associated with such monitoring. In general, the embodiments described herein may be, for example, a floatable sensor buoy that may include a power source, a controller, and a sensing module. With such a configuration, the sensor buoy may monitor and / or collect data related to a system deployed in a body of water (e.g., a passive cultivation device deployment), the amount of biomass accumulated by the target product cultivated by the system, and / or environmental conditions in the area in which the system is deployed (e.g., a portion of the ocean). In some implementations, the monitored and / or collected data may be used to determine and / or predict the amount of carbon dioxide that may be sequestered by the entire system. The embodiments may be retrievable and used in multiple deployments. Meanwhile, in some implementations, the embodiments may include one or more features, components, and / or devices that allow the sensor buoy to remotely sink on its own (e.g., if the sensor buoy is floating in a shipping lane or for some other reason).

[0021] In some embodiments, the embodiments and / or systems described herein may include a first member configured to monitor the accumulation of a target product seeded on a second member. The first member may provide buoyancy to various components of the system, at least temporarily, and may at least partially house various components such as a power source, a controller (and / or other electronics). The power source may be configured to provide power to the controller (and / or other electronics) and at least one sensing module configured to acquire sensor data that may represent one or more characteristics associated with biomass accumulation of the target product seeded on or in the second member. The controller and / or other electronics may receive the sensor data and / or any other suitable data associated with the system and / or the deployment environment, and may then use the data to determine and / or predict the amount of accumulation of the target product seeded on or in the second member. In some implementations, the accumulation determination and / or prediction may be used to determine, estimate, and / or predict the amount of biomass accumulation for all target products grown by the system (e.g., all target products seeded on each passive cultivation device in a deployment).

[0022] In some embodiments, an apparatus for monitoring accumulation of a target product includes a first member having a housing that houses a power source and a controller, a second member coupled to the first member and in which the target product is seeded, and a sensing module coupled to the first member to enable power from the power source to be transmitted to the sensing module and sensor data from the sensing module to be transmitted to the controller. The sensing module includes a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member. The sensor is configured to obtain sensor data related to at least one characteristic of the target product.

[0023] In some embodiments, a device for monitoring accumulation of a target product includes a support structure, a first member, a second member, a sensing module, and a self-settling device. The first member has a housing coupled to the support structure and a one-way valve in communication with an interior space of the housing. The second member is coupled to the first member and the support structure. The second member is configured to be seeded with the target product. The sensing module is coupled to the support structure such that a sensor of the sensing module is oriented toward at least a portion of the second member. The sensor is configured to acquire sensor data related to at least one characteristic of the target product. The self-settling device includes a chamber coupled to the support structure and defining an interior space in communication with the interior space of the housing through the support structure. The self-settling device includes a plug movably coupled to the chamber and a motor disposed within the interior space of the chamber. The motor is configured to move the plug from a closed state in which the chamber is sealed and enables the device to maintain positive buoyancy in a body of water to an open state in which the plug enables the inflow of water into the interior space of the chamber. The one-way valve of the first member is configured to allow the exit of air from the interior space of the housing when water enters the interior space of the chamber, thereby enabling the device to become negatively buoyant.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method includes releasing a deployment of a passive substrate into a portion of the body of water. The passive substrate is seeded with a target product. The deployment also includes a sensor buoy. The sensor buoy includes a first member configured to at least temporarily maintain a positive buoyancy of the sensor buoy, a second member seeded with the target product, and a sensing module having a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member. The method includes acquiring sensor data associated with at least one characteristic of the target product of the second member. The passive substrate and the target product seeded thereon are allowed to sink as a result of the passive substrate transitioning from a positive buoyancy state to a negative buoyancy state. When the passive substrate transitions to the negative buoyancy state, a biomass accumulation amount associated with the target product of the second member is determined based on the sensor data, and a carbon sequestration capacity associated with the target product of the passive substrate is determined based at least in part on the biomass accumulation amount associated with the target product of the second member.

[0025] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the full scope of the claims. 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.

[0026] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "member" is intended to mean a single member or combination of members, and "material" is intended to mean one or more materials or combinations thereof. With respect to the use of substantially any plural and / or singular term herein, one of ordinary skill in the art can convert from the plural to the singular and / or from the singular to the plural as appropriate to the context and / or application. Various singular / plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for clarity.

[0027] In general, terms used herein, and in particular in the appended claims, are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," etc.). For example, the terms "comprise(s)" and / or "comprising," as used herein, are intended to mean "comprise(s) but not limited to." Such open terms indicate the presence of stated features, integers (or fractions thereof), steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers (or fractions thereof), steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0028] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In other words, the phrase "and / or" should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined (i.e., elements that are conjunctive in some cases and disjunctive in other cases). Those skilled in the art will understand that any suitable, disjunctive word and / or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, may include either one term, either the other term, or both terms. Other elements other than the elements specifically identified by the "and / or" clause may optionally be present, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and / or B" may refer to only "A" (optionally including elements other than "B"), only "B" (optionally including elements other than "A"), both "A" and "B" (optionally including other elements), etc.

[0029] As used herein, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" shall be interpreted as inclusive (e.g., including at least one of, but also including more than one, optionally including additional unlisted items) of an element or list of elements. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as when modified by "only one of" or "exactly one of" (e.g., only one of "A" or "B", or "A" or "B", but not both, etc.), refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of an element or list of elements.

[0030] As used herein, the phrase "at least one" in reference to a list of one or more elements should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed in the list of elements, and not excluding any combination of elements in the list of elements, unless expressly specified otherwise. This definition also allows for elements other than those specifically identified in the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those specifically identified elements, to be optionally present. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or equivalently, "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of A and / or B") can refer to one or more "A" without "B", one or more "B" without "A", one or more "A" and one or more "B", etc.

[0031] All ranges disclosed herein are intended to encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations thereof, unless expressly stated otherwise. Any recited range should be recognized as fully descriptive and allowing for the same range to be broken down into at least equal subportions, unless expressly stated otherwise. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a range includes each individual member and / or portions of the individual members, where appropriate.

[0032] As used herein, when used in connection with a stated value or geometric configuration or relationship, the terms "about," "approximately," and / or "substantially" are intended to convey that the value or characteristic so defined is the nominally stated value or stated characteristic. In some instances, the terms "about," "approximately," and / or "substantially" can generally mean and / or assume the stated value or characteristic within a desired tolerance range (e.g., plus or minus 10% of the stated value or characteristic). For example, a value of about 0.01 can include 0.009 and 0.011, a value of about 0.5 can include 0.45 and 0.55, a value of about 10 can include 9-11, and a value of about 100 can include 90-110. Similarly, a first surface can be described as substantially parallel to a second surface if the surfaces are nominally parallel. It is to be understood that while the described values, structures, and / or relationships may be desirable, some variations may occur, for example, as a result of manufacturing tolerances or other practical considerations (e.g., pressures or forces applied through portions of a device, conduits, lumens, etc.). Accordingly, the terms "about," "approximately," and / or "substantially" may be used herein to account for such tolerances and / or considerations.

[0033] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a system 100 for monitoring accumulation of a target product, according to one embodiment. The target product can be grown on or in a cultivation apparatus 102 deployed in a suitable body of water (e.g., an estuary, an ocean, etc.). As described above, the target product can include and / or contain a wide variety of species, including, but not limited to, microalgae, macroalgae, plankton, marine bacteria, archaeal filter feeders (e.g., oysters or clams), and / or crustaceans. The target product can be grown on a cultivation apparatus 102 deployed in a suitable body of water. The cultivation apparatus 102 can be of any suitable shape, size, and / or configuration. In some embodiments, for example, the cultivation apparatus 102 can be similar or substantially the same as any of the cultivation apparatuses described in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application (incorporated by reference above).

[0034] For example, the cultivation apparatus 102 can include a first member 120 (e.g., a buoy) and a second member 140. In some implementations, the cultivation apparatus 102 can optionally include a release component configured to temporarily couple the first member 120 and the second member 140 and allow the first member to be separated, disconnected, released, and / or separated from the second member 140 in response to one or more criteria being met (e.g., after a desired amount of time, accumulation of a target product, etc.). The cultivation apparatus 102 can include a first member 120 (also referred to as a "buoy") to provide buoyancy to various components of the cultivation apparatus 102 and monitor the accumulation of one or more target products coupled to and / or seeded on the second member 140 of the cultivation apparatus 102. The sensing module 180 can be coupled to or otherwise integrated with the cultivation apparatus 102. In some embodiments, the sensing module 180 can be mechanically coupled to the cultivation apparatus 102. For example, the sensing module 180 can be coupled to the first member 120 via a support structure (not shown in FIG. 1A). The sensing module 180 can be configured to sense, detect, measure, and / or quantify one or more characteristics and / or images associated with the accumulation and / or growth of a target product disposed on the cultivation apparatus 102. In some embodiments, a portion of the cultivation device 102 (e.g., the first member 120), the cultivation device 102, and / or the sensing module 180 can communicate with one or more external devices, external processors, servers, etc., via one or more networks, as further described in FIG. 1D.

[0035] The first member 120 of the cultivation apparatus 102 may be of any suitable shape, size, and / or configuration. In some embodiments, the first member may be at least structurally and / or functionally similar to the first members described in detail in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application. For example, one or more portions of the first member 120 may be formed of a porous and / or hollow material configured to provide buoyancy to the cultivation apparatus 102. In some embodiments, one or more portions of the first member 120 may be formed of a material that is relatively permeable to oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and water-soluble nutrients to allow growth of the target product. In some embodiments, one or more portions of the first member 120 may be formed of a relatively transparent material configured to allow absorption of visible light.

[0036] In some implementations, the first member 120 or buoy of the cultivation apparatus 102 may be seeded and / or configured to receive a target product seed (e.g., macroalgal gametophytes and / or sporophytes) that becomes positively buoyant as the target product matures. In other implementations, the first member 120 may be seeded and / or configured to receive a target product seed that becomes negatively buoyant as the target product matures. In other implementations, the first member 120 does not need to be seeded and / or configured to receive a target product. For example, in some embodiments, only the second member 140 is seeded with the target product, and the first member 120 functions, at least temporarily, as a buoy or the like that is not seeded with the target product. Thus, the first member 120 may be a buoy, etc. that may include and / or house any number of components, controllers, sensors, imaging devices, communication devices, radios, etc. configured to collect data related to the cultivation device 102 and / or the environment in which the cultivation device 102 is deployed (e.g., an area of ​​the ocean), process, analyze, compress, condition, transform, etc. the collected data, and transmit the data to, for example, another first member operating as a node in a mesh network, and / or one or more external devices, external processors, servers (e.g., server 110 of FIG. 1D), as described in further detail herein.

[0037] In some embodiments, the first member 120 can include an attachment mechanism that can at least temporarily mechanically couple the first member 120 to a support structure (not shown in FIG. 1A) and / or the second member 140. For example, a distal end portion of the first member 120 can include a loop, ring, hook, or the like. The support structure can be disposed beneath and / or extend from the first member 120 such that the attachment mechanism couples the support structure to the first member 120. The second member 140 (e.g., a proximal end portion of the second member 140) can be at least temporarily coupled to the attachment mechanism via a chain and / or link. The second member 140 can be positioned such that the second member 140 is parallel and adjacent to the support structure. Alternatively, the support structure can be integral with or otherwise attached to the first member 120, and the second member 140 can be coupled to the attachment mechanism of the first member 120. For example, the support structure can be welded to the first member 120, and the second member 140 can be temporarily connected to the first member 120 via an attachment mechanism, a release mechanism, and / or any other connection method.

[0038] The second member 140 can be configured to be seeded with one or more seeds of a target product and provide a structure that allows for the cultivation and / or accumulation of the target product as the target product matures. The second member 140 can be of any suitable shape, size, and / or configuration. For example, in some embodiments, the shape, size, and / or configuration of the second member 140 can be similar or substantially the same as the shape, size, and / or configuration of the first member 120 or the buoy. In other embodiments, the shape, size, and / or configuration of the second member 140 can differ from the shape, size, and / or configuration of the first member 120 or the buoy. In some embodiments, the second member 140 can be and / or include one or more seeding lines, etc. In some embodiments, the second member 140 can be similar or substantially the same as any of the second members described in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application.

[0039] In some implementations, the cultivation apparatus 102 may be used to seed one or more species of target product that may be utilized in carbon sequestration. For example, in some cases, at least the second member 140 of the cultivation apparatus 102 may be seeded with a target product species (e.g., macroalgal gametophytes and / or sporophytes), and once seeded, the cultivation apparatus 102 may be deployed onto an ocean, lake, river, estuary, and / or any other suitable body of water. In some embodiments, at least the second member 140 of the cultivation apparatus 102 may be seeded with a target product species that may be negatively buoyant and / or that will become negatively buoyant as it matures. The first member 120 of the cultivation apparatus 102 may be configured to have positive buoyancy when the cultivation apparatus 102 is initially deployed, allowing at least a portion of the cultivation apparatus 102 to float for a predetermined period of time after deployment, and then allowing at least a portion of the cultivation apparatus 102 (e.g., at least the second member 140) to gradually sink as a target product having negative buoyancy seeded on the second member 140 grows and obtains biomass.

[0040] In some embodiments, the second member 140 can be at least temporarily coupled to the first member 120, such as via a release component, as described in detail in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application. For example, in some embodiments, such a release component can couple the second member 140 to the first member 120 while the target product seeded on the second member 140 grows to maturity. After a desired amount of growth and / or accumulation of the target product, the release component can be configured to degrade and / or otherwise mechanically separate, cut, detach, release, and / or decouple from the first member 120 and / or the second member 140. For example, the release component can be configured to separate, release, and / or decouple after a predetermined amount of time has passed, after a selected species of target product has grown and / or acquired a predetermined amount of biological population, and / or after a signal or signals operable to activate the release component are received. In some implementations, the detachment, release, and / or separation can allow the first member 120 (and any target product attached thereto and / or electrical or electronic components disposed therein) to float and the second member 140 (and any target product attached thereto) to sink. The first member 120 can then be retrieved and / or reused while the second member 140 sinks to the bottom of the body of water (e.g., the ocean), thereby sequestering carbon dioxide captured by and / or associated with the grown target product. In implementations in which the first member 120 is seeded, the target product can be harvested and used and / or sold for any suitable purpose. In some implementations, including electronic components (e.g., sensors, imaging devices, tracking devices, communication devices, computing devices, and / or any other of the devices described above) in or on the first member 120 configured to float after being detached can allow those components to be reused in another deployment.In some cases, the first member 120 can be retrieved and data related to the cultivation device 102 and / or the target product stored in a memory device or the like can be downloaded and / or retrieved.

[0041] The sensing module 180 of the cultivation device 102 may be any suitable device and / or assembly or combination of devices configured to sense one or more characteristics related to the accumulation of the target product and / or the environmental conditions in which the cultivation device 102 is deployed. The sensing module 180 and / or at least a portion thereof may be disposed at and / or near the distal end portion of the second member 140. For example, the sensing module 180 may include and / or be coupled to a support structure and / or frame such that the sensing module 180 is disposed at or near the distal end portion of the second member 140. In some implementations, the support structure may be coupled to the first member 120 and may extend therefrom parallel and / or adjacent to the second member 140 such that one or more sensors are disposed at or near the distal end portion of the second member 140. In some embodiments, the support structure can allow the second member 140 to be at least temporarily coupled to the support structure via a release member, a link (e.g., a chain, etc.), etc. In some embodiments, a frame of the sensing module 180 can orient one or more sensors toward the target product. More specifically, one or more sensors of the sensing module 180 can be coupled, integrated, or otherwise attached to a frame, and the frame can orient the one or more sensors such that each sensor can capture sensor data from at least a section of the target product and / or from the second member 140.

[0042] The sensing module 180 may include any number of devices, sensors, image and / or video capture devices, and / or assemblies or combinations of devices configured to sense and / or collect data (or to facilitate sensing or collecting data) related to the accumulation of the target product and / or the environmental conditions in which the cultivation device 102 is deployed. For example, in some embodiments, the sensing module 180 may include one or more sensors configured to sense, detect, and / or measure water temperature, irradiance, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, concentration of nutrients in the water, concentration of dissolved carbon in the water, salinity of the water, size of the target product (e.g., plants), density of the target product, photosynthetic energy conversion of the target product (e.g., via chlorophyll fluorescence, etc.), and / or other characteristics related to the growth of the target product, the cultivation device 102, and / or the environment in which the cultivation device 102 is deployed. The one or more sensors can provide data that can be used to determine, quantify, calculate, model, etc., the amount of carbon that can be captured and sequestered by the biomass accumulation and / or target product, as described in detail in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application.

[0043] For example, in some embodiments, the sensing module 180 can include a pressure release depth sensor configured to measure and / or record the sinking rate of one or more portions of the cultivation apparatus 102. The pressure release depth sensor can be configured to measure and / or record the sinking rate as a function of time after the cultivation apparatus 102 is seeded with the target product and deployed on an ocean, lake, river, and / or any other suitable body of water. For example, the pressure release depth sensor can be configured to measure the sinking rate of the cultivation apparatus 102 and, when the cultivation apparatus 102 reaches a predetermined depth threshold, to detach from the cultivation apparatus 102, return to the ocean surface, and transmit the recorded sinking rate information via satellite or other wireless communication. In some cases, the sinking rate of the cultivation apparatus 102 can be used to quantify the biological population and associated carbon captured and / or sequestered. In some cases, the pressure release depth sensor of the sensor can be used to determine whether the cultivation apparatus 102 has sunk deeper than a predetermined depth or threshold associated with and / or suitable for permanently sequestered carbon.

[0044] In some embodiments, the sensor may be configured to sense, detect, and / or monitor the growth of the target product, the generation of the biological population, and / or the yield of the biological population once the cultivation apparatus 102 is seeded with the target product and deployed on the ocean, lake, river, and / or any other suitable body of water. In some embodiments, the sensor may include an underwater camera or other imaging technology configured to image, record, and / or monitor any number of target products (e.g., plants and / or stramenopiles, macroalgae such as kelp), the number of thallus per target product, thallus dimensions, and / or density associated with the target product growth. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor may include a stereoscopic camera system equipped with two or more lenses, including separate image sensors, to simulate human binocular vision and thus facilitate the acquisition of images with depth perception. In some embodiments, the stereoscopic camera system may be equipped with one or more rectilinear, fisheye, and / or anamorphic lenses configured to generate detailed images of the target product growing on the cultivation apparatus 102.

[0045] In some embodiments, the stereoscopic camera system may be configured to perform multiple post-processing steps on the images. For example, in some embodiments, the stereoscopic camera system may include a post-processing step to analyze the images produced by the lens and identify and / or correct distortions using algorithms that estimate distortion parameters and camera matrices, for example, through the use of a Levenberg-Marquardt solver and / or any other suitable curve-fitting method. In some embodiments, the stereoscopic camera system may include multiple post-processing steps, such as color correction, brightness / contrast, sharpness, backscatter removal, cropping, etc. In some implementations, the post-processing steps may include using computer vision and / or other machine learning techniques to analyze the image data and determine characteristics of the target product represented in the image data. In some embodiments, the stereoscopic camera system may capture the raw image data and transmit the data to the first member 120, which may then perform any of the post-processing steps just described.

[0046] In some embodiments, the sensor may also include a camera equipped with a photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sensor or other irradiance measuring device configured to measure photosynthetic light levels in air and water in the 400-761 nm range (or any other suitable wavelength range). The PAR sensor may be configured to measure the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) or the power of electromagnetic radiation in the visible light spectrum range in micromoles of photons per square meter per second. Data captured by the PAR sensor or other device may be used to estimate, determine, and / or quantify the intensity of sunlight available for photosynthesis to a target product disposed on the cultivation device 102, thereby estimating and / or inferring the relative health of the target product and / or the growth rate of the target product and other marine organisms. Similarly, the sensor may also include a chlorophyll fluorometer configured to detect light re-emitted by chlorophyll molecules as part of the process of photosynthetic energy conversion. In some implementations, the sensor may include a combination of a PAR sensor, a fluorometer, and / or any other suitable sensor.

[0047] The images and / or sensor data captured and / or recorded by the sensor (e.g., camera, PAR sensor, fluorometer, etc.) may be used, at least in part, to quantify and / or estimate the amount of biomass accumulated on the cultivation apparatus 102, the amount of biomass eroded from the cultivation apparatus 102 (e.g., the amount allowed to naturally detach and settle), and / or the change in the biomass (e.g., the rate of accumulation of the biomass). The images and / or sensor data may provide insights that facilitate, for example, an assessment of the relative health of the target product. In some embodiments, the images and / or sensor data captured and / or recorded by the sensor may be transmitted to the first member 120 via the support structure. In some cases, the image data captured and / or recorded by the sensor, etc. may be manually analyzed (e.g., annotated manually by a user) to determine the amount of biomass on the cultivation apparatus 102, the growth rate of the target product, and / or the amount of CO2 effectively captured by the biomass accumulated on the cultivation apparatus 102. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor can initiate image capture (e.g., capture or record images and / or videos of target products attached to and / or otherwise associated with the cultivation device 104 at different times), post-process those images (e.g., adjust color, brightness / contrast, sharpness, backscatter removal, noise removal, cropping, etc.), and transmit the images and / or videos (e.g., to the first member) for data extraction or annotation by a user and statistical analysis of the extracted data. In other cases, the image data (or other sensor data) captured and / or recorded by the sensor can be analyzed or annotated using computer vision algorithms (e.g., executed on or by a controller included in the first member 120).

[0048] Although examples of sensors and / or cameras are described above, it should be understood that they are provided by way of example only and not limitation. The sensing module 180 can include sensors and / or devices in addition to or in place of those specifically described above. In some embodiments, the sensing module 180 of the cultivation apparatus 102 can include a first type, set, and / or combination of sensors, and the sensing module of a different cultivation apparatus in the deployment can include a second type, set, and / or combination of sensors that is different from the first type, set, and / or combination. Thus, the sensing module of one or more cultivation apparatuses included in the deployment can be selected and / or configured to collect any desired data related to the target product, environmental conditions, and / or any other data.

[0049] In some embodiments, the sensing module 180 can include and / or be connected to an anti-fouling device 170, as shown in FIG. 1A. The anti-fouling device can be configured to detect, inhibit, prevent, and / or minimize degradation, contamination, and / or fouling of various components of the sensing module 180 (e.g., may be sensed) due to accumulation and / or growth of marine microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals, as well as microbial corrosion (MIC) produced by metabolic products of such marine microorganisms. Some known anti-fouling devices for cleaning underwater structures involve the use of mechanical cleaning methods, such as using brushes and wipers. Wiper or brush-based anti-fouling systems are purely mechanical methods and are often not feasible for sensors with sensitive components. For example, wiper or brush materials are carefully selected to avoid and / or minimize scratching the surface or other parts of the sensor. Copper is a commonly used material for wipers and / or brushes in underwater anti-fouling systems. However, in mechanical structures such as rotating brushes or wipers in antifouling systems, the moving parts present in the harsh marine environment can cause parts to fail, either by mechanical destruction, corrosion, or fouling of the moving parts themselves. In addition, the brushes or wipers may not be able to remove all or substantially all of the highly adhesive slime type residue from the sensor window or surface. Furthermore, copper may be limited in effectiveness as it is not suitable for all applications such as the optical window of the sensor. Furthermore, copper can corrode / dissolve / scrape away, thereby reducing its antifouling capabilities.

[0050] Thus, in some implementations, the anti-fouling devices 170 described herein can be stationary devices (e.g., devices that have no moving parts), making it / them suitable for deployment (e.g., long-term deployment) in marine environments, etc. For example, FIG. 1A shows one implementation of an anti-fouling device 170 connected and / or integrated with a sensing module 180. The anti-fouling device 170 can be any suitable static device configured to detect, inhibit, prevent, and / or minimize degradation, contamination, and / or fouling of one or more parts, surfaces, windows, etc., of one or more of the sensors of the sensing module 180.

[0051] For example, in some embodiments, the sensing module 180 can include a sensor configured as a fluorometer or the like, which can include a detection light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, configured to emit a light beam (e.g., at least a portion of the visible spectrum) toward a target product (e.g., one or more microorganisms, plants, algae, small animals, etc.). In response, fluorophores in the target product can emit fluorescence, which can be detected by one or more detectors, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EM-CCD), and / or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) detector. The detectors can quantify the intensity of the fluorescent signal, which can be used to assess the accumulation of marine microorganisms on the sensor.

[0052] In some implementations, the sensing module 180 can be coupled to, include, and / or be integrated with the anti-fouling device 170. For example, the anti-fouling device 170 can be and / or include a secondary light source configured to emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum (e.g., 250 nm to 280 nm) onto one or more lenses, surfaces, windows, and / or other components of a sensor (e.g., a fluorometer). In some cases, the UV light emitted by the anti-fouling device 170 can remove at least a portion of marine microorganisms, biofilms, and / or other biological debris that have accumulated on the lens, surface, window, etc. of the sensor due to the low resistance of the microorganisms to the frequency and / or wavelength of the UV radiation generated by the UV light source of the anti-fouling device 170. As described in further detail herein with respect to certain embodiments, the anti-fouling device 170 can be integrated within and / or integrated with any number of sensors, allowing the anti-fouling device 170 to "clean" the sensor or its lens while not interfering with the detection capabilities of the sensor.

[0053] As described above, the first member 120 may include any device or combination of devices configured to receive, analyze, process, aggregate, and / or otherwise use data (e.g., data collected by the sensing module 180 and / or received from a remote or external source) to enable and / or enable monitoring of the target product's accumulation as the target product matures. For example, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the first member 120 and at least some electronic components that may be included and / or housed therein. For example, the first member 120 may include a housing 121 that houses a power source 122 that provides power to the sensing module 180 (and any of the electrical or electronic components), a telemetry unit 124 that collects and / or transmits data (telemetry data) using one or more remote sensing sources, and a controller 126 that analyzes the telemetry data and / or sensor data obtained from the sensing module 180 and / or otherwise controls one or more parts of the cultivation device 102. The housing 121 may be a waterproof housing to protect (e.g., protect from water damage) the power supply 122, the telemetry unit 124, and the controller 126. The housing 121 may include an enclosure comprising plastic, metal (e.g., aluminum, steel, etc.), or a combination thereof.

[0054] In some embodiments, the power source 122 can include an energy storage device 122b (e.g., a battery) and / or a solar cell 122a (e.g., a solar panel). The solar cell 122a can generate direct current (DC) energy. In some embodiments, the power source 122 can include a collection of solar cells 122a forming a solar panel. In some embodiments, the solar panel can be disposed above a top surface of the housing 121. Alternatively, at least a portion of the top surface of the housing 121 can be transparent. For example, at least a portion or all of the top surface of the housing 121 can include a polycarbonate sheet such as Lexan and / or other transparent plastic sheet. The solar panel can be disposed within the housing 121 itself such that it is disposed adjacent to the top surface (e.g., a transparent portion) of the housing 121. For example, the solar panel can be disposed below the top surface of the housing 121 such that it is positioned adjacent to the top surface. In some embodiments, one or more solar cells 122a can be attached to an inner portion of the top surface of the housing 121 such that the solar cell 122a is positioned within the housing 121. For example, one or more solar cells 122a can be attached to the inside top surface of the housing 121 using a suitable adhesive (e.g., adhesive patch, glue, paste, etc.) such that the solar cells 122a are positioned adjacent to the top surface of the housing. The solar cells 122a can generate or output any suitable range of power. For example, in some embodiments, a solar panel included in the first member 120 can generate 17 watts (W) of power. In some embodiments, six solar cells 122a can be attached to the inside portion of the top surface of the housing 121, with each solar cell generating 5 W of power (total of 30 W of power).

[0055] The DC energy generated by the solar cell 122a may be used to power one or more components of the sensing module 180. In some embodiments, the solar cell 122a may provide power directly to the sensing module. In such embodiments, if the solar cell 122a stops generating energy (e.g., due to lack of sunlight or damage), the energy storage device 122b may function as a backup power source. Alternatively, the energy storage device 122b may store at least a portion or all of the DC energy generated by the solar cell 122a and may further provide power to the sensing module. For example, the solar cell 122a may charge the energy storage device 122b, which in turn provides power to the sensing module. Alternatively, the energy storage device 122b may store the energy generated by the solar cell 122a and may function as a backup (e.g., a backup during peak operation or the absence of sunlight) to power the sensing module 180.

[0056] The energy storage device 122b may be any suitable energy storage device, accumulator, etc. In some embodiments, the energy storage device 122b may be a mechanical energy storage device, such as a flywheel configured to store kinetic energy (e.g., rotational energy) that can be released as electrical energy. In some embodiments, the energy storage device 122b may be a battery (e.g., a lithium battery). In some embodiments, the energy storage device 122b may store, generate, and / or output electrical power in any suitable range.

[0057] The power source 122 can also provide power to the controller 126, the telemetry unit 124, and / or any other suitable components. In some embodiments, the telemetry unit 124 can provide information and / or data related to a body of water (e.g., ocean), local and / or forecasted weather, the cultivation device 102, the deployment 101 of any number of cultivation devices 102 (FIG. 1D), and the like. In some embodiments, the telemetry unit 124 can include one or more sensors and / or devices (e.g., modems, antennas, etc.) that receive data and / or sense and collect data related to the ocean. Additionally or alternatively, the telemetry unit 124 can receive satellite data from one or more satellites (e.g., communication satellites, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, etc.). In some embodiments, the marine and / or satellite data may include measurements of sea surface temperature, air temperature and humidity, water salinity, water color, water spectral reflectance, nutrient content, alkalinity, nitrogen content, water depth, wave size, wave period, tidal information, current direction, current speed, windage, relative position of the cultivation apparatus 102, dispersion (e.g., orbit) of the cultivation apparatus 102, and the like.

[0058] In some embodiments, the oceanographic and / or satellite data may include data obtained from stationary (geostationary) and / or polar orbiting meteorological spacecraft. Geostationary and polar orbiting satellites may provide data collected by ground stations. In some embodiments, software on board the telemetry unit 114 may employ strategies to minimize the use of costly and power-hungry satellite telemetry. These strategies may include data compression. They may involve the selection of data subsets. They may involve the use of machine learning models to subsample or summarize the data to be transmitted, as described further below. It may therefore be desirable to validate the data from the telemetry unit 114 (e.g., by comparing the data with corresponding sensor data from the sensing module 180). In some embodiments, the oceanographic and / or satellite data from the telemetry unit 114 may be calibrated with ground truth and used to quantify biomass production, biomass yield, and / or carbon capture capacity. For example, surface or subsurface conditions (e.g., sea surface temperature) can be calibrated using temperature measurements from a temperature sensor (e.g., a temperature sensor included in the sensing module 180) on the cultivation apparatus 102 to determine the variance therebetween. In some cases, data (e.g., temperature data) from the telemetry unit 114 can be smoothed and / or otherwise adapted using corresponding data from the sensing module 180. Knowing the variance between data collected by the telemetry unit 114 and data collected by the sensing module 180 can, for example, increase the accuracy associated with calculations and / or predictions made based on the former data. In some cases, calibrating and / or validating the data can allow inferences to be made related to the trajectory and / or variance of the cultivation apparatus 102, for example, as described in the '681 application.

[0059] In some implementations, the telemetry unit 124 (or other components, such as the controller 126) can execute one or more software tools, programs, routines, etc. to integrate geographic survey data (e.g., oceanographic and / or satellite data representing temperature, salinity, ocean water chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, ocean currents, etc.) from various inputs, such as satellites, in situ measurements (e.g., from the sensing module 180), machine learning or other model-based estimates, etc. In some implementations, such data can be overlaid and / or otherwise aggregated into multiple layers. In some cases, a layer can be a representation of primary and / or direct data (e.g., measurements, raw data output from a sensor, etc.). In some cases, a layer can be a summary (e.g., time average, spatial average, etc.) of other layers. In some cases, a layer can be a binary filter on or of one or more other layers (e.g., if temperature>threshold temperature, then a criterion is true or met). In some cases, the binary filter can filter based on any number of variables (e.g., a criterion is true if temperature > threshold temperature and salinity is within a certain defined range).

[0060] In some embodiments, the telemetry unit 124 may include, but is not limited to, a global positioning system (GPS) device (not shown in FIG. 1B), an antenna 124a, a satellite modem 124b, and a computing device 124c. The telemetry unit 124 may obtain satellite data from one or more communication satellites and obtain the geographical position of the cultivation apparatus 102 from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellite. For example, the antenna 124a may receive satellite signals transmitted from one or more communication satellites and GPS radio signals transmitted by GNSS satellites. Similarly, the antenna 124a may be a dual-band antenna configured to receive both satellite signals and GPS radio signals. In some embodiments, the antenna 124a may be disposed on an outer surface (e.g., outside) of the housing 121. Alternatively, the antenna 124a may be integrated with the housing 121 such that only a portion of the antenna 124a (e.g., the head of the antenna) is on the outer surface of the housing 121. More specifically, antenna 124a may be integrated with housing 121 such that one end of antenna 124a is positioned within (e.g., inside) housing 121. Antenna 124a may extend from inside housing 121 through a top surface of housing 121 such that an opposite end of antenna 124a (e.g., a head of the antenna) is disposed on an exterior surface of housing 121.

[0061] The satellite modem 124b can convert the satellite signals received from the communication satellite into a bit stream. In some embodiments, the satellite modem 124b can implement a server message block (SMB) protocol to access satellite data from the communication satellite. The satellite modem 124b can be configured to receive short bursts of satellite data. This can limit the use of power in the telemetry unit to short intervals (e.g., during the short bursts of satellite data). The GPS can track the geographic location of the cultivation device 102 based on the GPS radio signal.

[0062] The computing device 124c can process the bit stream from the satellite modem 124b into satellite data and the GPS radio signal into the geographic location of the cultivation device 102. In some known systems, the telemetry unit (e.g., corresponding to the telemetry unit 124) can be a power sink due to the size of the data packets (e.g., satellite data and GPS data) transferred to the telemetry unit. Similarly, in some known applications, the telemetry unit (e.g., functionally similar to the telemetry unit 124) can draw too much power from the power source during data transfer, thereby straining the power source. To address this situation, the computing device 124c can limit the amount of data transferred by implementing data subset selection. For example, the computing device 124c can implement a probabilistic model for subselecting satellite data. In some embodiments, the probabilistic model can be generated remotely (e.g., in one or more external devices, external processors, a server such as server 110 shown in FIG. 1D) and transmitted to computing device 124c via one or more networks (e.g., network 108 shown in FIG. 1D). In some embodiments, the probabilistic model can be generated in controller 126 of first member 120 and transmitted to computing device 124c. In yet other embodiments, the probabilistic model can be generated in computing device 124c itself.

[0063] The probabilistic model may be implemented and / or updated in the computing device 124c and may be local to the cultivation device 102. That is, if multiple cultivation devices 102 are deployed in a water body, different computing devices 124c corresponding to different cultivation devices 102 may be able to implement and / or update slightly different probabilistic models that are local to that particular cultivation device 102. The computing device 124c may be configured to receive one or more inputs from a remote user (e.g., a human operator) and / or any telemetry data from any suitable source. For example, the computing device 124c may be configured to receive inputs from one or more external devices, external processors, servers (e.g., server 110 of FIG. 1D) via one or more networks (e.g., network 108 of FIG. 1D). These inputs from remote or external sources, devices, and / or users may be used to generate and / or update the probabilistic model. For example, the inputs may be feedback from remote or external sources, devices, and / or users to iteratively improve the probabilistic model. In some embodiments, one or more external devices, processors, servers (e.g., server 110 of FIG. 1D) can push updates to the model remotely (e.g., by updating one or more parameters of the model) over one or more networks. Implementing a probabilistic model can enable and / or enable the telemetry unit 124 to receive a subset of the satellite data and / or GPS data. For example, the probabilistic model can cause the telemetry unit 124 to receive a subset of the satellite data and / or GPS data that has the highest value, i.e., is the most accurate and / or is the most useful. In this way, instead of receiving large data packets, the telemetry unit 124 receives and processes a subset of the data. This can help conserve power, thereby extending the life of the power source 122. The computing device 124c can be any suitable computing device 124c that includes at least one processor.For example, the computing device 124c may be a single-board computer (eg, a Raspberry Pi™) built on a single circuit board that includes a microprocessor, memory, and input / output (I / O) interfaces.

[0064] The controller 126 may be configured to transmit, receive, and / or process data related to controlling at least a portion of the cultivation apparatus 102. In some embodiments, the controller 126 may be a single-board computer (e.g., Raspberry Pi™) built on a single circuit board including a microprocessor, memory, and input / output (I / O) interface. In some embodiments, the controller 126 may include at least one or more processors 126a, one or more memories 126b, and a communication interface 126c, as shown in FIG. 1C. The processor 126a may be configured to perform various tasks, such as data management (e.g., of sensor data and / or satellite data), data analysis, signal and image processing, sensor interface connection, control of solar cells (e.g., solar cells 122a), control of power sources (e.g., power sources 122), etc. The processor 126a may be any suitable processing device configured to run and / or execute a set of instructions or code, but may include one or more data processors, image processors, graphics processing units, digital signal processors, and / or central processing units. The processor 126a may be, for example, a general purpose processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a processor board, etc. The underlying device technology may be provided in a variety of component types (e.g., metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) technologies such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), bipolar technologies such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), polymer technologies (e.g., silicon-conjugated polymer and metal-conjugated polymer-metal structures), mixed analog-digital, etc.

[0065] The processor 126a may be configured to operate and / or execute application processes and / or other modules, processes and / or functions associated with the system 100 shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. In some embodiments, the processor 126a may operate and / or execute application processes and / or other modules. In some variations, the application processes and / or other modules may be software modules, hardware modules, and / or combinations of hardware and software modules. These processes and / or modules, when executed by the processor 126a, may be configured to perform specific tasks. These specific tasks may collectively enable the controller 126 to control one or more portions of the cultivation apparatus 102. For example, the tasks may include and / or enable interfacing with the sensing module 180, analyzing sensor data obtained from the sensing module 180 and / or data received from an external or remote data source (e.g., satellite data and GPS data obtained from the telemetry unit 124) to determine accumulation of a target product, controlling the power source 122 to conserve power, etc. In some implementations, a particular task may interface with an intermediate member, release member, coupling member, etc., to separate the first member 120 from the second member 140 and / or otherwise allow the second member 140 to subside. In some examples, a remote device or user may transmit a signal indicating or representing an instruction to submerge the second member 140 over one or more networks (e.g., the network 108 shown in FIG. 1D). That is, the controller's processor 126a may execute one or more processes to actively submerge the second member 140 in response to an instruction or input from a remote user and / or device. In some instances, such a signal may be received, for example, by the telemetry unit 124 and / or directly by the controller 126 (e.g., via the communication interface 126c).

[0066] In some embodiments, the memory 126b is configured to store data and / or information related to the system 100, the cultivation device 102, and / or their components. The memory 126b may be any suitable memory device configured to store data, information, computer code or instructions (such as those described above), and the like. In some embodiments, the memory 126b may be and / or include one or more of a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a memory buffer, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a combination thereof, and the like. In some embodiments, the memory 126b may store instructions that cause the processor 126a to execute modules, processes, and / or functions associated with operating and / or controlling the system 100, the cultivation device 102, and / or its components.

[0067] The communication device 126c may be any suitable device and / or interface capable of communicating with one or more networks (e.g., any of the devices, sensors, and / or data sources described above, and / or any combination or portion thereof), such as the network 108 shown in FIG. 1D. Additionally, the communication device 126c may include one or more wired and / or wireless interfaces, such as, for example, an Ethernet interface, an Optical Carrier (OC) interface, and / or an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) interface. In some embodiments, the communication device 126c may be, for example, a network interface card that may include at least an Ethernet port and / or a wireless radio configured to wirelessly communicate via any suitable communication protocol or combination of protocols (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, etc.). In some embodiments, the communication device 126c may include one or more satellite antennas (e.g., antenna 124a). In some embodiments, the communication device 126c may be configured to read one or more characteristics associated with the target product, transmit signals representative of the cultivation device and / or the target product characteristics to one or more external devices (e.g., the sensing module 180 of FIG. 1D, the server 110, etc.), receive signals operable to control the sensing module 180 from the one or more external devices (e.g., the sensing module 180 of FIG. 1D, the server 110, etc.), and the like.

[0068] In some embodiments, the controller 126 may be configured to read, store, and broadcast sensor data (e.g., sensor data obtained from the sensing module 180). The controller 126 may use the sensor data to monitor and / or determine at least one characteristic indicative of accumulation of a target product (e.g., growth of the target product, quantified production of a biological population, yield of a biological population, carbon capture and / or sequestration rate, amount, or capacity). In some embodiments, the controller 126 may be configured to control the power source 122. For example, the controller 126 may be configured to sequence power among the telemetry unit 124, the sensing module 180, and the controller 126 itself. Similarly, the controller 126 may be configured to control the power source 122 such that the power source 122 provides power to the telemetry unit 124, the sensing module 180, and the controller 126 all at once and / or in a predetermined order with little or no parallelization. This may prevent multiple components from drawing power from the power source 122 at the same time, thereby eliminating and / or reducing the occurrence of power outages. In some embodiments, when there is a power shortage (e.g., the power source 122 is low), the controller 126 may be configured to control the power source 122 to prioritize the operation of various components. For example, if the controller is already acquiring sensor data from the sensing module 180, then should a power shortage occur, the controller 126 may prioritize its own operation such that the sensor data is analyzed before additional sensor data is acquired from the sensing module 180.

[0069] In some implementations, the electronics within the first member 120 (e.g., power supply 122, telemetry unit 124, and controller 126) can be turned on using an external magnet. For example, a magnetic dongle can be used to turn on an electrical switch, such as a reed switch. When a magnetic field is applied to the reed switch (e.g., using an external magnet), the reed switch can transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration. This can turn on the electronics included in the first member 120. The controller 126 can be configured to monitor the reed switch and detect a change in configuration based on the presence of an external magnet.

[0070] As described above, the first member 120 of the cultivation device 102 can receive, transmit, and analyze data from one or more other cultivation devices and / or from one or more external devices, external processors, servers via a network. FIG. 1D is a schematic diagram of at least a portion of a system 100 including a deployment 101 of a plurality of cultivation devices 102 in communication with one or more external devices, external processors, servers, etc. (e.g., server 110) and / or other cultivation devices 102 via a network 108, for example. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can be substantially similar to the deployments described in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application (incorporated by reference above).

[0071] The deployment 101 can be comprised of any number of cultivation devices 102. For example, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of several cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of 10 cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of 100 cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of thousands of cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of tens of thousands of cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of hundreds of thousands of cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of millions of cultivation devices 102. In some embodiments, the deployment 101 can include and / or be an assembly of over one billion cultivation devices 102.

[0072] Any of the cultivation devices 102 in the deployment 101 can transmit and / or receive data to and / or from the server 110 and / or other remote or external devices via the network 108. In addition, any of the cultivation devices 102 of the deployment 101 can transmit and / or receive data to and / or from at least one other cultivation device 102 of the deployment 101 via the network 108. The network 108 can be, for example, a digital telecommunications network including any number of servers (e.g., the server 110) and / or other devices. The network 108 can be implemented as one or more wired and / or wireless communication networks that can enable the server 110, the cultivation devices 102, the sensing module 180, and / or any other devices to transmit and / or receive data and share resources, such as data storage and / or computing power. The wired or wireless communication network between the server 110 and / or the cultivation device 102 and / or the sensing module 180 may include one or more communication channels, such as a radio frequency (RF) communication channel, a fiber optic communication channel, an electronic communication channel, etc. The network 108 may be and / or include, for example, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a virtual local area network (VLAN), etc., or a combination thereof.

[0073] In some embodiments, any of the components housed in the first member 120 may be equipped to communicate with other components housed in the first member via the network 108 using wireless network technologies such as Low Power Wide Area Network Modulation Technology (LoRa), Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, etc. In some embodiments, any of the components of the cultivation apparatus 102 included in the deployment 101 may communicate via the network 108, which may be configured using any suitable network topology, such as, for example, a bus topology, a star topology, a tree topology, a linear topology, a ring topology, a mesh topology, a hyper topology, and / or any other type of network topology, or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, any of the components housed in the first member 120 of any number of the cultivation apparatus 102 included in the deployment 101 may form a mesh network topology (e.g., a portion of the network 108 may be and / or may be implemented as a mesh network). For example, the first member 120 in the mesh network topology may be configured to broadcast sensor data, satellite data, GPS data, and / or any suitable output generated by the controller 126, the telemetry unit 124, and / or any other components housed in the first member 120 of the cultivation apparatus 102 to any suitable components housed in the first member of another cultivation apparatus in the mesh network topology. Similarly, any of the components housed in the first member 120 may be configured to receive and / or read sensor data, satellite data, GPS data, and / or other output transmitted by the components of the cultivation apparatus. Sharing data between components housed in the first members of different cultivation apparatuses in the deployment 101 may increase the reliability of the mesh network. In some embodiments, the first member of at least one cultivation apparatus in the deployment 101 (or any of the components therein) may act as a network hub for any suitable network topology.The hub may receive data directly or indirectly from all other first members in the network topology, may transmit this data to any suitable remote or external device (e.g., server 110), and / or may perform any suitable function or processing on the data locally.

[0074] In some embodiments, the server 110 and / or any other remote or external device may be substantially similar to the server and / or external device described in the '681 application (incorporated by reference above). In some embodiments, data from any of the cultivation apparatuses 102 may be transmitted to the server 110 directly or indirectly via the network 108 (e.g., at least a portion of which may be implemented as a mesh network, etc.). The server 110 may analyze the received data to determine, calculate, model, predict, estimate, evaluate the growth of the target product, quantify the production of the biomass and / or the yield of the biomass, etc. In some embodiments, the server 110 may include one or more servers and / or one or more processors operating on a cloud platform (e.g., Microsoft Azure®, Amazon® Web Services, IBM® Cloud Computing, etc.). In general, the server 110 described herein (e.g., including a central processing unit) may process data and / or other signals to quantify, verify, predict, and / or infer characteristics related to the target product, cultivation apparatus, water body, deployment, etc. for the purpose of carbon sequestration. Server 110 may be configured to receive, process, compile, calculate, store, access, read, write, and / or transmit data and / or other signals. In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to access or receive data and / or other signals from one or more of a sensor and a storage medium (e.g., memory, flash drive, memory card). In some embodiments, server 110 may include at least a processor, memory, and a communication device. In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to execute processes and / or run programs, algorithms, models, etc. in connection with determining target product accumulation (and / or marine erosion) and corresponding capabilities for capturing and sequestering, for example, carbon dioxide.

[0075] Thus, as described above, the deployment of the cultivation apparatus 102 and / or its components can enable the collection and / or analysis of data related to the growth of any number of target products included in the deployment 101. For example, in some cases, the power source 122 (FIG. 1B) included in the first member 120 can include and / or receive power from one or more solar cells 122a (FIG. 1B) and can transmit and / or provide at least a portion of the power to other electronic components of the first member 120 and / or to the sensing module 180. The sensing module 180 can sense and detect characteristics related to the target products seeded on at least the second member 140 of the cultivation apparatus 102 and optionally on the first member 120. The sensing module 180 can transmit sensor data to the first member 120 via a network (e.g., the network 108 in FIG. 1D) and / or via one or more cables or other interfaces (as further described below) included in the support structure. The controller 126 (FIG. 1(B)) of the first member 120 can analyze the sensor data. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 126 can analyze satellite data and / or ocean data, and / or any other remote data received via the telemetry unit 124. The controller 126 can monitor the accumulation of the target product based on the sensor data, ocean data, satellite data, etc. The controller 126 can also receive data from any number of other cultivation devices included in the deployment 101 (e.g., via a mesh network or other suitable network topology). The controller 126 and / or any other components of the first member 120 can also transmit data via the network 108 to the server 110 and / or any other remote or external device for further analysis, processing, etc. The controller 126 can also be remotely operated and / or controlled from one or more external devices, external processors, servers (e.g., the server 110 of FIG. 1D) via the network 108.Thus, data related to the cultivation apparatus 102 included in the deployment 101, environmental data, and / or any other data may be collected, aggregated, and / or processed and used to determine, estimate, model, and / or predict the amount of carbon that is or can be sequestered when a target product (e.g., macroalgae) attached to the cultivation apparatus 102 of the deployment 101 is allowed to sink to the bottom or floor of a body of water (e.g., the ocean floor).

[0076] 2A-2G show at least a portion of a system 200 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the system 100 of FIG. 1A) for monitoring accumulation of a target product according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, the system 200 can include a cultivation device 202 having a first member 220 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the first member 120 of FIG. 1A), a second member 240 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the second member 240 of FIG. 1A), a support structure 260, and a sensing module 280 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the sensing module 180 of FIG. 1A).

[0077] The first member 220 may be configured to monitor the accumulation of the target product and provide buoyancy to various components of the system 200. The first member 220 may include a housing (e.g., similar to the housing 121 of FIG. 1B) that houses a power source, a telemetry unit, and a controller (e.g., similar to the power source 122, telemetry unit 124, and controller 126, respectively, described with reference to FIG. 1B). The power source may be configured to provide power to a sensing module 280 configured to acquire sensor data that may be indicative of one or more characteristics associated with the accumulation of the target product. The telemetry unit may be configured to collect and transmit satellite data. The controller may be configured to analyze the satellite data and / or the sensor data acquired from the sensing module to quantify the characteristics and / or accumulation of the target product. The housing may be a sealed, watertight enclosure that protects the components within the first member 220. The controller may also be configured to control the power source to prioritize the provision of power based on the operation of the system 200. In some embodiments, the controller and / or telemetry unit may be configured to implement a probabilistic model to select a subset of data for transmission and analysis to limit power usage.

[0078] In some embodiments, the first member 220 can include an attachment mechanism that can at least temporarily mechanically couple the first member 220 to the support structure 260 and / or the second member 240. For example, a distal end portion of the first member 220 can include a loop, ring, hook, or the like. The support structure 260 can be disposed beneath and / or extend from the first member 220 such that the attachment mechanism couples the support structure to the first member 220. For example, the support structure 260 can be coupled, integral, or otherwise attached to the first member 240 vertically below (e.g., at a distal end) the first member 240. In some embodiments, the support structure 260 can be any suitable shape (e.g., a tubular shape). In some embodiments, the support structure 260 can be a cable designed to remain flexible in harsh environments. For example, the support structure 260 can include a high-grade polyurethane cable designed for underwater use. In some embodiments, the support structure 260 can be compact and have tighter bends so that the support structure is flexible but can withstand ocean currents without or substantially without distortion. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the support structure 260 can be surrounded by a material that promotes target product growth. In particular, the support structure 260 can be at least temporarily coupled to the second member 240 via a release member, a link (e.g., a chain, etc.), or the like. Portions of the support structure 260 adjacent to, overlapping with, and / or closer to the second member 240 can be surrounded by a material that promotes target product growth, such as any suitable material used for the second member 240.

[0079] The support structure 260 may include one or more wires / cords for transmitting power from the first member 220 to the sensing module 280 and / or communicating data between the first member 220 and the sensing module 280. For example, the support structure 260 may include a first wire / cord for transmitting power from the first member 220 to the sensing module 280 and a second wire / cord for communicating data between the first member 220 and the sensing module 280. In other embodiments, the support structure 260 may include a single wire / cord providing both power transmission and data transmission, such as, for example, power over Ethernet. The wire / cord may be connected to the first member 220 and / or the sensing module 280 via a connector. For example, a first connector included in a proximal section of the support structure 260 may connect one or more wires / cords to the first member 220. A second connector included in a distal section of the support structure 260 may connect one or more wires / cords to the sensing module 280. These connectors can be constructed to withstand harsh marine conditions.

[0080] In some embodiments, one or more wires / cords included in the support structure 260 can include a sensor detection signal line. For example, a first wire / cord for transmitting power and / or a second wire / cord for communicating data can further function as a sensor detection signal line. Alternatively, the support structure 260 can include a separate wire / cord (e.g., a third wire / cord) that functions as a sensor detection signal line. The sensor detection signal line can enable the first member 260 (e.g., a controller such as the controller 126 of FIG. 1A included in the first member) to determine whether the sensing module 280 is coupled to the support structure 260. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor detection signal line can enable the first member 220 to determine whether there is a problem with the connection between the first member 220 and the sensing module 280.

[0081] A second member 240 configured to cultivate or accumulate a target product may be (at least temporarily) coupled to the first member 220 and / or the support structure 260 via a release member, a link (e.g., a chain, etc.), or the like. The second member 240 may be positioned such that the second member 240 is parallel and / or adjacent to the support structure 260. A proximal end of the second member 240 may be coupled to the first member 220 via an attachment mechanism (e.g., a chain and / or link) included on the first member 220. The sensing module 280 may be positioned at and / or near the distal end of the second member 240.

[0082] The sensing module 280 includes and / or is attached to a frame 282 disposed at an end of the support structure 260 such that the sensing module 280 is positioned at or near a distal end of the second member 240. The sensing module 280 and / or its frame 282 may be coupled, attached, or otherwise integrated with the support structure 260. For example, the frame 282 may be coupled, attached, or otherwise integrated with the distal end of the support structure 260. Thus, the sensing module 280 may be coupled to the first member 220 via the support structure 260. The sensing module 280 may include one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data regarding the target product. The sensors may be coupled, attached, or otherwise integrated with the frame 282 of the sensing module 280. The frame 282 may orient the sensors toward the target product such that the sensors can capture data from at least a section of the target product and / or the second member 240.

[0083] For example, the frame 282 can include one or more arms, each of which is configured to support and / or be coupled to a sensor. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the frame 282 can include three arms 288a, 288b, and 288c, each of which is configured to support and / or be coupled to a sensor 284a, 284b, and 284c, respectively. Although FIG. 2B shows three arms 288 and three sensors 284, it should be readily understood that the frame 282 can include any suitable number of arms. In addition, while FIG. 2B shows each arm 288 supporting a single sensor 284, it should be readily understood that each arm 288 of the frame can support two or more sensors 284. For example, it may be possible for arm 288a to support another sensor (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2G) in addition to supporting sensor 284a.

[0084] In some embodiments, the frame 282 may be reconfigurable between a folded configuration and an extended configuration in which the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c extend radially outward from the support structure 260. In some implementations, the frame 282 is configured to be in a folded and / or folded configuration prior to deployment into water. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the frame 282 may include a central mount 286 to which each of the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c is coupled. In some embodiments, the central mount 286 may have a first configuration (not shown) in which the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c are folded and a second configuration (see, e.g., FIGS. 2A-2D) in which the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c are extended. Placing the central mount 286 in a first configuration in which the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c are folded can minimize the storage area for the sensing module 280 prior to deployment into the body of water. In some implementations, the central mount 286 can be transitioned to a second configuration in which the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c are extended immediately prior to and / or upon deployment of the frame into the body of water. For example, a remote device such as the server 110 shown in FIG. 1D can remotely control the central mount 286 to extend the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c immediately prior to and / or upon deployment of the frame into the body of water. Alternatively, the central mount 286 can be transitioned by a human operator to extend the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c as desired.

[0085] Frame 282 in the extended configuration can be such that arms 288a, 288b, and 288c position sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c, respectively, at a desired depth and / or location in water. For example, arms 288a, 288b, and 288c are configured to extend radially from second member 240 and / or support structure 260, and sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c are at a desired depth, desired location, and / or desired orientation relative to the target product for all sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c to capture sensor data from various sections of second member 240 and / or target product. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2D , the length of each extension arm 288a, 288b, and 288c can be approximately 8 feet (ft), the width of frame 282 with each arm 288a, 288b, and 288c extended can be approximately 14 ft, and the length of frame 282 with each arm 288a, 288b, and 288c extended can be approximately 12 ft.

[0086] In some embodiments, the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c can be pivoted or at least partially folded to orient the sensors 284a, 284b, and / or 284c toward a desired portion or section of the second member 240 and / or the target product. For example, the central mount 286 (FIGS. 2C and 2D) can be configured to allow the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c to be pivoted to a desired position. In some implementations, the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c can be pivoted automatically and / or remotely, or can be pivoted manually via user intervention.

[0087] In some embodiments, sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c can be attached to arms 288a, 288b, and 288c to allow for pivoting, rotation, translation, and / or reorientation of sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c in addition to the pivoting of arms 288a, 288b, and 288c just described. As shown in Figures 2E-2G, in some implementations, sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c can be oriented at 45 degrees relative to arms 288a, 288b, and 288c of frame 282. Thus, sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c can have an orientation angle of 45 degrees (e.g., camera pitch angle if the sensor is a camera). Similarly, sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c may be oriented at 45 degrees relative to arms 288a, 288b, and 288c, respectively, such that the sensors are oriented at a 45 degree angle toward second member 240. In this manner, frame 282 can position and / or support sensors 284a, 284b, 284c at the appropriate angles to capture sensor data from various sections of second member 240.

[0088] As shown in Figures 2E-2G, sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c can be coupled to arms 288a, 288b, and 288c via couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c, respectively. One end of couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c can be attached, coupled, or otherwise integrated with corresponding arms 288a, 288b, and 288c, while opposite ends of couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c can be attached, coupled, or otherwise integrated with corresponding sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c. In some embodiments, couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c can be adjustable, pivotable, rotatable, movable, and / or otherwise reconfigurable, either automatically and / or remotely, or manually via user intervention. For example, sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c may be configured to be positioned at various angles to capture sensor data from different sections of the second member and / or target product. For example, in FIG. 2E, couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c may be positioned / pivoted at 45 degrees relative to arms 288a, 288b, and 288c, respectively, such that the angle of orientation of sensors 284a, 288b, and 284c is 45 degrees relative to corresponding arms 288a, 288b, and 288c, respectively. Sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c may be configured to capture sensor data from sections of the second member 240 and / or target product that are within the field of view of sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c (e.g., if the sensors are cameras or image capture devices). In some embodiments, each coupler 289a, 289b, and 289c can orient each sensor 284a, 284b, and 284c of the sensing module 280 at a different angle. Alternatively, all couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c can be positioned at the same angle such that the angle of orientation of all sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c is the same. In yet another alternative embodiment, some couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c can be positioned at a different angle than some other couplers 289a, 289b, and 289c.

[0089] 2A-2G, in some implementations, the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c can be adjusted, moved, and / or pivoted together or independently. Independent control of the arms 288a, 288b, and 288c and / or the sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c can allow sensor data to be collected for different sections of the second member 240 and / or the target product. Similarly, while the sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c are shown to be substantially the same, in some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 284a, 284b, and 284c can be different from the others, allowing for the collection of data representative of different characteristics of the target product and / or environmental conditions. Although the sensing module 280 is shown as being coupled to an end of the support structure 260, in other implementations, the sensing module 280 can be coupled to the support structure 260 at any point along its length. Additionally, the system 200 may include multiple sensing modules 280 coupled at various locations along the length of the support structure 260. In some implementations, the sensing modules 280 may be movable along the support structure 260.

[0090] Thus, the arrangement of the system 200 and / or the cultivation device 202 may enable the sensing module to collect data at any desired section along the second member 240 and / or the target product. Furthermore, with the sensing module 280 electrically and / or electronically connected to the first member 220, the collected sensor data may be received, aggregated, processed, analyzed, transmitted, and / or otherwise used by one or more electronic components (e.g., controller, telemetry unit, etc.) as described in detail above with reference to the first member 120 shown in Figures 1A-1C. In some embodiments, the sensing module 280 may include a processor and / or memory that enables the sensing module 280 to interface with the first member 220. For example, the processor of the sensing module 280 may be configured to receive the sensor data, pre-process the sensor data, and / or analyze the sensor data. In some cases, the processor of the sensing module 280 may extract and / or determine trends and / or measurements related to the growth or accumulation of the target product. The processor may transmit the sensor data to the first member 220 (eg, via the support structure 260 and / or a network, such as the network 108 of FIG. 1D).

[0091] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a sensor capturing sensor data from different sections of the second member 340 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the second member 140 of FIG. 1A and / or the second member 240 of FIG. 2A), according to one embodiment. As described above, the sensing module 380 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the sensing module 180 of FIG. 1A and / or the sensing module 280 of FIG. 2A-2G) can include a frame and one or more sensors. The frame can include an arm extending radially from the second member 240. The arm can extend outwardly such that the sensor can capture sensor data from various sections of the second member 340. In particular, the arm can extend such that the length of the extension of the arm positions the sensor at a desired location / depth to capture sensor data from various sections of the second member 340. Additionally or alternatively, the arms can be extended such that the angle of the orientation of the arms relative to a horizontal axis of the support structure 360 ​​(e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the support structure 260 of FIG. 2A) positions the sensors at a desired location / depth for capturing sensor data from various sections of the second member. Each arm can include one or more pivotable supports that can pivot about the arm. The sensors can be coupled, attached, or otherwise integrated with the pivotable supports. The pivotable supports can position the sensors at a desired angle such that the sensors can capture sensor data from various sections of the second member 240.

[0092] In FIG. 3, as a non-limiting example, the length of the support structure 360 ​​and / or the second member 340 is 45 ft. The portion of the second member 340 covered by the sensor to capture sensor data may vary depending on the sensor's field of view, the arm length, and the angle of the sensor's orientation (e.g., camera pitch angle). For example, when the sensor is placed on an arm extension with a length of 0 at a pitch angle of 90 degrees (e.g., placed directly below / vertically below the second member 340), the sensor can obtain coverage of the section of the second member 340 that is vertically above the sensor. Stated differently, when the sensor is placed directly below the second member and oriented vertically upward toward the second member, the sensor can obtain coverage of the section of the second member 340 that is vertically above the sensor. However, sections further away from the sensor may be occluded by the portion directly above. More specifically, sections that are not directly above (e.g., toward the side edge of the second member 340) may be blocked from the sensor's field of view. Thus, the length of the arm extension may need to be greater than zero. In general, a shorter arm extension may require a steeper pitch angle to cover the entire second member 340. In FIG. 3, the sensors have a 45 degree pitch angle. These sensors may cover, for example, 18 feet of the second member 340 from the bottom of the second member 340. Similarly, these sensors may cover a height of 18 ft starting from the bottom of the second member.

[0093] FIG. 4A is a top view of a portion of a first member 420 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the first members 120, 220, and / or 320 described above) according to one embodiment, showing electronic components housed within the housing of the first member 420. As described above, the first member 420 can house a power source including an energy storage device 422b (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the energy storage device 122b of FIG. 1B), a telemetry unit including a satellite modem 424b (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the satellite modem 124b of FIG. 1B), and a controller 426 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the controller 126 of FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, the energy storage device 422b can be a battery. In some embodiments, the energy storage device 422b can be configured to be lighter but store more power. For example, the energy storage device can be a lithium iron phosphate battery, such as a ReLiON RB20. In some embodiments, the ReLiON RB20 can generate 256 W of power. The satellite modem 424b can include an on-board satellite terminal supporting Iridium communications. For example, the satellite modem 424b can be an MCG-10. As discussed above, the satellite modem 424b can support short bursts of data packets. In some embodiments, the satellite modem 424b can receive data packets of about 300 bytes to about 1800 bytes, about 500 bytes to about 1600 bytes, about 800 bytes to about 1300 bytes, including all values ​​and subranges therein. In some embodiments, the satellite modem 424b can implement a Server Message Block (SMB) protocol to access satellite data from a communications satellite. For example, the SMB protocol can enable the satellite modem to stream about 1 megabyte of satellite data per hour. The controller 426 can be a single board computer, such as a Rasberry Pi™. In some embodiments, the controller 426 can be configured to draw low power to operate.

[0094] Figure 4B is a side view of a portion of the first member 420 showing at least some of the electronic components housed within the housing. In addition to the components described in Figure 4A, the housing can include a connector 427 as seen in Figure 4B. The connector can connect to the antenna 424a through the housing. For example, the connector 427 can attach the antenna 424a through the bottom of the housing such that the head of the antenna is disposed at the top of the housing (e.g., the lid of the enclosure).

[0095] 5A and 5B show first members 520 and 520' according to different embodiments, respectively. The first members 520 and 520' may be structurally and / or functionally similar to the first member 120 of FIG. 1A and / or the first member 220 of FIG. 2A. In FIG. 5A, a housing 521 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the housing 121 of FIG. 1B) houses one or more electronic components of the first member 520. As described above, the first member 520 may include a power source such as a solar cell (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the solar cell 122a of FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, the solar cell may form a solar panel. In FIG. 5(A), the solar panel 522a is disposed on the top surface of the housing 520. More specifically, in FIG. 5A, the solar panel 522a is disposed above the top surface (e.g., the lid) of the housing 521. Antenna 524a in FIG. 5A (eg, structurally and / or functionally similar to antenna 124a in FIG. 1B) is disposed entirely on an exterior surface (eg, outside) of housing 521.

[0096] In contrast, as seen in FIG. 5B, the solar panel 522a' (e.g., formed from a solar cell structurally and / or functionally similar to the solar cell 122a of FIG. 1B) included in the first member 520' is disposed inside the housing 521'. For example, the top surface of the housing 521' may be transparent (e.g., may include a transparent sheet). The solar panel 522a' may be disposed below the top surface (e.g., the transparent portion of the housing 520'). In some embodiments, the solar panel 522a' may be disposed below the top surface and adjacent to the housing 521' (e.g., below the transparent portion of the housing 521' and adjacent to the transparent portion of the housing 521'). The antenna 524a' of FIG. 5B is integrated with the housing 521'. For example, the antenna 520a' may be attached to a connector (e.g., the connector 427 of FIG. 4B) in the housing 521'. The connector may be configured to penetrate the bottom of the housing 521'. The antenna 520a' can be mounted such that the bottom of the antenna 524a' is disposed within the housing (e.g., inside the housing). However, the head of the antenna 524a' can be disposed above the top surface of the housing 521' (e.g., on the exterior surface). In some embodiments, the first members 520 and 520' can include a low ballast to provide stability to the cultivation apparatus (e.g., the cultivation apparatus 102 of FIG. 1). As seen in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the configuration of the first member 520' in FIG. 5B can be more compact than the configuration of the first member 520 in FIG. 5A. More specifically, unlike FIG. 5A, in FIG. 5B, the solar panel 522a' is disposed within the housing 521', so that the first member 520' can be more compact than the first member 520. In addition, the antenna 524a' can be made to penetrate the housing 521' of FIG. 5A, optimizing space to make the first member 520' more compact.

[0097] As mentioned above, the first member (e.g., first member 520 of FIG. 5A and first member 520′ of FIG. 5B) may include an attachment mechanism (e.g., attachment mechanism 523 of FIG. 5A and attachment mechanism 523′ of FIG. 5B) for coupling the first member to a support structure (e.g., support structure 260 of FIG. 2) and / or a second member (e.g., second member 140 of FIG. 1A and second member 240 of FIG. 2). The attachment mechanism may be any suitable attachment mechanism, such as one or more loops, rings, hooks, etc. In some embodiments, the support structure may be directly coupled to the attachment mechanism. Alternatively, the support structure may be configured to extend from the attachment mechanism. In yet another alternative embodiment, the support structure may be welded to the first member (e.g., near or at the location of the attachment mechanism). The second member may be at least temporarily coupled to the attachment mechanism via a chain and / or link. In some embodiments, the second member may be welded to the first member near or at the location of the attachment mechanism.

[0098] 6A and 6B show first members 620 and 620' according to different embodiments. The first members 620 and 620' may be structurally and / or functionally similar to the first members 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, and / or 520' described above. The first members 620 and 620' may be any suitable shape, such as the polyhedral shape seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The top surface (e.g., lid) of the first members 620 and 620' may include a transparent material. The solar cells 622a and 622a' (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the solar cells 122a of FIG. 1B) may be attached to an inner portion of the top surface of the housings 621 and 621' so as to be adjacent to the top surface of the housings 621 and 621'. In some embodiments, similar to Figs. 5A and 5B, the first members 620 and 620' may include low ballast to provide stability to the cultivation apparatus (e.g., the cultivation apparatus 102 of Fig. 1A). Although not shown, an antenna (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the antenna 124a described above) may be attached to a connector on the top surface of the housing 621 and 621', similar to Fig. 6B. The housings 621 and 621' may include a gasket (e.g., elastomer) for sealing the interface (e.g., sealing the lid of the housing to the base of the housing). In contrast to Fig. 6B, the first member 620 of Fig. 6A may be taller than the first member 620' of Fig. 6B. Thus, the first member 620 may be deployed in areas with large and / or intense wind currents. Because the first member 620 is taller than the first member 620', the first member 620 may accommodate more solar cells 622a compared to the first member 620'. For example, the first member 620 of Figure 6A can accommodate approximately 9 solar cells 622a. In contrast, the first member 620' of Figure 6B can accommodate approximately 6 solar cells 622a'.

[0099] As described above with reference to the first members 520 and 520', the first members 620 and 620' can include an attachment mechanism for mechanically coupling the support structure and / or the second member. The first members 620 and 620' can be coupled to the support structure and / or the second member via the attachment mechanism.

[0100] FIG. 7 is a diagram of components of a support structure 744 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the support structure 260 of FIG. 2) according to one embodiment. The upper and / or proximal end of the support structure 744 may be attached, coupled, or otherwise integrated with the first member 720. The lower and / or distal end of the support structure 744 may be attached, coupled, or otherwise integrated with the sensing module 780 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the sensing module 180 of FIG. 1A and the sensing module 280 of FIG. 2). For example, the lower and / or distal end of the support structure 744 may be attached, coupled, or otherwise integrated with a frame 782 included in the sensing module 780. The support structure 744 may include a cable (e.g., 746a and 746b, collectively referred to herein as cable 746). More specifically, the support structure 744 may be a cable 746 designed to remain flexible in a harsh environment. For example, the support structure 744 can include a high-grade polyurethane cable 746 designed for underwater use. The support structure 744 is compact, can have tighter bends, and can be easily controlled. In some embodiments, the length of the support structure 744 can be any suitable length. In some embodiments, for example, the support structure 744 can have a length that allows it to be positioned at a maximum depth of 200 meters (m) underwater. At least a portion of the support structure 744 (e.g., cable segment 746a) can be surrounded by a material that promotes growth of the target product (e.g., any of the materials described above with respect to the second member of the cultivation apparatus). For example, the cable segment 746a can be surrounded by and / or wrapped with cotton that facilitates growth of the target product.

[0101] The support structure 744 can accommodate at least two wires / cords. One wire can transmit power from the first member 720 to the sensing module. Another wire can transmit data (e.g., sensor data, satellite data, and / or GPS data) between the first member 720 and the sensing module 780. The support structure 744 can include two connectors 743 (e.g., male connectors) at the top and bottom ends to connect with the first member 720 and the sensing module 780. For example, the male connector 743 at the top end of the support structure 744 can connect with the female connector 742a on the first member 720. The female connector 742a can be structurally and / or functionally similar to the connector 427 of FIG. 4B. In some embodiments, an antenna included in the first member 720 can be attached to the female connector 742a. ​​The male connector 743 at the bottom end of the support structure 744 can connect with the female connector 742b on the sensing module 780. The male connector 743 may be configured to withstand harsh marine conditions.

[0102] In some embodiments, the support structure 744 may further include a third wire / cord extending from the first member 720 to the sensing module 780. This third wire / cord may include a sensor detection signal line. The sensor detection signal line may enable the first member 720 (e.g., a controller such as the controller 126 of FIG. 1B included in the first member) to determine whether the sensing module 780 is coupled to the support structure 744 and / or whether there is a problem with the connection between the sensing module and the first member 720. For example, the sensing module 780 may include a parallel combination of one or more resistors in the frame 782. The sensor detection signal line may enable the controller in the first member 720 to calculate the voltage change in these resistors. The voltage may indicate whether a sensor in the sensing module 780 is plugged in, how many sensors are connected to the first member 720, whether there is a problem with the connection, etc.

[0103] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a camera 890 included in a sensing module (e.g., a sensor included in any of the sensing modules described above) that can be used to detect accumulation and / or growth of a target product, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the camera 890 can include one or more light sources 894a and 894b. The light sources 894a and 894b can be light-emitting diode (LED) lamps configured to protect the enclosure window from biofouling. In some embodiments, the light sources 894a and 894b emit ultraviolet-C light (e.g., wavelengths of 200-300 nanometers). The camera 890 can also include a single-board computer 896 (e.g., Rasberry Pi™) built on a single-board circuit including a microprocessor, memory, and input / output (I / O) interface to quantify the intensity of the fluorescent signal to assess the accumulation of the target product. The single-board computer 896 can be supported by an expansion board 898 (e.g., Pi Hat) that can support the functionality of the light sources 894a and 894b. In some embodiments, a connector 899 can secure an expansion board 898 onto a single board computer 896. Although a camera 890 is specifically shown in FIG. 8, it should be understood that this is provided by way of example only and not limitation. Embodiments can include more or fewer components than those identified in FIG. 8. The size, shape, and / or configuration of particular components may also vary.

[0104] For example, in addition to the camera 890, the sensing module can include and / or be one or more tracking devices configured to generate and / or transmit a signal associated with the relative location of the cultivation device once (or after) the target product has been seeded and deployed on the ocean, estuary, lake, river, and / or any other suitable body of water. The location and / or trajectory of the cultivation device can be transmitted, recorded, and / or stored (e.g., by a controller included in the first member) and further employed by a remote sensing device to determine and / or quantify (directly or indirectly) the target product growth, biological population production, and / or carbon capture. For example, in some cases, the cultivation device can include a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device configured to determine, record, and / or transmit the geographic location of the cultivation device. In other examples, the cultivation device can include a radio frequency identification (RFID) device configured to determine, record, and / or transmit the geographic location and / or trajectory location of the cultivation device. In some examples, the trajectory data can be used to determine, calculate, and / or infer growth of a biological population by comparing ocean surface or sub-ocean conditions (e.g., winds, currents, etc.) with the movement of the biological population below the ocean surface.

[0105] 9-13 show a sensor 980 included in a sensor module that can be used to detect accumulation and / or growth of a target product, according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, the sensor 980 is a chlorophyll fluorometer or similar device configured to detect fluorescence emitted as a result of photosynthesis. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sensor 980 includes and / or is integrated with one or more anti-fouling devices, components, features, etc. As described above with reference to the anti-fouling device 170, the anti-fouling devices, components, features, etc. included in the sensor 980 are static devices (e.g., devices with no moving parts), making it / them suitable for deployment (e.g., long-term deployment), such as in a marine environment.

[0106] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the sensor 980 includes an optical housing 971 and an optical window 972. The optical housing 971 is located behind and coupled to the optical window 972 to form a sealed, waterproof enclosure of the sensor 980. The sealed, waterproof enclosure of the sensor 980 can include, for example, a sealed, waterproof electrical connector (not shown) configured to allow power and / or data to be transmitted between the sensor 980 and the first member 920 (e.g., via a support structure as described in detail above, etc.). In some implementations, the optical window 972, or at least a portion thereof, is made from a transparent material configured to allow light from one or more light sources or fluorescent sources to pass therethrough. In contrast, the optical housing 971 can be made from an opaque or other opaque material configured to block light transmission through the optical housing 971. In some embodiments, the optical housing 971 and / or the optical window 972 can be a marine compatible polymer or plastic formed via any suitable process, such as, for example, 3D printing, injection molding, etc. In some embodiments, such a configuration can allow the sensor 980 to be fabricated using known and relatively inexpensive processes.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 11 , the sensor 980 includes at least a blue light emitting diode (LED) 973, an ultraviolet (UV) LED 974, and a photodiode 975, each of which is disposed within a sealed waterproof enclosure collectively formed by an optical housing 971 and an optical window 972. The blue LED 973 can be a single LED or an array of blue LEDs. In some implementations, the light generated and / or emitted by the blue LED 973 is in the visible spectrum between about 400 nm and 525 nm. The ultraviolet LED 974 can be a single ultraviolet LED or an array of ultraviolet LEDs. In some implementations, the light generated and / or emitted from the ultraviolet LED 974 is in the ultraviolet spectrum between about 250 nm and 280 nm. The photodiode 975 can be a single photodiode or an array of photodiodes. In some implementations, the photodiode 975 can be a charge-coupled device (CCD), an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EM-CCD), and / or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) detector, and / or any other suitable device. In some embodiments, the photodiode 975 and / or a portion of the optical window 972 can include an optical filter or the like that is configured to allow light having a predetermined and / or desired frequency to pass through the optical filter while blocking light having other frequencies. For example, the optical filter can be selected to allow light to be re-emitted by phosphors of the target product in response to light from the blue LED 973.

[0108] In some implementations, the blue LED 973 can be a detection light source configured to emit, for example, a beam of light toward the target product, and / or through the optical window 972 and / or other components or surfaces of the sensor 980. In response, phosphors in the target product can emit fluorescence as part of the photosynthetic energy conversion process, which can be detected by the photodiode 975. In some implementations, a controller circuit (not shown) or the like is connected to the photodiode 975 and used to quantify the intensity of the fluorescent signal, which can be used to evaluate the accumulation of marine microorganisms on the sensor. In other embodiments, the photodiode 975 can be configured to output a signal related to the intensity of the fluorescent signal, which can be transmitted to a controller, processor, or the like included in the first member of the cultivation apparatus, as described in detail above.

[0109] The data output by the photodiode 975 can be used, at least in part, to quantify and / or estimate the accumulated biomass of the target product coupled to the cultivation apparatus, the amount of biomass eroded from the cultivation apparatus (e.g., allowed to naturally separate and settle), and / or changes in the biomass (e.g., changes in the rate of accumulation of the biomass). The data output by the photodiode 975 can provide insights that facilitate, for example, an assessment of the relative health of the target product. In some embodiments, the data output by the photodiode 975 can be transmitted to the first member of the cultivation apparatus via a support structure, as described in detail above. In some examples, the data output by the photodiode 975 can be analyzed manually (e.g., manual annotation by a user) or via one or more automated processes, algorithms, computer vision processes, machine learning models, etc., to determine the mass of the target product, the growth rate of the target product, and / or the amount of CO2 effectively captured by the target product's biomass accumulated on or by the cultivation apparatus.

[0110] In some implementations, the ultraviolet LED 974 may be a UV light source configured to emit a beam of ultraviolet light, for example, onto and / or through the optical window 972 and / or other components or surfaces of the sensor 980. In some cases, the UV light may be used to remove at least a portion of marine microorganisms that have accumulated on the optical window 972 due to the microorganisms' low resistance to the frequency and / or wavelength of the radiation produced by the ultraviolet LED 974 (e.g., UV light having a frequency between 250 nm and 280 nm). For example, the ultraviolet LED 974 may emit UV light that illuminates at least a portion of the optical window 972, thereby removing biological material, biofilm, slime, and / or other undesirable contaminants from the exterior surface of the optical window 172. Additionally, the UV light may be filtered or blocked by an optical filter so that it does not interfere with the detection of the fluorescence by the photodiode 975 (discussed above). For example, FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the sensor 980 showing that blue light is allowed to pass through the optical window 972. Ultraviolet LEDs 974 also emit light, but the emitted UV light is outside the visible spectrum and therefore is not shown in Figure 13. In this manner, the sensor 980 may be used to detect one or more characteristics associated with the growth and / or accumulation of a target product while limiting and / or substantially preventing fouling and / or contamination of the optical window 972 of the sensor 980 (e.g., without the use of moving parts or other cleaning modalities).

[0111] 14 is a schematic diagram of an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal deployment 1101, according to one embodiment. The deployment 1101 (e.g., similar at least in function to the deployment 101 of FIG. 1D) may be comprised of any number of carbon capture devices 1102A (e.g., functionally and / or structurally similar to the carbon capture devices 102 of FIG. 1A) and any number of sensor buoys 1102B. In some implementations, the ocean-based carbon dioxide removal deployment 1101 may be similar and / or substantially the same as any of those described in the '959 Provisional Application.

[0112] In some embodiments, the number of sensor buoys 1102B in the deployment 1101 may be proportional to the number of carbon capture devices 1102A. For example, one sensor buoy 1102B can be present for a larger number of carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, the deployment 1101 may include a single sensor buoy 1102B for a given subset of carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, the deployment 1101 may include a single sensor buoy 1102B for 10 carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, the deployment 1101 may include a single sensor buoy 1102B for hundreds of carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, the deployment 1101 may include a single sensor buoy 1102B for thousands of carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, the deployment 1101 may include a single sensor buoy 1102B for tens of thousands of carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, a deployment 1101 can include a single sensor buoy 1102B for hundreds of thousands of carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, a deployment 1101 can include a single sensor buoy 1102B for a million carbon capture devices 1102A. In some embodiments, the number of sensor buoys 1102B included in a deployment 1101 can vary based on other factors, such as the expected geographic distribution of the deployment 1101, the expected density of the deployment 1101, expected weather conditions, expected tides or other water (e.g., ocean) conditions.

[0113] The carbon capture device 1102A may be a passive buoy that utilizes a low-energy, low-cost configuration to sequester carbon and move carbon from the fast carbon cycle to the slow carbon cycle. For example, the carbon capture device 1102A may be a substrate or structure onto which the target product is directly or indirectly seeded. The carbon capture device 1102A is configured to support the target product as it accumulates biomass until the individual carbon capture devices 1102A are no longer buoyant and therefore sink, thus moving carbon from the fast carbon cycle to the slow carbon cycle (e.g., through photosynthesis of the target product). The carbon capture device 1102A is configured to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture due to the scale of deployment 1101. In some embodiments, the carbon capture device 1102A does not include a communication device and / or sensor configured to determine the state of the carbon capture device 1102A (e.g., position, speed, target product size, etc.). In some embodiments, the carbon sequestration of the carbon capture device 1102A can be quantified.

[0114] In addition to sequestering carbon captured by the target product, it may be desirable to source, form, and / or generate substrates on which the target product is seeded or otherwise coupled from naturally occurring materials (or from by-products resulting from other processes) to limit carbon emissions associated with the generation. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, naturally occurring materials may directly sequester CO2 in the generation of the substrate, in the conversion and / or transition of the substrate, in the dissolution of the substrate (e.g., via ocean alkalization), and / or in the transport, deposition, and / or burial of the substrate when / when the substrate is removed from the surface of the body of water, the atmosphere, and / or part of the fast carbon cycle within the coupled surface water-atmosphere system. In some implementations, it may be desirable to allow such natural substrates to sink with the target product, thereby reducing carbon emissions otherwise associated with the process of recovering the used substrate. In some cases, the floating characteristics, etc., of the natural substrates used in the cultivation of the marine target product may be controlled, thereby allowing the substrate to be deployed at a first location and, for example, passively transported to a second location, as described in further detail herein. Various embodiments and / or methods relating to the use of such substrates formed from naturally occurring materials can include, for example, any of those described in the '285 Provisional Application.

[0115] In some implementations, carbonaceous or alkaline minerals can be used to facilitate and / or enhance carbon sequestration. For example, some embodiments and / or methods described herein can include forming and / or coating at least a portion of the substrate from and / or with carbonaceous and / or alkaline materials, and / or the substrate includes natural materials such as alkaline minerals and / or liquids for sequestering carbon in the deep ocean and / or for increasing ocean alkalinity, thereby improving its ability to sequester carbon. In some implementations, the substrate and / or coating around at least a portion of the substrate can be configured to degrade and / or dissolve when the substrate is deployed in a body of water, thereby independently capturing and / or sequestering carbon, improving its ability to increase ocean alkalinity and sequester carbon, and / or transitioning the substrate from a first configuration having positive buoyancy to a second configuration having negative buoyancy. The transition of the substrate to the second configuration also causes the substrate to sink, either as an independent carbon sequestration mode or in addition to the target product biological population that accumulated while the substrate was in the first configuration. Various embodiments and / or methods relating to the use of substrates coated with carbonaceous or alkaline minerals or materials can include, for example, any of those described in the '286 Provisional Application.

[0116] In some implementations, the substrates described herein may include, be formed from, and / or use alkaline liquids. For example, low-energy methods may be employed to use globally abundant naturally occurring alkaline fluids, such as those found as surface and subsurface fluids, hydrothermal brines, basin brines, oil field brines, subseafloor fluids, evaporite brines, occurring within alkaline mineral deposits such as metal silicates (e.g., mafic / ultramafic igneous rocks), limestone, magnesia, and evaporite deposits, among other alkaline fluids, to sequester CO2 from the Earth's fast carbon cycle (upper ocean and atmosphere) to its slow carbon cycle (upper deep ocean, marine sediments, rocks, and other underground reservoirs). Such alkaline fluids are naturally high in pH, alkalinity, and divalent cation concentration, and therefore may be ideally suited for large-scale CO2 sequestration via ocean alkalinity enhancement and / or mineralization. Such naturally occurring alkaline fluids can also have high temperatures at the time of extraction, which can be advantageous when used in the manufacture of substrates aggregated with, for example, cementitious and / or polysaccharide hydrogels, by reducing the heat input required to activate and harden these binders. The characteristically high concentration of divalent cations and alkalinity of such alkaline fluids can also accelerate the activation and hardening process of cementitious and / or hydrogel binders used in the manufacture of substrates designed for CO2 sequestration. Various embodiments and / or methods related to the use of alkaline fluids independently and / or in one or more processes for forming substrates can include, for example, any of those described in the '381 Provisional Application.

[0117] Additionally, any of the carbon capture devices 1102A (or their payloads) included in the deployment 1101 (e.g., naturally occurring cellulosic materials, carbonaceous materials, and / or substrates formed using alkaline fluids, with or without being seeded or otherwise supported with a target product) may be deployed to strategic locations in a body of water to sequester atmospheric carbon and / or increase alkalinity in the body of water while being passively transported to the deep ocean. The carbon capture devices 1102A may continue to sequester carbon in the deep ocean and / or reduce ocean acidity, eventually settling to the ocean floor and transitioning the sequestered carbon into the slow carbon cycle. The entire life cycle of any of the described carbon capture devices 1102A, from extraction (e.g., from natural mineral sources or any other source), manufacturing, assembly, transportation, and / or deployment in a body of water, to carbon sequestration and transition of carbon into the slow carbon cycle, occurs with a net negative carbon dioxide footprint, thus resulting in a reduction in overall carbon dioxide carbon footprint.

[0118] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the sensor buoy 1102B is configured to monitor the status of the carbon capture device 1102A in the deployment 110 and / or is configured to collect data related to the carbon capture device 1102A, the deployment 1101, and / or the environment in which the deployment 1101 is deployed.

[0119] In some embodiments, the sensor buoy 1102B may include a first member and a second member, as described above with reference to the cultivation apparatus 102 and / or 202 described above. For example, the first member may be configured to facilitate buoyancy and / or house the electronics. The first member may provide buoyancy, at least temporarily, to various components of the system and at least partially house various components such as a power source, a controller (and / or other electronics). The power source may be configured to provide power to the controller (and / or other electronics) and at least one sensing module (e.g., sensing module 1180) configured to acquire sensor data that may represent one or more characteristics related to biomass accumulation of the target product seeded on or in the second member. The controller and / or other electronics may receive the sensor data and / or any other suitable data related to the system and / or the deployment environment, and may then use the data to determine and / or predict the amount of accumulation of the target product seeded on or in the second member. In some implementations, the accumulation determination and / or prediction can be used to determine, estimate, and / or predict the amount of biomass accumulation for all target products cultivated by the system (e.g., all target products seeded on each passive carbon capture device being deployed). In some embodiments, the first member can be similar in at least form and / or function to the first member 120 of the cultivation device 102.

[0120] The second member may be configured to contain the target product. In some embodiments, the second member is seeded (directly or indirectly) with the target product. The second member may be configured to be seeded with one or more seeds of the target product and provide a structure that allows for the cultivation and / or accumulation of the target product as it matures. The second member may be of any suitable shape, size, and / or configuration. For example, in some embodiments, the shape, size, and / or configuration of the second member may be similar or substantially the same as the shape, size, and / or configuration of the first member or buoy. In other embodiments, the shape, size, and / or configuration of the second member may differ from the shape, size, and / or configuration of the first member or buoy. In some embodiments, the second member may be and / or include one or more seeding lines, etc. In some embodiments, the second member may be similar or substantially the same as any of the second members described in the '315 patent and / or the '681 application. In some embodiments, the second member may be similar in form and / or function to the second member 140 of the cultivation apparatus 102.

[0121] Each sensor buoy 1102B in the deployment 1101 includes a sensing module 1180 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the sensing module 180 of FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, the sensing module 1180 is coupled to the first member. The sensing module 1180 is configured to transmit / receive data to / from the first member and collect data related to the target product or the deployment 1101. In some embodiments, the sensor buoy 1102B includes an imaging device configured to monitor and / or collect data related to the growth of the target product in the second member. In some embodiments, the data collected by the sensing module 1180 may be used to quantify the growth of the target product (e.g., contained or seeded on the second member) similar to any of the quantification methods described in the '681 application. In some embodiments, the sensing module 1180 may also be configured to measure and / or determine the location, speed, movement characteristics, water details (e.g., temperature, mineral content, etc.), air temperature, wind speed, etc.

[0122] In some embodiments, the sensor buoy 1102B includes an anti-fouling device (e.g., functionally and / or structurally similar to the anti-fouling device 170 of FIG. 1A and / or the anti-fouling device included in the sensing module 980 of FIGS. 9-13). In such embodiments, the anti-fouling device may be configured to limit and / or substantially prevent fouling of one or more sensors, imaging devices, and / or other equipment included in the sensing module 1180.

[0123] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the sensor buoy 1102B includes a self-sinking device. The self-sinking device is configured to sink the sensor buoy 1102B upon receiving a signal indicating that self-sinking is desired. For example, the self-sinking device may be remotely activated to reduce the buoyancy of the sensor buoy 1102B and allow water to penetrate at least a portion of the sensor buoy 1102B until the sensor buoy 1102B is no longer buoyant and sinks. The self-sinking device may be integrally formed with the sensor buoy 1102B or may be coupled to at least a portion of the sensor buoy 1102B. One embodiment of the self-sinking device is described in further detail with reference to Figures 20-22C.

[0124] 15 is a diagram of a sensor buoy 1502, according to one embodiment. The sensor buoy 1502 is configured to monitor the growth of a target product within the sensor buoy 1502 and / or to monitor and / or collect data related to the sensor buoy 1502, the deployment, and / or the environment in which the deployment is deployed. As discussed above, the target product can include and / or encompass a wide variety of species, including, but not limited to, microalgae, macroalgae, plankton, marine bacteria, archaeal filter feeders (e.g., oysters or clams), and / or crustaceans. The target product can be grown on the sensor buoy 1502 deployed in a suitable body of water. The sensor buoy 1502 can be of any suitable shape, size, and / or configuration.

[0125] The sensor buoy includes a first member 1520 and a second member 1540. The first member 1520 may be structurally and / or functionally similar to the first member 220 of FIG. 2A. As shown, the first member 1520 includes an upper enclosure 1521, a controller housing 1521a, a frame 1560, and a sensing module 1580.

[0126] The controller housing 1521a is a housing configured to house a controller (e.g., as further described with reference to FIG. 17) that controls certain operations of the sensor buoy 1502. The controller housing 1521a is located above the sensor buoy 1502 and above the water level (e.g., the height at which water reaches the sensor buoy 1502 when floating on the water surface) so that communication components (e.g., GPS, GPS antenna, satellite modem, etc.) can operate and so that sensors (e.g., inertial measurement unit, humidity sensor, etc.) can determine operating conditions of and / or associated with the sensor buoy 1502 as well as ambient atmospheric conditions above the water (e.g., precipitation, temperature, humidity, etc.). In some embodiments, the data determined by the controller may include ocean data and / or satellite data. The oceanographic and / or satellite data may include measurements such as sea surface temperature, air temperature and humidity, water salinity, water color, water spectral reflectance, nutrient content, alkalinity, nitrogen content, water depth, wave size, wave period, tidal information, current direction, current speed, windage, relative position of the sensor buoy 1502, dispersion (e.g., orbit) of the sensor buoy 1502, and / or any other suitable data (e.g., such as those described in the '681 application). In some embodiments, the controller housing 1521a is watertight to prevent the controller and other devices within the controller housing 1521a from contacting water. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the controller housing 1521a allows water to pass through (e.g., permeable, semi-permeable, open, etc.) to allow at least some components of the controller to contact water.

[0127] The controller housing 1521a is fixedly coupled to (e.g., via fasteners, welding, adhesives, etc.) and extends into the upper enclosure 1521. The upper enclosure 1521 is configured to house the components of the sensor buoy 1502. For example, the upper enclosure 1521 can house the controller components and a wiring harness. In some embodiments, the upper enclosure 1521 may define and / or form an interior or open space that provides buoyancy to the sensor buoy 1502. The upper enclosure 1521 may also serve as an attachment point for a power source (e.g., a power source structurally and / or functionally similar to the power source 122 of FIG. 1B), which may include at least one solar cell 1522 (e.g., a solar cell functionally and / or structurally similar to the solar cell 122a of FIG. 1B) (e.g., a solar panel).

[0128] The solar cells 1522 can generate direct current (DC) energy. In some embodiments, the power source can include a collection of solar cells 1522 forming a solar panel. In some embodiments, the solar panel can be disposed above an upper surface of the upper enclosure 1521. Alternatively, at least a portion of the surface of the upper enclosure 1521 can be transparent. For example, at least a portion of the sides of the upper enclosure 1521 can include polycarbonate sheets such as Lexan and / or other transparent plastic sheets. The solar panel can be disposed within the upper enclosure 1521 itself. In some embodiments, one or more solar cells 1522 can be attached to an inner portion of a surface of the upper enclosure 1521 such that the solar cells 1522 are disposed within the upper enclosure 1521. For example, the one or more solar cells 1522 can be attached to an inner surface of the upper enclosure 1521 using a suitable adhesive (e.g., adhesive patch, glue, paste, etc.) such that the solar cells 1522 are positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the housing. The solar cell 1522 may generate or output power in any suitable range. The power source may store energy in an energy storage device (e.g., a battery, an accumulator, etc.). In some embodiments, the energy storage device may be a mechanical energy storage device such as a flywheel configured to store kinetic energy (e.g., rotational energy) that may be released as electrical energy. In some embodiments, the energy storage device may be a battery (e.g., a lithium battery). In some embodiments, the energy storage device may store, generate, and / or output power in any suitable range. In some embodiments, the energy storage device may be located within the upper enclosure 1521 or elsewhere on the sensor buoy 1502.

[0129] The DC energy generated by the solar cell 1522 may be used to power one or more components of the sensor buoy 1502. In such an embodiment, if the solar cell 1522 stops generating energy (e.g., due to lack of sunlight or damage), the energy storage device may act as a backup power source. Alternatively, the energy storage device may store at least a portion or all of the DC energy generated by the solar cell 1522 and may further power the components of the sensor buoy 1502.

[0130] The upper enclosure 1521 is fixedly coupled to the frame 1560. In some embodiments, the upper enclosure 1521 is integrally formed with the frame 1560. The frame 1560 is a structural frame for the sensor buoy 1502 and provides a space in which the sensing module 1580 is stored. In some embodiments, the frame 1560 may be formed from a metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), a composite (e.g., fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.), or another material (e.g., vinyl, plastic, etc.) suitable for use in a marine environment. The frame 1560 may be formed from tubes, rods, plates, and / or any other structure to provide sufficient rigidity to the sensor buoy 1502. The frame 1560 may further include and / or be coupled to ballast, sensors, cameras, batteries, and / or any other suitable components of the sensor buoy 1502.

[0131] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 , the bottom 1560a of the frame 1560 extends opposite the upper enclosure 1521. The bottom 1560a can include a ballast 1562 configured to keep the sensor buoy 1502 partially submerged in water. In some embodiments, the ballast 1562 is heavy enough to keep the target product partially submerged. That is, the ballast 1562 can reduce or limit the buoyancy of the sensor buoy 1502 such that a desired portion of the sensor buoy 1502 is below the water surface while the sensor buoy 1502 floats. In some embodiments, the bottom 1560a can include additional components configured to affect the movement of the sensor buoy 1502. For example, although not shown, the bottom 1560a of the frame 1560 can include a motor, a gyroscope, a positioning fin, etc.

[0132] The second member 1540 may be structurally and / or functionally similar to the second member 240 of Figure 2A. For example, the second member 1540 includes and / or forms a substrate-containing structure 1551 (e.g., a cage, a pen, an enclosure, etc.). The substrate-containing structure 1551, and thus generally the second member 1540, is coupled to a frame 1560 such that a sensing module 1580 can monitor the growth of a target product within the substrate-containing structure 1551.

[0133] In some embodiments, the substrate-containing structure 1551 is fixedly coupled to the frame 1560. In some embodiments, the substrate-containing structure 1551 is integrally formed with the frame 1560. The substrate-containing structure 1551 can be inoculated with and / or configured to receive a target product seed (e.g., macroalgal gametophytes and / or sporophytes). The substrate-containing structure 1551 protects the target product so that the growth of the target product can be monitored. In some embodiments, the substrate-containing structure 1551 can be lined with mesh, netting, etc. to further protect the target product. The substrate-containing structure 1551 can include vertical bars, horizontal bars, diagonal bars, etc. to contain the target product. The substrate-containing structure 1551 is disposed on the frame 1560 and a sensor (e.g., a camera, a humidity sensor, a fluorometer, etc.) can monitor the target product within the substrate-containing structure 1551. Although the sensor buoy 1502 is shown as including two substrate-containing structures 1551, in other embodiments, the sensor buoy 1502 can include fewer than two or more than two substrate-containing structures 1551 (e.g., three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more). The substrate-containing structures 1551 may be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically around the frame 1560.

[0134] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view along plane 16 of the sensor buoy 1502 of FIG. 15. The cross-sectional view shows a first member 1520 including a controller 1526 and a telemetry unit 1524 disposed within an upper enclosure 1521, and a sensing module 1580 disposed within a frame 1560. The controller 1526 extends beyond the controller housing 1521a into the upper enclosure 1521. The sensing module 1580 is disposed within the same horizontal plane as a portion of the substrate-containing structure 1551. The sensing module 1580 (further described with reference to FIGS. 18-19B) includes an imaging device and / or other sensor capable of monitoring the contents of the substrate-containing structure 1551. In some embodiments, the sensing module 1580 may have an imaging device corresponding to each substrate-containing cage 1551 and configured to monitor the contents therein. In some embodiments, the sensing module 180 may include one or more cameras configured to observe the contents within the plurality of substrate-containing structures 1551. The sensing module 1580 is oriented within the first member 1520 such that an imaging device and / or sensor within the sensing module 1580 is able to monitor the target product within the substrate-containing cage 1551. In some embodiments, the substrate-containing cage 1551 includes an opening that allows the sensing module 1580 to monitor the target product. In some embodiments, the sensing module 1580 and the controller 1526 and / or telemetry unit 1524 are interconnected via a wiring harness or the like within the first member 1520. In some embodiments, the sensing module 1580, the controller 1526, and / or the telemetry unit 1524 are connected via a wireless connection (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0135] FIG. 17 is a diagram of the controller 1526 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the controller 126 of FIG. 1B). The controller 1526 shown in FIG. 17 is removed from the sensor buoy 1502 for clarity. The controller 1526 is communicatively coupled to the telemetry unit 1524 (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the telemetry unit 124 of FIG. 1B), the computing device 1524c, and the charging circuit 1522c. The controller 1526 may be communicatively coupled to the imaging device and / or other sensors of the sensing module 1580. The controller 1526 may be coupled to a power source of the sensor buoy 1502 or may include its own on-board power source and / or power generation source.

[0136] The telemetry unit 1524 (or controller 1526) includes a component tray including a positioning antenna 1524a, a satellite modem 1524b, a magnet switch 1528, a humidity sensor 1524d, an inertial measurement unit 1524e, and an additional sensor slot 1524f that allows additional sensors to be attached to the component tray to expand the functionality of the telemetry unit 1524 and / or the controller 1526. The telemetry unit 1524 is coupled to a computing device 1524c and can transmit data and / or information to the computing device 1524c for processing. In some embodiments, the telemetry unit 1524 can provide information and / or data related to the body of water (e.g., ocean), local weather and / or predicted weather, and / or the sensor buoy 1502. In some embodiments, the telemetry unit 1524 can include one or more sensors and / or devices (e.g., modems, antennas, etc.) that receive data and / or sense and collect data related to the ocean. Additionally or alternatively, the telemetry unit 1524 may receive satellite data from one or more satellites (e.g., communication satellites, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, etc.). In some embodiments, the ocean data and / or satellite data may include measurements of sea surface temperature, air temperature and humidity, water salinity, water color, water spectral reflectance, nutrient content, alkalinity, nitrogen content, water depth, wave size, wave period, tidal information, current direction, current speed, windage, relative position of the sensor buoy 1502, dispersion (e.g., orbit) of the sensor buoy 1502, etc. The telemetry unit 1524 may be at least partially structurally and / or functionally similar to the telemetry unit 124 described above with reference to FIG. 1B. Accordingly, certain portions and / or aspects of the telemetry unit 1524 will not be described in further detail herein.

[0137] In some embodiments, the positioning antenna 1524a can receive satellite signals transmitted from one or more communication satellites and GPS radio signals transmitted by GNSS satellites. Similarly, the positioning antenna 1524a can be a dual-band antenna configured to receive both satellite signals and GPS radio signals. In some embodiments, the positioning antenna 1524a can be disposed on an outer surface (e.g., outside) of the controller housing 1521a. Alternatively, the positioning antenna 1524a can be integrated with the controller housing 1521a such that only a portion of the positioning antenna 1524a (e.g., the head of the antenna) is on the outer surface of the controller housing 1521a. More specifically, the positioning antenna 1524a can be integrated with the controller housing 1521a such that one end of the positioning antenna 1524a is disposed within (e.g., inside) the controller housing 1521a. The positioning antenna 1524a can extend from inside the controller housing 1521a through the top surface of the controller housing 1521a such that the opposite end of the positioning antenna 1524a (e.g., the head of the antenna) is disposed on the outer surface of the controller housing 1521a.

[0138] The satellite modem 1524b can convert satellite signals received from the communication satellites into a bit stream. In some embodiments, the satellite modem 1524b can implement a Server Message Block (SMB) protocol to access satellite data from the communication satellites. The satellite modem 1524b can be configured to receive short bursts of satellite data. This can limit the telemetry unit's power usage to short intervals (e.g., during the short bursts of satellite data). The GPS can track the geographic location of the sensor buoy 1502 based on the GPS radio signal.

[0139] The computing device 1524c is disposed on a main board stacked below the component tray of the telemetry unit 1524. In some embodiments, the computing device 1524c and the telemetry unit 1524 are connected via a wired connection. In some embodiments, the computing device 1524c and the telemetry unit 1524 are connected via a wireless connection. The computing device 1524c may be functionally and / or structurally similar to the computing device 124 described with reference to Figures 1B and 1C and therefore will not be described in further detail herein.

[0140] The humidity sensor 1524d can monitor humidity within the controller housing 1521a to determine if there is a leak within the controller housing 1521a. In some embodiments, the humidity sensor 1524d may also be configured to detect humidity conditions outside the controller housing 1521a.

[0141] The inertial measurement unit 1524e may include sensors that measure motion, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, etc. While the positioning antenna 1524a helps determine the global position of the sensor buoy 1502, the inertial measurement unit 1524e may provide information regarding the orientation and motion of the sensor buoy 1502. For example, the inertial measurement unit 1524e may provide information that may be used to determine rotation rate, pitch angle, roll angle, yaw angle, buoyancy, etc. In some embodiments, the measurements of the inertial measurement unit 1524e may be utilized to determine water conditions (e.g., wave height, current speed, wave strength, etc.). In some embodiments, data collected by the inertial measurement unit 1524e may be used in combination with data from the positioning antenna 1524a to determine the position and motion characteristics of the sensor buoy 1502.

[0142] The magnetic switch 1528 is a switch (e.g., a reed switch) that allows the controller 1521 to be powered on without having to open the controller housing 1526a. When the magnetic switch 1528 detects a magnetic field, the magnetic switch 1528 opens or closes a circuit, indicating an operation within the controller 1526. The operation may include powering the controller 1526 on and off and / or affecting the operation of the controller 1526. For example, the operation may include changing a setting within the controller 1526. The controller 1526 may be configured to monitor the magnetic switch 1528 and detect a change in configuration based on the presence of an external magnet.

[0143] Stacked below the computing device 1524c is a charging circuit 1522c. The charging circuit 1522c is configured to facilitate charging from a solar cell (e.g., solar cell 1522) to any of the components of the controller 1526 and / or the power source. The charging circuit 1522c can throttle charging to prevent the power source from overloading. In some embodiments, the controller 1526 can be configured to control the power source. For example, the controller 1526 can be configured to sequence power between the telemetry unit 1524, the sensing module 1580, and the controller 1526 itself. Similarly, the controller 1526 can be configured to control the power source such that the power source provides power to the telemetry unit 1524, the sensing module 1580, and the controller 1526 all at once and / or in a predetermined order with little or no parallelization. This can prevent multiple components from drawing power from the power source at the same time, thereby eliminating and / or reducing power outages. In some embodiments, when there is a power shortage (e.g., the power source is low, there is little or no sunlight, etc.), the controller 1526 may be configured to control the power source 1522c to prioritize the operation of various components. For example, if the controller 1526 is already acquiring sensor data, then should a power shortage occur, the controller 1526 may prioritize its own operation such that the sensor data is analyzed before additional sensor data is acquired.

[0144] FIG. 18 is a diagram of the sensing module 1580 of the sensor buoy 1502. The components of the sensing module 1580 are configured to monitor the growth and development of the target product. The sensing module 1580 includes a waterproof enclosure 1581, a power source 1522b, and an imaging system 1590. In some embodiments, the sensing module 1580 may include additional components and / or sensors configured to monitor the growth and development of the target product and / or one or more environmental conditions, as described above. The waterproof enclosure 1581 is a container that prevents water from entering the sensing module 1580 and potentially damaging the components inside. The waterproof enclosure 1581 may include a bottom and a top that may be selectively coupled to access the components within the sensing module 1580. The bottom and top form a seal when they are coupled to prevent water from entering the sensing module 1580. In some embodiments, the waterproof enclosure 1581 may include an opening that allows power wiring and / or communication wiring to pass through. In some embodiments, the openings may include features configured for watertight wiring. In some embodiments, the shape of the waterproof enclosure 1581 corresponds to the number and desired locations of the cameras.

[0145] The power source 1522b (e.g., structurally and / or functionally similar to the power unit 122 of FIG. 1B ) may be a primary power source for the sensor buoy 1502 or a dedicated power source for the imaging system 1590. The power source 1522b may be a battery, an alternator, or any other device configured to store and distribute power. The power source 1522b may be electrically coupled to the imaging system 1590 and / or other components of the sensor buoy 1502. For example, in some implementations, the power source 1522b may be one or more rechargeable batteries that can receive power from a power source (e.g., a solar panel 1522) of the sensor buoy 1502.

[0146] The imaging systems 1590 are positioned opposite each other on the waterproof housing 1581. In some embodiments, the sensing module 1580 may include more or fewer imaging systems 1590. The imaging systems 1590 may include optical sensors, cameras, fluorometers, and / or any other devices configured to monitor the target product.

[0147] 19A and 19B show at least a portion of the imaging system 1590 removed from the waterproof enclosure 1581 for clarity. The imaging system 1590 monitors the target product during deployment. The imaging system 1590 includes a housing interface 1591a coupled to an imaging board 1593. An imaging device 1595 is coupled to the imaging board 1593 via an interface 1597. A dome 1591b (not included in FIG. 19A) covers the imaging device 1595 and is coupled to the housing interface 1591a. In some embodiments, the imaging device 1595 is a camera, a PAR sensor, a fluorometer, or the like.

[0148] The housing interface 1591a serves as a frame for the imaging system 1590 and couples the imaging system 1590 to the waterproof enclosure 1581. The housing interface 1591a is configured to provide a waterproof seal between the imaging system 1590 and the waterproof enclosure 1581. In some embodiments, the housing interface 1591a can include additional features that aid in forming a seal with the waterproof enclosure 1581. For example, the housing interface 1591a can include a seal ring, a rubber surface, or the like. In some embodiments, the housing interface 1591a can be permanently sealed (e.g., welded, glued, or the like) to the waterproof enclosure 1581. The dome 1591b is a light-transmitting dome that protects the imaging device 1595 without affecting the functionality of the imaging device 1595. The dome 1591b can be sealed (e.g., so that water cannot enter) to the housing interface 1591a or can be integrally formed with the housing interface 1591a.

[0149] The imaging board 1593 is coupled to the housing interface 1519a. The imaging board 1593 provides circuitry for the functions of the imaging device 1595. The imaging board 1593 may include at least one processor and at least one memory configured to at least operate the imaging device 1595. In addition, the imaging board 1593 may include an interface port that communicatively couples the imaging device 1595, the interface 1597, and / or other components of the sensor buoy 1502. For example, the imaging board 1593 can be communicatively coupled to the controller 1526. The imaging board 1593 may be configured to receive (and / or process) images captured by the imaging device 1595, or may transmit the captured images to another location (e.g., the controller 1526) for processing. The imaging board 1593 is coupled to a power source 1522b that provides power for operation of the imaging board 1593. In some embodiments, the imaging board 1593 distributes power to the imaging device 1595.

[0150] The imaging device 1595 is coupled to the imaging board 1593 via an interface 1597. In some embodiments, the interface 1597 may be a mechanical interface board (e.g., a mounting plate, etc.) to provide an attachment point for the imaging device 1595. In some embodiments, the interface 1597 may be an electronic interface. For example, the interface 1597 may be configured to directly control the functions of the imaging device 1595. As another example, the interface 1597 may receive captured images from the imaging device 1595 and pre-process (e.g., format) the captured images so that they can be received by the camera board 1597.

[0151] The imaging device 1595 may be any type of imaging device. In some embodiments, the imaging system 1590, 1590 may include a light (e.g., an LED) that may assist in capturing an image. The imaging device 1595 may capture images continuously (e.g., video) or periodically (e.g., still images). In some embodiments, the imaging device 1595 may capture images in the visible light spectrum. In some embodiments, the imaging device 1595 may capture light outside the visible light spectrum, such as ultraviolet light, infrared light, etc. In some embodiments, the imaging system 1590 may include an anti-fouling device or mechanism, such as the anti-fouling device 980 described above with reference to FIGS. 9-13. In such an embodiment, the imaging system 1590 may include two LEDs, one for illumination to facilitate capturing an image (e.g., for a camera, fluorometer, etc.) and one to limit and / or substantially prevent the accumulation of biofilm or other materials that may otherwise foul the dome 1591b or other surfaces of the imaging device 1595.

[0152] Using the controller 1560 and the sensing module 1580, as just described, the sensor buoy 1502 can be included in a deployment of a carbon capture device and can be configured to monitor and / or collect data related to the accumulation of target product biomass. In some implementations, data collected by the sensor buoy 1502 and related to the condition of the sensor buoy 1502 and / or the target product grown on or by the sensor buoy 1502 can be used, for example, as proxy data to infer and / or predict the amount of accumulation of the target product on a passive carbon capture device and / or substrate that does not include sensors and / or instrumentation. In addition, the sensor buoy 1502 can be used to collect environmental data that can be used to determine and / or predict characteristics related to the deployment, for example, as described in the '681 application. Thus, data capture by the sensor buoy 1502 can be used to monitor the condition of one or more portions of the deployment and / or to determine, calculate, and / or predict the amount of biomass accumulated by the entire deployment, and therefore the amount of carbon captured by the deployment.

[0153] 20-22C, a sensor buoy 1602 is shown including a first member 1620, a substrate-containing region 1651, a sensing module 1680, and a sinking device 1630, according to one embodiment. As described above with reference to the deployment 1401 shown in FIG. 14, the sensor buoy 1602 can be included in a deployment of multiple passive carbon capture devices (e.g., unpowered) configured to sink once a certain amount of target product has grown, but the sensor buoy 1602 (e.g., powered) is generally not configured to sink after the target product has grown. For example, the sensor buoy 1602 may include equipment to monitor the growth of the target product. It may be desirable to sink the sensor buoy 1602 only in certain circumstances where it is needed, rather than automatically as with passive carbon capture devices. For example, if the sensor buoy 1602 drifts off course (e.g., into a navigation lane or near a shore), it may be preferable to sink the sensor buoy 1602 to limit and / or prevent damage and / or harm. As another example, the sensor buoy 1602 may accumulate algae and / or crustaceans, which may pose a risk to waters where the accumulated algae and / or crustaceans do not naturally occur. Including a self-sinking device that may enable remote sinking of the sensor buoy 1602 upon demand may mitigate such risks.

[0154] The sensor buoy 1602 (e.g., at least partially structurally and / or functionally similar to the sensor buoy 1502 of FIG. 15) is configured to monitor the growth of a target product. The first member 1620 may be configured to at least temporarily provide a positive buoyancy to the sensor buoy 1602, allowing the sensor buoy 1602 to float on the water surface. The substrate-containing region 1651 may be configured to contain a substrate seeded with the target product. The sensing module 1680 may be configured to monitor the growth of the target product within the substrate-containing region 1651. In this manner, the first member 1620, the substrate-containing region 1651, and the sensing module 1680 may be at least partially structurally and / or functionally similar to the first member 1520, the substrate-containing structure 1551, and / or the sensing module 1580 described above with reference to FIGS. 15-19. The sensor buoy 1602 also includes a power supply unit (e.g., functionally and / or structurally similar to the power supply unit 122 of FIG. 1B) including a solar cell 1622a and a power storage device 122b (e.g., functionally and / or structurally similar to the solar cell 122a and the power storage device 122b of FIG. 1B, respectively). The power supply unit may provide power to the sensor buoy 1602 and / or the scuttling device 1630. In some embodiments, the scuttling device 1630 may include its own on-board power to provide redundancy.

[0155] The scuttling device 1630 is configured to selectively enable the sensor buoy 1602 to be scuttled (e.g., sunk). The scuttling device 1630 can communicate with a shore-based operator via existing satellite communication protocols. In some embodiments, the scuttling device 1630 may include its own on-board communication system. In some embodiments, the scuttling device 1630 may be communicatively coupled to another communication system of the sensor buoy 1602 (e.g., included in a controller of the sensor buoy 1602, etc.). The scuttling device 1630 can be activated (e.g., initiate the sinking of the sensor buoy 1602) when a command is received indicating that scuttling is desired.

[0156] As shown in FIG. 20, the self-settling device 1630 includes a self-settling chamber 1632, a set of connectors 1636 (e.g., arms, tubes, fluid conduits, etc.), and a valve 1638. The self-settling chamber 1632 includes one or more motor assemblies 1634. In some implementations, including two or more motor assemblies 1634 provides redundancy and increases the flooding rate (e.g., the rate at which the self-settling device 1630 fills with water). Each motor assembly 1634 is configured to open a valve in the self-settling device 1630 that allows water to enter the self-settling chamber 1632, which in turn reduces the buoyancy of the sensor buoy 1602 and causes the sensor buoy 1602 to sink when it is no longer positively buoyant. The set of connectors 1636 are coupled between the self-settling chamber 1632 and the first member 1620. More specifically, the connector 1636 can be substantially hollow and / or can otherwise define a flow path fluidly connecting the autosedimentation chamber 1632 to the interior space of the first member 1620. As described in further detail herein, the valve 1638 can be coupled to the first member 1620 and in communication with its interior space. In some embodiments, the valve 1638 can be a one-way valve (e.g., a check valve, etc.) that allows air to flow out of the interior space of the first member 1620 (e.g., in response to the autosedimentation chamber 1632 being flooded). In some embodiments, the autosedimentation chamber 1632 can include additional components for operating the autosedimentation device 1630, such as a power source, a communication system, a controller, etc. In some embodiments, the autosedimentation device 1630 can include a solar panel for powering the operation of the components of the autosedimentation device 1630.

[0157] 21A and 21B are cross-sectional views of the motor assembly 1634 of the autosedimentation device 1630 of FIG. 20. The motor assembly 1634 includes an autosedimentation motor 1634a coupled to a motor shaft 1634b. The motor shaft 1634b couples to a plug 1634c including a seal ring 1634d and a pin 1634e. The autosedimentation motor 1634a may be a DC motor configured to rotate the motor shaft 1634b when activated, which rotates the plug 1634c between a closed position (e.g., as seen in FIG. 21A) in which water cannot enter the autosedimentation chamber 1632 and an open position (e.g., as seen in FIG. 21B) in which water can enter the autosedimentation chamber 1632.

[0158] In some embodiments, the interface between the motor shaft 1634b and the plug 1634c can be a threaded interface. In such embodiments, the pin 1634e prevents the plug 1634c from rotating with the motor shaft 1634b and allows the plug 1634c to translate away from the sealing surface 1634f of the autochthonous chamber 1632 when the motor shaft 1634b is actuated, thus allowing water to enter the autochthonous chamber 1632. For example, when the plug 1634c is in the closed position, the sealing ring 1634d engages and / or contacts the sealing surface 1634f, forming a watertight seal therebetween, as shown in FIG. 21A. When the plug 1634c is translated to the open position, the sealing ring 1634d disengages and / or otherwise does not contact the sealing surface 1634f, thereby allowing water to enter the autochthonous chamber 1632.

[0159] 22A, 22B, and 22C are cross-sectional views of the autosedimentation device 1630 of FIG. 20 in operation (e.g., after actuation). FIG. 22A shows the plug 1634c in an open position after the motor assembly 1634 is activated, allowing water to enter the autosedimentation chamber 1632. In some cases, water can enter the autosedimentation chamber 1632 until it is full. As water enters the autosedimentation chamber 1632, air or other gases are pushed out of the autosedimentation chamber 1632. As seen in FIG. 22B, the valve 1638 coupled to the first member 1620 can be configured to allow air to exit the autosedimentation chamber 1632 as the water displaces the air. More specifically, the inflow of water can cause air (or other gases) to flow into and / or through the connector 1636 and into the interior space of the first member 1620. In some implementations, the inflow of air into the interior space of the first member 1620 increases the internal pressure enough to transition the valve 1638 from a closed state to an open state. Thus, when water is allowed to flow into the autosedimentation chamber 1632, air can flow out of the sensor buoy 1602 through the valve 1638. In some embodiments, the autosedimentation device 1630 can include a motorized system that pushes air out of the valve 1638 to increase the rate at which water flows into the autosedimentation chamber 1632. In some embodiments, the autosedimentation device 1630 can include multiple valves 1638 to provide redundancy and / or improve flow rate. FIG. 22C illustrates the flow of water entering the autosedimentation chamber 1632. As water fills the autosedimentation chamber 1632, air exits the autosedimentation chamber 1632 through the connector 1636 and is exhausted from the sensor buoy 1602 through the valve 1638. In some embodiments, water may continue to rise up the connector 1636 until the sensor buoy 1602 fills with a sufficient amount of water such that the sensor buoy 1602 sinks or otherwise loses positive buoyancy.

[0160] FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating a method 10 of monitoring an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal device and / or accumulation of a target product, according to one embodiment. The method 10 includes releasing 11 a deployment including a passive substrate seeded with a target product and a sensor buoy. In some embodiments, the deployment can be structurally and / or functionally similar to deployment 1101, the passive substrate can be structurally and / or functionally similar to carbon capture device 1102A, and the sensor buoy can be structurally and / or functionally similar to sensor buoys 1102, 1402, 1502, and / or 1602. In some embodiments, the deployment may include any number of passive substrates and sensor buoys. For example, the deployment may include one sensor buoy for every 1, 10, 100, 1,000, or 10,000 passive substrates. In some embodiments, the sensor buoy may also be seeded with a target product or include a containment area for growing a target product. The sensor buoy is configured to monitor various characteristics of the target product and / or the passive substrate. For example, the sensor buoy may monitor the growth and development of the target product. In some embodiments, the sensor buoy may monitor the position, orientation, and other similar movement characteristics throughout the deployment. In some embodiments, the sensor buoy may monitor the characteristics of the body of water (e.g., temperature, flow, mineral content, etc.).

[0161] The method 10 includes, at 12, acquiring sensor data associated with at least one characteristic of the target product from a sensor buoy. The characteristic of the target product may include growth rate, growth amount, nutrient usage, or other characteristics that may be utilized to determine carbon sequestration. In some embodiments, the sensor buoy may provide sensor data that requires processing to determine the characteristic of the target product. For example, computer vision tools may be utilized on the sensor data received from the imaging device to determine the amount of target product growth. In some embodiments, the sensor data may be any suitable data captured and / or acquired by any of the sensing modules described herein.

[0162] The method 10 includes, at 13, allowing the passive substrate and the target product thereon to sink as a result of the passive substrate transitioning from a positive buoyancy state to a negative buoyancy state. After growing a sufficient amount of the target product, the passive substrate becomes negatively buoyant and sinks to the bottom of the body of water. For example, the passive substrate may be configured to be permeated with water for a given time such that the passive substrate and the target product become negatively buoyant, allowing the passive substrate and the target product to sink when the target product has accumulated a desired amount of biomass. As described in detail herein, the sinking of the passive substrate transfers carbon from a fast circulation to a slow circulation. The method 10 includes, at 14, determining, based on the sensor data, an amount of biomass accumulation associated with the target product of the sensor buoy when the passive substrate transitions to a negative buoyancy state. For example, the amount of biomass accumulation may be a direct measurement of the total target product or may be an estimate based on the sensor data, calibration data, and / or any other suitable data. In some embodiments, the sensor buoy may monitor and collect data associated with the sample target product, which is then extrapolated and / or used to infer corresponding measurements for the passive substrate, thus providing an estimate of biomass accumulation in the passive substrate at the transition point to negative buoyancy.

[0163] As described herein, the amount of biomass accumulation corresponds to the amount of carbon sequestration of the passive substrate included in the deployment. Thus, the method 10 includes, at 15, determining a carbon sequestration capacity associated with the target product of the passive substrate based at least in part on the amount of biomass accumulation associated with the target product of the sensor buoy. In some examples, the carbon sequestration capacity of the deployment can be valued and sold, for example, as carbon credits in a carbon credit market.

[0164] In some implementations, the method 10 may optionally include recovering the sensor buoy after sinking the passive substrate. Recovering the sensor buoy allows the sensor buoy to be reused for additional passive substrates and reduces the risk of the sensor buoy damaging property and / or ecosystems as a result of drifting. In other implementations, the method 10 may optionally include scuttling the sensor buoy. Scuttling the sensor buoy may include utilizing a scuttling device as described with reference to FIGS. 20-22B.

[0165] Some embodiments described herein relate to computer storage products that include a non-transitory computer-readable medium (which may also be referred to as a non-transitory processor-readable medium) having instructions or computer code for performing various computer-implemented operations. The computer-readable medium (or processor-readable medium) is non-transitory in the sense that it does not itself include a transitory propagating signal (e.g., a propagating electromagnetic wave that carries information over a transmission medium such as space or a cable). The medium and computer code (which may also be referred to as code) may be designed and constructed for a specific purpose. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical storage media such as compact disks / digital video disks (CD / DVDs), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), and holographic devices, magneto-optical storage media such as optical disks, carrier wave signal processing modules, and hardware devices that are specifically configured to store and execute program code, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), read-only memory (ROM), and random access memory (RAM) devices. Other embodiments described herein relate to computer program products that may include, for example, instructions and / or computer code discussed herein.

[0166] Some embodiments and / or methods described herein may be implemented by software (executed on hardware), hardware, or a combination thereof. Hardware modules may include, for example, general-purpose processors, FPGAs, ASICs, etc. Software modules (executed on hardware) may be expressed in various software languages ​​(e.g., computer code), including C, C++, Java™, Ruby, Visual Basic™, Python™, and / or other object-oriented, procedural, or other programming languages ​​and development tools. Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, microcode or microinstructions, machine instructions such as those generated by a compiler, code used to generate web services, and files containing high-level instructions executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, embodiments may be implemented using imperative programming languages ​​(e.g., C, Fortran, etc.), functional programming languages ​​(Haskell, Erlang, etc.), logic programming languages ​​(e.g., Prolog), object-oriented programming languages ​​(e.g., Java, C++, etc.), or other suitable programming languages ​​and / or development tools, and / or combinations thereof (e.g., Python™). Further examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, control signals, encryption code, and compression code.

[0167] While various embodiments have been specifically shown and described, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Unless expressly stated otherwise, various changes in form and / or detail can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the disclosure and / or without altering its function and / or advantages. Where the schematic diagrams and / or embodiments described above show particular components disposed in particular orientations or positions, the arrangement of the components may be modified.

[0168] Although various embodiments have been described as having certain combinations of features and / or components, other embodiments are possible having any combination of features and / or components from any of the embodiments described herein, except in mutually exclusive combinations. The embodiments described herein may include various combinations and / or subcombinations of the features, components, and / or features of the different embodiments described.

[0169] The particular configuration of the various components may also be varied. For example, the size and particular shape of the various components may differ from the embodiment shown while still providing the functionality described herein. More specifically, the size and shape of the various components may be specifically selected for a desired or intended use. Thus, it should be understood that the size, shape, and / or arrangement of the embodiment and / or its components may be adapted for a given application, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0170] Where the methods and / or events described above indicate that certain events and / or procedures occur in a particular order, the order of the certain events and / or procedures may be modified. Further, certain events and / or procedures may be performed simultaneously in parallel processes where possible, or may be performed sequentially as described above where possible.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for monitoring accumulation of a target product, comprising: a first member having a housing that at least partially contains a power source and a controller; a second member coupled to the first member and configured to be seeded with the target product; a sensing module coupled to the first member; Power from the power source can be transmitted to the sensing module, and sensor data from the sensing module can be transmitted to the controller; the sensing module includes a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member; The apparatus, wherein the sensor is configured to obtain the sensor data relating to at least one characteristic of the target product.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured to provide buoyancy to the apparatus.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a solar panel and a battery.

4. the controller includes a telemetry unit; The telemetry unit includes: a global positioning system for tracking the geographic location of the device; a satellite modem for converting a satellite signal from a communications satellite into a bit stream; 13. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: an antenna for receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) radio signals transmitted by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites and the satellite signals transmitted from the communications satellites.

5. the controller is configured to process the bit streams corresponding to the satellite signals into satellite data and to process the GPS radio signals into the geographic location of the device; The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an amount of growth of the target product based at least in part on the satellite data, the geographic location of the apparatus, and the sensor data.

6. the sensing module including an anti-fouling device coupled to the sensor and configured to inhibit fouling of the sensor; The anti-fouling device includes an optical housing configured to house a light emitting diode (LED) and a photodiode array; The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical housing includes an optical window configured to pass light emitted from the LED.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sensor comprises a fluorometer.

8. the LED is a first LED configured to emit light having a first frequency; the anti-fouling device includes a second LED configured to emit light having a second frequency different from the first frequency; the fluorometer is configured to detect fluorescence associated with the target product in response to the light emitted by the first LED; The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second frequency of light emitted by the second LED is operable to inhibit deposition of biological material on the optical window.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second frequency is in the range of 250 nanometers (nm) to 280 nm.

10. 1. An apparatus for monitoring accumulation of a target product, comprising: A support structure; a first member having a housing coupled to the support structure, the first member including a one-way valve in communication with an interior space of the housing; a second member coupled to the first member and the support structure and configured to be seeded with the target product; a sensing module coupled to the support structure such that a sensor of the sensing module is oriented toward at least a portion of a second member, the sensor configured to obtain sensor data related to at least one characteristic of the target product; a self-sinking device coupled to the support structure, the self-sinking device including a chamber defining an interior space communicating with the interior space of the housing through the support structure, a plug movably coupled to the chamber, and a motor disposed within the interior space of the chamber; Equipped with the motor is configured to move the plug from a closed state, in which the chamber is sealed and the device is capable of maintaining positive buoyancy in a body of water, to an open state, in which the plug allows water to flow into the interior space of the chamber; The one-way valve of the first member is configured to allow the exit of air from the interior space of the housing when water flows into the interior space of the chamber, thereby allowing the device to become negatively buoyant.

11. the second member being a containing chamber at least partially suspended from the first member; The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the target product is seeded within the containing channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of the target product seeded within the containing chamber.

13. the plug includes a seal; the plug is configured such that in the closed state, the seal forms a fluid-tight engagement with a surface of the chamber; The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plug is configured such that in the open state, the seal is separated from the surface of the chamber.

14. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support structure includes at least one hollow tube extending between the housing of the first member and the chamber of the self-sinking device such that the interior space of the chamber communicates with the interior space of the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the motor is remotely actuated.

16. Releasing a deployment of a passive substrate into a portion of a body of water, the passive substrate being seeded with a target product, the deployment including a sensor buoy including a first member configured to at least temporarily maintain a positive buoyancy of the sensor buoy, a second member seeded with the target product, and a sensing module having a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member; acquiring sensor data relating to at least one characteristic of the target product of the second member; allowing the passive substrate and the target product seeded thereon to sink as a result of the passive substrate transitioning from a positively buoyant state to a negatively buoyant state; determining a biomass accumulation amount associated with the target product on the second member when the passive substrate transitions to the negative buoyancy state based on the sensor data; and determining a carbon sequestration capacity of the passive substrate associated with the target product based at least in part on the biomass accumulation associated with the target product of the second component; The method includes:

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising recovering the sensor buoy after allowing the passive substrate to settle.

18. The sensor buoy includes a sinking device; the self-sinking device includes a chamber defining an interior space communicating with an interior space of the first member, a plug movably coupled to the chamber, and a motor disposed within the interior space of the chamber; The method comprises:

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving the plug via the motor from a closed state in which the chamber is sealed and the first member enables the sensor buoy to maintain the positive buoyancy, to an open state in which the plug enables water to flow into the interior space of the chamber.

19. the first member includes a one-way valve in communication with the interior space of the first member; The method comprises: transitioning the one-way valve from a closed state to an open state in response to the flow of water into the interior volume of the chamber; allowing air to flow out of the interior space of the first member while the one-way valve is in the open state until the sensor buoy becomes negatively buoyant; The method of claim 18 , further comprising: allowing the sensor buoy to sink as a result of becoming negatively buoyant.

20. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising remotely actuating the motor to move the plug from the closed state to the open state.

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