Aquaculture system

Abstract

To provide an aquaculture system that can control the power supply to various devices and is easy to maintain. [Solution] The aquaculture system 1 comprises a first fish cage 10A, a buoy 40, a first relay device supplied with power from the buoy 40, and a router. The first relay device relays power to equipment used in the first fish cage 10A, which is separate from the buoy 40 and the first relay device. The separate equipment includes a first device separate from the buoy 40 and the first relay device, and a second device separate from the buoy 40, the first relay device, and the first device. The first relay device relays power to both the first device and the second device. The buoy 40 is equipped with a router, and the buoy is further equipped with a power supply device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aquaculture system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, buoys capable of supplying power have been used. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a buoy includes a solar power generator, a wind power generator, etc., to supply power to the power source (battery) of an underwater feeding device.

[0003] Also, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses that an ultrasonic oscillator provided inside a buoy oscillates ultrasonic waves by the electric energy stored in a storage battery inside the buoy.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, as devices to which the buoy supplies power, in Patent Document 1, only an underwater feeding device is assumed, and in Patent Document 2, only an ultrasonic oscillator is assumed.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an aquaculture system that can control the supply of power to various devices and can be easily maintained.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An aquaculture system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a first cage, a buoy, a first relay device supplied with power from the buoy, and a router, wherein the first relay device relays power to equipment used in the first cage, which is separate from the buoy and the first relay device, and the separate equipment includes a first device separate from the buoy and the first relay device, and a second device separate from the buoy, the first relay device, and the first device, wherein the first relay device relays power to both the first device and the second device, the buoy includes the router, and the buoy further includes a power supply device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] This disclosure provides an aquaculture system that can control the power supply to various devices and can be easily maintained. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram (plan view) of the aquaculture system of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram (side view) of the aquaculture system of this embodiment during the floating stage. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram (side view) of the aquaculture system of this embodiment during sinking. [Figure 4] This is a connection diagram showing the electrical connections of the aquaculture system of this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram (plan view) of an aquaculture system equipped with two fish pens. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the aquaculture system 1 relating to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] The aquaculture system 1 is used for cultivating aquatic organisms. In this embodiment, the case in which the aquaculture system 1 is installed in the ocean will be described, but the installation location of the aquaculture system 1 is not limited. The aquaculture system 1 may be installed in a river, a lake, a reservoir, etc.

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 show schematic diagrams (plan view) and (side view) of the aquaculture system 1 of this embodiment, respectively. As shown in Figure 1, the aquaculture system 1 in this embodiment comprises a fish cage 10, equipment 20 (camera) installed in the fish cage 10, a relay device 30 connected to the equipment 20 via a cable 50, and a buoy 40 connected to the relay device 30 via a cable 50. The types of aquatic organisms cultivated in the aquaculture system 1 of this disclosure are not limited.

[0013] The fish tank 10 in this embodiment is a floating and submersible fish tank. Figure 2 shows a side view of the floating fish farm (fish farm 10) when it is floating on the sea surface S (when it is floating). Figure 3 shows a side view of the floating fish farm (fish farm 10) when it is submerged in the sea (when it is sinking). A floating / submersible fish farm refers to a fish farm 10 whose floating and sinking can be controlled by adjusting its buoyancy. However, the fish farm 10 of this disclosure is not limited to a floating / submersible fish farm. The fish farm 10 may, for example, be placed near the sea surface S at all times and maintain the state shown in Figure 2.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the shape of the fish tank 10 in this embodiment is octagonal in plan view. However, the shape of the fish tank 10 in plan view is not limited to an octagon. The shape of the fish tank 10 in plan view may be circular or polygonal (for example, a regular polygon).

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the live fish basket 10 of this embodiment has a peripheral portion 11 and a main body portion 12. The peripheral portion 11 refers to the frame portion that is exposed on the sea when the live fish basket 10 floats. It can be said that the shape of the peripheral portion is the shape of the live fish basket in plan view. The main body portion 12 refers to the portion that houses aquatic organisms, and is formed, for example, by suspending a bag-shaped net on the peripheral portion 11.

[0016] Various devices 20 used for the management of aquatic organisms are installed in the live fish basket 10. Examples of the devices 20 installed in the live fish basket 10 include a camera, a feeding device, a temperature sensor, and the like. The number, type, installation method, etc. of the devices 20 are not limited.

[0017] In this embodiment, two cameras (devices 20), a first camera 21 and a second camera 22, are installed to monitor the situation inside the live fish basket 10. The two cameras are arranged on the central axis of the live fish basket 10 by being suspended with ropes (not shown). For example, the first camera 21 is used for confirming feeding, and the second camera 22 is used for confirming dead fish. Note that the number of cameras is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

[0018] In this embodiment, a relay device 30 is installed on the peripheral portion 11 of the live fish basket 10. FIG. 4 shows a connection diagram of the aquaculture system of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the relay device 30 of this embodiment has a hub 31 and is connected to each of the electronic devices 20 (the first camera 21 and the second camera 22) installed in the live fish basket 10 via a cable 50. The relay device 30 of this embodiment is a device that relays, for example, power and / or information (at least one of power and information) to the devices 20 installed in the live fish basket 10.

[0019] The relay device 30 is not limited to a device that relays power and / or information. For example, the relay device 30 may be a device that is connected to the feeding device provided in the live fish basket 10 and distributes feed to the live fish basket 10.

[0020] Buoys 40 are installed around the fish farm 10, floating on the sea surface S. Buoy 40 has an antenna 41, a housing 42, and a router 42a and a power supply (battery 42b) located inside the housing 42. In this embodiment, buoy 40 is connected to a relay device 30 via a cable 50. More specifically, the router 42a and power supply (battery 42b) of buoy 40 are connected to a hub 31 of the relay device 30 via the cable 50.

[0021] Note that the buoy 40 does not necessarily have an antenna 41 and a router 42a. In this embodiment, the power supply unit mounted on the buoy 40 is a battery 42b (for example, a battery (specifically, a storage battery)). The power supply unit mounted on the buoy 40 is not limited and may have a power generation function such as solar power generation.

[0022] The connection relationships of each element of the aquaculture system 1 will be explained below with reference to Figure 4. In the aquaculture system 1, the router 42a and battery 42b of the buoy 40 are connected to the hub 31 of the relay device 30 via cable 50, and the hub 31 of the relay device 30 is connected to the equipment 20 (first camera 21, second camera 22) installed in the fish tank 10 via cable 50.

[0023] The relay device 30 may be mounted on the buoy 40. If the relay device 30 is mounted on the buoy 40, for example, in the buoy 40, the router 42a is connected to the battery 42b, the battery 42b is connected to the relay device 30, and the relay device 30 is connected to the equipment 20 installed in the fish tank 10 via the cable 50. If the relay device 30 is mounted on the buoy 40, the relay device 30 may be mounted inside the buoy 40, or it may be mounted outside the buoy 40.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, cable 50 is a PoE (Power over Ethernet; registered trademark) cable. A PoE cable is a cable that can transmit power and communicate by supplying power through a LAN cable. Cable 50 may be secured to the periphery 11 of the fish tank 10 and near the relay device 30.

[0025] In this way, the aquaculture system 1, with its components connected, transmits power and information as follows, for example. Power supplied from the battery 42b of buoy 40 is distributed to the equipment 20 (first camera 21, second camera 22) via the relay device 30 and cable 50. The equipment 20, powered by this electricity, acquires information, for example. The information acquired by equipment 20 may be images if equipment 20 is a camera, as in this embodiment, or it may be measured temperature if it is a temperature sensor. The information acquired by equipment 20 is transmitted to buoy 40 via the relay device 30 and cable 50.

[0026] In this embodiment, an antenna 41 is installed on the buoy 40. Therefore, for example, it can receive signals transmitted remotely by an administrator (such as signals that control power supply and operation of the equipment 20), and it can also transmit information acquired by the equipment 20 to a remote terminal.

[0027] When the relay device 30 is installed on the periphery 11 of the fish tank 10, it is preferable that the relay device 30 be installed at the position on the periphery 11 that is closest to the buoy 40, as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, if the shape of the fish tank 10 in plan view is a polygon having sides 11a and corners 11b, it is preferable that the relay device 30 be installed at the corner 11b of the periphery 11 that is closest to the buoy 40. Here, the corners 11b of the periphery 11 refer to the positions corresponding to the corners of the polygon.

[0028] The aquaculture system 1 of this embodiment has one fishpond 10. The number of fishponds 10 is not limited. As shown in Figure 5, there may be two fishponds 10, namely a first fishpond 10A and a second fishpond 10B. The number of fishponds 10 may be two or more. If there are two or more fishponds 10, each fishpond 10 may be provided with a relay device 30. For example, a first relay device 30A may be installed in the first fishpond 10A, and a second relay device 30B may be installed in the second fishpond 10B. The first relay device 30A and the second relay device 30B may be installed, for example, in adjacent corners 11b of each fishpond 10A and 10B. Also, one relay device 30 may relay power and information to multiple fishponds 10. When one relay device 30 relays power and information to multiple fish tanks 10, the relay device 30 may be installed in any of the multiple fish tanks 10, or it may be mounted on a buoy 40.

[0029] If there are two or more fish tanks 10 and each fish tank 10 is equipped with a relay device 30, it is preferable that the relay device 30 be installed at the corner 11b of the peripheral edge 11 that is closest to the buoy 40. If the fish tank 10 is circular in shape, i.e., does not have corners 11b, it is preferable that the relay device 30 be installed at the position closest to the buoy 40.

[0030] As described above, the aquaculture system 1 comprises a first fish cage 10A, a buoy 40, and a first relay device 30A that receives power from the buoy 40. Conventionally, the power supply unit that provides power to the equipment 20 (such as a camera) installed in the fish tank 10 was installed at the upper end of the fish tank 10. However, when the power supply unit is installed at the upper end of the fish tank 10, workers had to move to the fish tank 10, for example, which is located offshore, in order to replace or maintain the power supply unit (such as a battery 42b). Here, replacing the power supply unit refers to the process of replacing the power supply unit with another power supply unit that is fully charged when the power supply unit runs out due to use. Furthermore, if the fish cage 10 is a submersible type, for example, if a power supply is installed on the fish cage 10, it would be necessary to float the fish cage 10 for maintenance of the power supply. As disclosed herein, if power is supplied from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30, the distance the worker has to travel can be shortened compared to, for example, if the worker has to travel to the fish cage 10 installed offshore. Maintenance and replacement of the power supply mounted on the buoy 40 become easier, and power can be supplied to the equipment 20 installed on the fish cage 10 via the relay device 30. Also, even if the fish cage 10 is a submersible type, since the power supply is mounted on the buoy 40 which is always floating on the sea surface S, it is not necessary to float the fish cage 10 for maintenance of the power supply. Therefore, the supply of power to various equipment 20 can be easily controlled according to the usage situation, resulting in an aquaculture system 1 that is easy to maintain.

[0031] Furthermore, the first relay device 30A may be provided in the first fish tank 10A. With this configuration, power can be supplied from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30 on the fish tank 10, and from the relay device 30 to the equipment 20 installed in the fish tank 10. This makes it easier to supply power from the buoy 40 to the electronic equipment 20 installed in the fish tank 10. Therefore, the power supply to various pieces of equipment 20 can be easily controlled according to the usage situation, resulting in an aquaculture system 1 that is easy to maintain. Furthermore, if a walkway is provided around the periphery 11 of the first fish tank 10A, and the first relay device 30A is installed on the walkway of the first fish tank 10A, then workers can perform maintenance on the relay device 30 on the walkway. Therefore, maintenance of the relay device 30 becomes even easier.

[0032] Furthermore, the first relay device 30A may be provided on the peripheral edge 11 of the first fish tank 10A. With this configuration, the distance that workers have to travel to the relay device 30 installed in the fish tank 10 can be minimized. This makes maintenance of the relay device 30 installed in the fish tank 10 easier. Also, compared to, for example, the case where the relay device 30 is installed somewhere other than the periphery 11 of the fish tank 10, the distance from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30 can be shortened, making it easier to supply power from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30. Therefore, the power supply to various devices 20 can be easily controlled according to the usage situation, resulting in an aquaculture system 1 that is easy to maintain.

[0033] The first relay device 30A may be installed in the corner 11b of the first fish tank 10A. With this configuration, if the fish tank 10 has a polygonal shape with sides 11a and corners (corners 11b), the relay device 30 can be installed while avoiding the sides 11a of the fish tank 10, which are easily accessible to ships. This makes it less likely for the relay device 30 to get in the way when workers disembark. Furthermore, for example, when power is supplied from one buoy 40 to multiple fish pens 10 (first fish pen 10A, second fish pen 10B), if we consider the case where power from buoy 40 is supplied to the first relay device 30A of the first fish pen 10A and the second relay device 30B of the second fish pen 10B, then by installing the first relay device 30A in the corner 11b of the first fish pen 10A, and the second relay device 30B in the corner 11b of the second fish pen 10B facing this corner 11b, it becomes possible to shorten the distance from buoy 40 to the first relay device 30A and the distance from buoy 40 to the second relay device 30B. Therefore, the power supply to various devices 20 can be easily controlled according to the usage scenario, and an aquaculture system 1 that is easy to maintain can be created.

[0034] The system further comprises a second fish tank 10B and a second relay device 30B that is supplied with power from a buoy 40, and the second relay device 30B may be installed in the second fish tank 10B. With this configuration, the aquaculture system 1 comprises a first cage 10A and a second cage 10B, with the first cage 10A comprising a first relay device 30A and the second cage 10B comprising a second relay device 30B. By configuring the first relay device 30A and the second relay device 30B to be supplied with power from the buoy 40, it becomes easy to replace the power supply device (e.g., battery 42b) of the buoy 40, and it also becomes easy to supply this power to the equipment 20 installed in the first cage 10A and the equipment 20 installed in the second cage 10B. Therefore, it is possible to easily control the supply of power to various equipment 20 depending on the usage scenario.

[0035] The system may further include a cable 50 connecting the buoy 40 and the first relay device 30A. With this configuration, even if the buoy 40 and the relay device 30 are far apart, power from the buoy 40 can be supplied to the relay device 30 more reliably. Therefore, the power supply to various devices 20 can be easily controlled depending on the usage scenario.

[0036] Cable 50 may also be a PoE (registered trademark) cable. With this configuration, by connecting the buoy 40 and the relay device 30 with a PoE (registered trademark) cable, power can be supplied from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30, and communication between the buoy 40 and the relay device 30 can be performed using a single cable 50. Therefore, both supplying power from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30 and communication between the buoy 40 and the relay device 30 can be easily performed. Thus, the power supply to various devices 20 can be easily controlled depending on the usage scenario.

[0037] The cable 50 may be secured to the periphery 11 of the first fish cage 10A and in the vicinity of the first relay device 30A. With this configuration, maintenance of the cable 50 connecting the buoy 40 and the relay device 30 becomes easier, and the tension of the cable 50 acting on the relay device 30 is suppressed. Therefore, an aquaculture system 1 that is easy to maintain can be created.

[0038] The system further includes a first camera 21 installed in the first fish tank 10A, and the first relay device 30A may supply power from the buoy 40 to the first camera 21. With this configuration, power can be supplied from buoy 40 via relay device 30, ensuring a more reliable power supply from buoy 40 to cameras located away from it. Furthermore, image data from the cameras can be reliably transmitted to buoy 40. Therefore, power supply to various devices 20 can be easily controlled according to the usage scenario, and data from the devices 20 (cameras) can be reliably transmitted.

[0039] The system further includes a second camera 22 installed in the first fish tank 10A, and the first relay device 30A may supply power from the buoy 40 to the second camera 22. With this configuration, it becomes possible to supply power from buoy 40 not only to the first camera 21 but also to the second camera 22, and to consolidate the cables 50 that connect each of the multiple cameras (first camera 21, second camera 22) to buoy 40.

[0040] The first fish tank 10A may be a floating fish tank. If the fish cage 10 is a submersible type, and a power supply is installed on the fish cage 10, it would be necessary to float the fish cage 10 for maintenance and replacement of the power supply. As disclosed herein, if power is supplied from the buoy 40 to the relay device 30, for example, workers do not need to travel to the fish cage 10 installed offshore, making maintenance and replacement of the power supply mounted on the buoy 40 easier, and also making it easier to supply power to the equipment 20 installed on the fish cage 10 via the relay device 30. Furthermore, even if the fish cage 10 is a submersible type, since the power supply is mounted on the buoy 40 which is always floating on the sea surface S, it is not necessary to float the fish cage 10 for maintenance of the power supply. Therefore, the supply of power to various equipment 20 can be easily controlled according to the usage situation, resulting in an aquaculture system 1 that is easy to maintain.

[0041] Buoy 40 may include antenna 41. With this configuration, for example, instructions given on a ship far from the buoy 40 can be received by the buoy 40 via the antenna 41. Furthermore, the buoy 40 can transmit the received instructions to the relay device 30 via, for example, the cable 50, thereby enabling the operation of the equipment 20 installed in the fish farm 10. As a result, the operator can remotely operate the equipment 20 installed in the fish farm 10. Therefore, various pieces of equipment 20 can be easily controlled depending on the usage scenario.

[0042] Although one embodiment of this disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and may include modifications, combinations, deletions, etc., of the configuration that do not depart from the gist of this disclosure.

[0043] For example, the aquaculture system 1 does not have to have a second fish cage 10B and a second relay device 30B. For example, the equipment 20 provided by the aquaculture system 1 may be just one, and it does not have to be a camera. For example, the fish cage 10 does not have to be a submersible fish cage. For example, the buoy 40 does not have to have an antenna 41. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 1. Aquaculture System 10 Fish tanks 10A First Fish Tank 10B Second Fish Tank 11 Peripheral area 11b Corner 20 equipment 21. Camera 1 22. Second camera 30 Relay device 30A First relay unit 30B Second relay unit 31 Hubs 40 Buoy 41 Antenna 50 Cables

Claims

1. The first fish tank, Buoy and, A first relay device that receives power from the buoy, Equipped with a router, The first relay device relays power to equipment used in the first fish farm, which is separate from the buoy and the first relay device. The separate equipment includes a first piece of equipment separate from the buoy and the first relay device, and a second piece of equipment separate from the buoy, the first relay device, and the first piece of equipment. The first relay device relays power to both the first device and the second device. The buoy is equipped with the router, The buoy further comprises a power supply device. Aquaculture system.

2. The first fish tank, Buoy and, The system includes a first relay device to which power is supplied from the buoy, The first relay device is installed on the walkway of the first fish tank, The first relay device is located at sea, Aquaculture system.

3. The first fish tank, Buoy and, A first relay device to which power is supplied by a cable from the buoy, The equipment used in the first fish farm is separate from the buoy and the first relay device, and comprises The first relay device supplies power to the separate device via a cable. The cable is a LAN cable and is installed underwater. Aquaculture system.

4. The first fish tank, A buoy equipped with a power supply, The system includes a first relay device to which power is supplied from the buoy, The first relay device relays power to equipment used in the first fish farm, which is separate from the buoy and the first relay device. The aforementioned separate device is a first device separate from the buoy and the first relay device, The buoy, the first relay device, and a second device separate from the first device, The first relay device relays power to both the first device and the second device. The power supply unit is replaceable. Aquaculture system.

5. The first relay device is installed in the first fish tank, The aquaculture system according to claim 1, 3, or 4.

6. The first relay device is provided on the periphery of the first fish tank, The aquaculture system according to claim 5.

7. The first relay device is installed in the corner of the first fish tank, The aquaculture system according to claim 6.

8. The second fish tank, The device further comprises a second relay device that receives power from the aforementioned buoy, The second relay device is installed in the second fish tank, The aquaculture system according to claim 5.

9. The system further comprises a cable connecting the buoy and the first relay device. The aquaculture system according to claim 1, 2, or 4.

10. The aforementioned cable is a PoE (registered trademark) cable. The aquaculture system according to claim 9.

11. The cable is secured to the periphery of the first fish tank and near the first relay device. The aquaculture system according to claim 9.

12. The system further includes a first camera installed inside the first fish tank, The first relay device supplies power from the buoy to the first camera. The aquaculture system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

13. The system further includes a second camera installed inside the first fish tank, The first relay device supplies power from the buoy to the second camera. The aquaculture system according to claim 12.

14. The first fish tank is a floating fish tank. The aquaculture system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

15. The buoy includes an antenna, The aquaculture system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images