Acoustic Ropeless Fishing Gear Location and Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ropeless fishing systems fail to accurately locate, identify, and communicate with submerged fishing gear, and lack the ability for fishermen and regulators to monitor their position and ownership, leading to increased risk of gear loss and conflicts.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a surface subsystem with an acoustic transceiver and transducer unit, and submerged subsystems with an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit, enabling communication, location determination, and controlled flotation to retrieve submerged gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional vertical lines and surface floats are used, then the location and ownership of submerged fishing gear can be identified, but they create a lethal hazard to marine animals through rope entanglements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful vertical lines and surface floats from the system while extracting and preserving their essential functions through alternative means. The acoustic transceiver system replaces the visual identification function of surface floats, and the flotation bag replacement system eliminates the need for vertical lines while maintaining gear recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual identification system (surface floats and vertical lines) with an acoustic communication system. The acoustic transceiver and transponder units enable underwater communication and location identification without requiring surface markers or vertical lines, thus eliminating the hazard to marine animals while preserving information about gear location and ownership.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vertical lines are removed to avoid hazards, then marine animal safety improves, but the ability to locate and retrieve submerged gear is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic intermediary system consisting of transceivers and transponders that mediate between the operator and the submerged gear. The acoustic signals serve as intermediaries to transmit location and identification information from the submerged transponder to the surface transceiver, enabling gear location and retrieval without vertical lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical connection of vertical lines with an acoustic field-based communication system. The acoustic transceiver and transponder units enable wireless underwater communication, replacing the mechanical line-based system while maintaining the ability to locate and retrieve gear.
3Device complexity
If unmarked fixed gear is deployed, then the need for identification markers is eliminated, but the gear is susceptible to being towed through or set over by other fisheries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical identification markers with an acoustic identification system. The transponder units emit acoustic signals that contain gear identification information, allowing other fisheries to detect and avoid the gear through acoustic communication without requiring visible markers or complex physical identification systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and accurate communication with submerged fishing gear, allowing for precise location, identification, and retrieval, reducing gear loss and conflicts.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic transducer unit, the surface subsystem configured to generate and transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into a body of water
Implementation Method 2
to directionally receive acoustic reply signals from one or more submerged subsystems
Implementation Method 3
an enclosed flotation bag... controlling a flow of gas into and out of the enclosed flotation bag to lift the submerged subsystem to the surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for locating submerged items using a ropeless fishing system. A surface subsystem installed on a vessel is configured to generate and omnidirectionally transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into a body of water and to directionally receive acoustic reply signals. A plurality of submerged subsystems, each including an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit, are configured to receive the interrogation signal and transmit reply signals in response. The surface subsystem processes the reply signals to determine relative bearing, slant range, and true bearing, calculate the submerged subsystem locations, and display the locations on a human machine interface. In some embodiments, the submerged subsystems may further include a compressed gas source and an enclosed flotation bag, and the surface subsystem may transmit a subsequent interrogation signal to actuate one or more submerged subsystems to inflate a flotation bag and enable recovery of the subsystem.