Distributed Pen Mapping for 3D Fishery Net Shape Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine nets, particularly in fish farms, face challenges in managing their shape and position due to turbulent weather and underwater currents, leading to potential entanglement and damage, which current monitoring systems fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system of sensors embedded at fixed locations within the net, combined with emitters, maps the net's shape and movement by calculating sensor positions using signal transmission times, enabling accurate modeling and collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are embedded at fixed locations within the net to monitor shape and position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The net is divided into multiple segments with sensors embedded at fixed locations along its length. Each sensor monitors the position of its local segment, and the central system reconstructs the overall net shape by combining these segmented measurements. This allows accurate monitoring of net deformation without requiring a single complex monitoring system.
Solution Approach 2:
Emitters are introduced as intermediary devices that transmit reference signals through the water to the sensors. These emitters serve as mediators between the net structure and the monitoring system, enabling precise position measurement by timing signal arrivals without requiring direct physical connections between all components.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors and emitters are distributed throughout the net to model its shape, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into distributed sensor units embedded at regular intervals along the net. Each sensor independently measures its local position, and the central system integrates these measurements to reconstruct the overall net shape. This segmentation provides redundancy and reliability while keeping individual sensor units simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors embedded in the net structure utilize the net's own movement and deformation as the measurement target. The fixed locations of sensors relative to the net structure allow them to automatically track net shape changes without requiring active control or complex processing at each sensor node.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring of net movement is implemented to prevent entanglement, then safety is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emitters transmit reference signals at periodic intervals rather than continuously. Sensors record the arrival times of these periodic signals, and the central system reconstructs net position at each time point. This periodic measurement approach provides real-time monitoring capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical monitoring mechanisms with acoustic/electromagnetic signal transmission and timing measurements. Instead of using mechanical linkages or active mechanical sensors to track net movement, the system uses passive timing of signals passing through water, reducing mechanical complexity and energy consumption.
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
The system provides a 3D model of the net's shape and movement, preventing entanglement and damage by alerting operators or controlling equipment, enhancing safety and productivity in fishery operations.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter transmits a signal to multiple sensors at fixed locations within the net; each sensor determines a timing for the signal
Implementation Method 2
determining, using the timing information for each sensor, a current shape of the semi-rigid structure
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for fishery net management. One of the methods includes transmitting, by an emitter, a signal; receiving, by each of multiple sensors located at different, predetermined positions on a semi-rigid structure, the signal; determining, by each of the multiple sensors, timing information for the signal; determining, using the timing information for each sensor, a current shape of the semi-rigid structure; and controlling an item of equipment based on the current shape of the semi-rigid structure.