Fish Observation Apparatus Using Optical and Sonar Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fishing technologies fail to effectively avoid catching too young or small fish, leading to reduced fishing results and bycatch, which is both legally and economically undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A fish observation device equipped with at least one first optical sensor and one second sensor, such as sonar, to detect and determine the size and position of fish, using data processing to evaluate and calculate the real size of fish, and potentially control fishing operations based on species and size criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional fishing methods are used, then fishing operations can be conducted without size discrimination, but undersized fish are caught along with marketable fish, reducing overall fishing yield and violating regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and size assessment of fish before the fishing net captures them. The optical sensors and data processing device identify and measure fish in advance, allowing the system to prepare size-based sorting mechanisms or alert operators to avoid capturing undersized fish, thereby preventing bycatch before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors fish size and provides real-time feedback to control fishing operations. The data processing device analyzes optical sensor data to determine fish sizes and feeds this information back to the fishing system, enabling dynamic adjustment of net opening, sorting mechanisms, or harvesting timing to exclude undersized fish while maintaining high yield of marketable fish
2Loss of information
If optical sensors are used to detect fish, then fish can be identified, but the size of fish cannot be directly determined from two-dimensional images without additional position data
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges optical sensors with position detection sensors (such as sonar or depth sensors) into an integrated measurement system. The data processing device combines two-dimensional image data from optical sensors with position information from the additional sensor to calculate three-dimensional fish size, eliminating the need for complex separate measurement systems while recovering complete size information
Solution Approach 2:
The data processing device acts as an intermediary that transforms two-dimensional optical sensor data into three-dimensional size information by incorporating position data from additional sensors. Through computational algorithms, the system mediates between limited optical data and comprehensive size measurement, deriving accurate fish dimensions without requiring direct physical contact or complex sensor arrays
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 device reliably reduces bycatch by accurately identifying and excluding small fish, optimizing fishing outcomes by ensuring only suitable-sized fish are caught, thereby enhancing fishing efficiency and compliance with regulations.
Implementation Method 1
The first optical sensor (12) is designed for optically detecting at least one first fish (15)
Implementation Method 2
the second sensor is a first sonar
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fish observation apparatus, wherein: the fish observation apparatus has at least one first optical sensor (12) and at least one second sensor (20); the first optical sensor (12) is designed for optically detecting at least one first fish; the at least one second sensor (20) is designed for detecting the position of the at least one first fish; the fish observation apparatus has at least one first data processing device; the first data processing device is designed to evaluate the data captured by the at least one first optical sensor (12) and to evaluate the data from the at least one second sensor (20); and the first data processing device determines the size of the fish from the position of the first fish determined by the at least one second sensor (20) and the optical data captured by the at least one first sensor.