Automatic Fish School Area Setting via Echo Signal Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fish school finding devices require manual setting of measurement areas, which is cumbersome and inefficient, especially when the positional relationship between the fishing vessel and the fish school changes over time.

Innovation Solution

A fish school finding device that automatically sets measurement areas using a processor with modules for individual fish detection, number calculation, and area determination based on echo signals, allowing for continuous area detection in both depth and time directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual setting of measurement area is used, then user can control the measurement area, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement area setting accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects fish schools and sets measurement areas without requiring manual user input. The processor analyzes echo signals to identify fish school positions and automatically defines the measurement areas, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of fish schools and pre-sets measurement areas before actual fishing operations begin. By automatically identifying fish school positions and establishing measurement areas in advance, the system prepares the measurement configuration proactively rather than requiring manual setup during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual resetting of measurement area is required, then measurement area can be adjusted, but time efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement area adaptabilityVSAvoidoperation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement areas are dynamically adjusted based on real-time fish school positions detected by the echo signal analysis. As fish schools move or new fish schools are detected, the system automatically updates the measurement areas to match the current positions, maintaining adaptability without requiring manual resetting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors echo signals for fish school positions and uses this feedback to automatically adjust measurement areas. The processor analyzes the echo signals, determines fish school locations, and feeds this information back to update the measurement area settings, creating a closed-loop system that adapts automatically to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of fish school position is performed, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish school position accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing echo signal processing system is extended to perform multiple functions: original fish detection plus automatic measurement area setting. By making the processor multi-functional, the system achieves continuous position monitoring and automatic measurement area adjustment without adding separate dedicated hardware systems, thus maintaining measurement precision while limiting complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 accurate and automatic setting of measurement areas, reducing user intervention and ensuring precise fish species or length measurement, even as the vessel and fish school positions change.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting an ultrasonic wave into water and detect an object like fish school from the echo signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave transmission: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

detect an object like fish school from the echo signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEcho: Echo

Data Source

PatentEP3647818B1Fish school finding device, fish length measuring device, fish school finding method, and fish school finding program
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3647818B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3647818B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3647818B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A fish school finding device capable of efficiency acquiring information is realized since the measurement area is automatically set. The device includes: an individual fish detecting module 41 configured to detect an individual fish from echo information obtained from ultrasonic waves transmitted in a depth direction at predetermined time intervals; an individual fish number calculating module 42 configured to calculate a number of the individual fish for each of a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed sections consisting of the depth direction and a time axis direction; a reference section detecting module 43 configured to detect a reference section based on the number of the individual fish; and a measurement area setting module 44 configured to set a measurement area based on the reference section.