Automated Fish Sorting via Optical Imaging and Fluid Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The fish farming industry faces challenges with manual operations leading to low precision in fish counting, biomass measurement, sea lice counting, disease surveillance, and monitoring fish health and growth, resulting in significant economic losses, poor resource utilization, and increased chemical resistance due to broad treatment methods that stress fish and cause mucous layer damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for sorting live fish that involves guiding fish through a recording device for individual identification, analyzing their health and physical development using imaging devices, and directing each fish to specific destinations for tailored treatments, such as sea lice management, vaccination, or growth optimization, utilizing guiding means like water flow, pressure differences, or bait to ensure precise and stress-free sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual operations are used for fish counting, biomass measurement, and health monitoring, then operational simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and monitoring accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated optical system. Cameras capture images of fish, and image processing algorithms automatically count fish, measure their lengths, and estimate biomass. This substitution eliminates manual labor while achieving high measurement precision, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates optical copies (images) of fish to analyze their characteristics. By capturing and processing images instead of direct physical measurement, the system achieves precise measurements of fish length, weight estimation, and health indicators without physical contact or complex mechanical measurement devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broad treatment methods are applied to entire fish populations, then treatment coverage is ensured, but chemical resistance increases and fish stress worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fish population into individual units for separate evaluation and treatment. By counting and measuring each fish individually through image processing, the system can identify and treat only those fish that require intervention, rather than treating the entire population. This segmentation enables customized treatment plans for individual fish, reducing overall chemical use and fish stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different treatment approaches to different fish based on their individual characteristics. By analyzing each fish's size, health indicators, and specific needs through image analysis, the system can prescribe localized treatment strategies tailored to each fish's condition, rather than applying uniform broad-spectrum treatments to the entire population.
3Productivity
If fish are concentrated for treatment or transfer operations, then operational efficiency is improved, but fish stress increases and mucous layer damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical concentration and sorting operations with automated image-based identification and tracking. Fish are monitored individually through cameras as they move naturally through the water, eliminating the need for physical concentration operations that cause stress and mucous layer damage. The system achieves sorting efficiency through digital processing rather than mechanical manipulation.
4Measurement precision
If individual fish monitoring and sorting is implemented, then treatment precision is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses optical copies (digital images) of fish to achieve individual identification and monitoring. By processing images captured by cameras, the system can track each fish's characteristics, size, and health indicators without requiring complex physical tagging or identification devices. This approach achieves high measurement precision while keeping the physical system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sorting and identification systems with automated image processing and pattern recognition algorithms. The system uses software-based individual fish recognition and tracking, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sorting infrastructure while achieving precise individual fish monitoring and sorting capabilities.
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
This system allows for individualized treatment of fish, reducing stress and chemical use, improving health monitoring accuracy, and optimizing resource allocation by sorting fish based on their specific needs, thereby enhancing fish well-being and reducing economic losses.
Implementation Method 1
The system uses image recognition of fish transferred on a conveyor belt
Implementation Method 2
guide fish from a holding area via, i.e., through or past, a recording device
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of sorting live fish comprises guiding fish from a holding area (12, 25) through a recording device (14, 24) and identify features of individual fish characterizing the condition of the fish and individuals. Based on the identified features, a desired action for each individual fish is decided, and each individual fish is subsequently guided to one or more destinations in which the desired action can be performed on the fish. Correspondingly, a system (10) for sorting live fish comprises a holding area (12, 25) for holding live fish, and a device (14) for recording health and physical development of fish in the holding area (12, 25). The device (14) for recording health and physical development comprises a recording area for the recording. A sorting device (14) is arranged in or after the recording area for sorting fish, and is connected to the one or more transfer devices for transferring fish to one or more destinations.