Lobster Trap with Stretch Sensor for Remote Monitoring

Solution Overview

Problem

The seafood industry faces inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for frequent on-site visits to marine animal traps, such as lobster traps, to check for captured animals, especially in inclement weather.

Innovation Solution

A marine animal trap equipped with a stretchable netting and a stretch sensor that generates a signal when an animal enters, coupled with a controller and user device app for remote monitoring, allowing real-time tracking of captured animals without on-site visits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If fishermen make on-site periodic visits to check trap contents, then they can determine the number of captured animals, but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive, especially in inclement weather

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about captured animalsVSAvoidtime for on-site visits

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of on-site visual inspection with an electronic sensor system. The sensor detects when marine animals enter the trap housing through the inlet port and transmits this information wirelessly to a remote device, eliminating the need for fishermen to physically visit the trap location to check contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary between the trap and the fishermen. This sensor automatically detects animal presence and communicates the information remotely, serving as a mediator that transfers information without requiring direct human presence at the trap site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If fishermen make on-site periodic visits to check trap contents, then they can determine the number of captured animals, but operating expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about captured animalsVSAvoidoperating expense

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of on-site visual inspection with an electronic sensor system. The sensor detects when marine animals enter the trap housing through the inlet port and transmits this information wirelessly to a remote device, eliminating the need for fishermen to physically visit the trap location to check contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If inclement weather occurs, then marine animal capture continues, but on-site visits to check traps become inhibited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarine animal captureVSAvoidon-site visits

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of on-site visual inspection with an electronic sensor system. The sensor detects when marine animals enter the trap housing through the inlet port and transmits this information wirelessly to a remote device, eliminating the need for fishermen to physically visit the trap location to check contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The trap system performs self-monitoring through the sensor that automatically detects animal presence and communicates this information remotely. This self-service capability eliminates the need for fishermen to personally visit the trap, allowing the system to operate independently of weather conditions affecting human travel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 remote monitoring of trap contents, reducing time and expense for fishermen by providing real-time data on animal presence and quantity, and facilitating remote operation regardless of weather conditions.

Implementation Method 1

A stretchable netting is coupled to the inlet port such that the marine animal passes through the netting before entering the housing via the inlet port. A stretch detector can be coupled to the netting to register the passage of a marine animal via the netting into the housing. The passage of a marine animal through the netting can result in a stretch of the netting, which is registered by the stretch signal.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11357219B2Trap for capturing marine animals

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 ABEDI MEHDI

AI summary

In one aspect, a trap for capturing a marine animal, e.g., a lobster, is disclosed, which includes a housing having an inlet port for receiving a marine animal, said inlet port being configured to prevent the marine animal from leaving the container, and a sensor coupled to the housing for detecting the presence of the marine animal in the housing. In some embodiments, a stretchable netting is coupled to the inlet port such that the marine animal passes through the netting before entering the housing via the inlet port. A stretch detector can be coupled to the netting to register the passage of a marine animal via the netting into the housing. The passage of a marine animal through the netting can result in a stretch of the netting, which is registered by the stretch signal. The stretch signal indicates the passage of the marine animal into the housing.