Lost Fishing Gear Tracking Using Tidal Current Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring fishing gear location are costly, prone to false alarms, and lack real-time management capabilities, especially when gear is lost underwater, and do not provide comprehensive environmental data.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising fishing gear with sensors, a fishing vessel terminal, and a management device that calculates tidal current flow speed and direction to estimate the location of lost gear using LoRa-based communication and tidal current data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS modules are used to verify the location of fishing gear, then location verification is easy and accurate, but the cost increases due to expensive GPS modules, and location information cannot be obtained when gear is lost and sinks below the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive GPS modules with inexpensive buoys that can be easily attached to fishing gear. These buoys serve as temporary location markers that can be recovered or replaced, eliminating the need for costly permanent installation of GPS equipment while maintaining effective location monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buoys as intermediary objects between the fishing gear and the monitoring system. The buoys float on the surface and provide location information through visual markers or simple tracking mechanisms, acting as a mediator that enables location verification without requiring direct attachment of expensive GPS modules to the gear itself.
2Ease of manufacture
If buoys are used to indicate the location of fishing gear, then the cost is low, but it is difficult to obtain location information in real time and accurately find the location with the naked eyes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual markers on buoys that change color or display distinctive patterns to indicate the precise location of fishing gear. These visual changes make the buoys easily distinguishable from the surrounding water and other objects, allowing operators to quickly and accurately locate the gear without requiring complex electronic displays or sophisticated tracking equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensors such as water pressure sensor, tension sensor, and accelerometer are installed on buoys to monitor fishing gear, then comprehensive monitoring capability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase due to electronic systems, and false alarms frequently occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential monitoring function from complex electronic sensor systems and implements it through simple mechanical and visual mechanisms. By removing unnecessary electronic components and focusing on basic physical principles (buoyancy, gravity, visual markers), the system achieves effective monitoring at lower cost and with fewer false alarms.
4Reliability
If conventional buoys are used to detect theft and loss of fishing gear, then monitoring is possible, but frequent false alarms occur requiring unnecessary operations, and it is difficult for users to make accurate situation determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the buoy system provides continuous visual or simple signal feedback about the status of fishing gear. This feedback is designed to be unambiguous and easily interpretable, allowing users to quickly determine whether the gear is lost, stolen, or simply out of sight, thereby reducing false alarms and unnecessary operational responses.
Data Source
AI summary
A fishing gear loss management system includes: fishing gear which is provided underwater, and which provides identification information and location information thereof to the outside; a fishing vessel terminal device, which communicates with the fishing gear and provides fishing vessel information; and a fishing gear loss management device, which performs a management function for the fishing gear or fishing vessel within a preset control area, receives fishing gear location information from the fishing gear and the flow speed and direction of tidal currents from the outside, calculates the flow speed and direction information of the fishing gear on the basis of the received fishing gear location information, and estimates whether the fishing gear is lost and the current location of the lost fishing gear on the basis of the calculated flow speed and direction information and the tidal current flow speed and direction information.