UAV Sonar Wire Deployment for Precise Fishhook Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Identifying and efficiently deploying fishing gear, such as fishhooks, in large aquatic areas is challenging due to the difficulty in locating fish concentrations and manually deploying equipment over extensive water bodies.

Innovation Solution

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a housing, motorized arms, a sonar unit, and a positioning system that includes sensors and a processor to automatically adjust and release a fishhook to designated fishing regions, utilizing GPS navigation and real-time feedback for precise deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a UAV is used to cover large fishing areas, then the coverage area increases, but the precision of locating fish concentrations and deploying fishhooks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefishing area coverageVSAvoidfish location detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the large fishing area into multiple zones by dividing it into a grid of latitude and longitude coordinates. The sonar unit systematically scans each zone sequentially, transforming one large area problem into multiple manageable small area detections, thereby maintaining detection precision across extensive coverage areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sonar unit acts as an intermediary between the UAV and the fish concentrations. It emits acoustic signals that reflect off fish schools and returns echolocation data to the processor, enabling indirect but precise detection of fish locations without direct visual observation, thus maintaining precision over large distances and areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If manual deployment of fishhooks is used, then the device complexity is low, but the deployment efficiency and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment system complexityVSAvoidfishhook deployment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service through automated operations: the processor automatically processes sonar data to identify fish concentrations, calculates optimal fishhook deployment coordinates, and controls the releasing mechanism without human intervention. This automation dramatically improves deployment efficiency while the modular design keeps complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical deployment process is replaced with an automated electromechanical system. The processor sends electronic control signals to the releasing mechanism, which uses a solenoid or motor-driven latch to release the fishhook at the precise moment and location, substituting human manual operation with automated control for higher efficiency and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the sonar unit is fixed to the housing, then the device complexity is low, but the positioning precision and adaptability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning system complexityVSAvoidsonar positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sonar unit transitions from a fixed static position to a dynamic adjustable position. The positioning unit with motorized winch allows the sonar to be deployed to various depths and repositioned as needed, enabling adaptive optimization of detection precision for different fishing conditions while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances fishing efficiency by accurately locating fish concentrations and automating the deployment of fishing gear, reducing manual effort and improving the accuracy and speed of hook placement, thereby increasing the chances of successful fishing.

Implementation Method 1

a sonar unit having a wire connected thereto

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSonar: Sonar

Implementation Method 2

a first sensor to sense the force between the wire and the supporting component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce sensing: Force

Data Source

PatentEP3417704B1An unmanned aerial vehicle used in fishing
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 NINGBO PELICAN DRONE CO LTD
  • EP3417704B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3417704B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3417704B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising a housing (1) having a top part and a bottom part, a plurality of arms arranged on the top part, each arm having a motor and an airscrew, a battery unit arranged within the housing (1), a processor arranged within the housing (1), a sonar unit (2) having a wire connected thereto, and a positioning unit (5) detachably mounted within a mounting groove (11) recessed from the bottom part, wherein the positioning unit (5) is connected to the wire and configured to retract or release the wire. An UAV readily configured for fishing can be provided by embodiments of the present disclosure.