Underwater Biodiversity Shield with Segmented Compartments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for promoting underwater biodiversity either focus on animal or vegetal/sessile biodiversity, but not both simultaneously, leading to inadequate protection for juvenile fish from predators and undesired proliferation of vegetal/sessile organisms on cage structures.

Innovation Solution

A device with a shield structure comprising walls made of biocompatible materials like metal or ceramic, featuring internal compartments with openings for animal biodiversity and a surface texture that promotes the proliferation of vegetal and sessile biodiversity, while providing protection from predators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cage structures are used to protect juvenile fish from predators, then animal biodiversity protection is improved, but vegetal and sessile biodiversity cannot proliferate on the walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepredator protection for juvenile fishVSAvoidproliferation of vegetal and sessile biodiversity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple internal compartments separated by partition walls with openings. This segmentation creates distinct zones: some compartments serve as protected shelters for juvenile fish, while other areas (particularly the outer shell surface) are available for vegetal and sessile organism proliferation. The partition walls themselves have openings that allow fish passage while maintaining compartmentalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the device have different functional qualities: the outer shell surface is designed to support vegetal and sessile biodiversity, while the internal compartments provide protected environments for animal biodiversity. The partition walls combine both functions by having openings for fish passage while their surfaces can support sessile organisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If vegetal and sessile biodiversity is allowed to proliferate on device walls, then vegetal biodiversity is improved, but juvenile fish cannot enter or exit the protected volume

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproliferation of vegetal and sessile biodiversityVSAvoidaccessibility of juvenile fish to protected volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the protected volume into multiple compartments through partition walls. These walls contain openings that remain accessible to juvenile fish even when the outer shell surface is covered by vegetal and sessile organisms. The segmentation ensures that proliferation on walls does not block fish access to any compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls provide an additional dimensional surface area for vegetal and sessile organism proliferation, separate from the main outer shell surface. This creates multiple levels and surfaces for biodiversity while maintaining open pathways for fish through the compartment openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If predators are attracted to the device to monitor juvenile fish, then predator detection capability is improved, but the risk to juvenile fish increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepredator detection by predatorsVSAvoidrisk to juvenile fish from predators

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The partition walls with openings act as intermediaries between the juvenile fish and the external environment. These walls allow fish to observe predators from within protected compartments while preventing direct predator access. The openings provide visual information flow in one direction (fish can see predators) while maintaining physical protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls function as flexible barriers that separate protected and unprotected zones. These walls allow for selective interaction: they block physical predator access while permitting visual monitoring, creating a flexible interface that manages the information-risk trade-off.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS20250024820A1Device for the proliferation of underwater biodiversity

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 OCEAN ECOSTRUCTURES SL

AI summary

A device for the proliferation of underwater biodiversity that includes a shield structure having one or more walls configured to define one or more internal compartments at least partially extending along a first direction. One or more of the walls of the shield structure is a metal wall, or a wall made of a biocompatible material, including a plurality of holes. One or more of the internal compartments may include two respective end portions, which are distantly arranged. The device is configured such that at least one of the end portions of the one or more compartments is configured to be at least partially free of the one or more walls of the shield structure, thereby defining at least one opening.