Underwater Camera Positioning Beneath Feeders for Aquaculture Observation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing underwater camera systems for aquaculture monitoring are inefficient due to manual control issues, such as operator attention span and environmental factors, leading to inaccurate feeding behavior observation and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

An automated underwater camera system affixed to a line beneath a feeder, utilizing sensors and actuators to maintain optimal positioning and adjust drag and rotation, ensuring accurate feeding behavior observation and efficient feed management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual control is used to operate the underwater camera system, then the operator can adjust the camera positioning, but the quality of monitoring is affected by human factors such as attention span and work schedule

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera positioningVSAvoidmonitoring quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated monitoring where the camera system itself adjusts its positioning and orientation based on sensor data about feed pellet location, eliminating dependence on human operator attention and work schedules while maintaining continuous reliable monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect feed pellet positions and provides feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts camera positioning and orientation to maintain optimal viewing angles, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to changing conditions without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Area of stationary object

If the camera is positioned too far from feeding livestock, then the field of view is broader, but no feeding behavior can be observed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidfeeding behavior observation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system dynamically adjusts its distance and orientation relative to the feed pellets based on real-time sensor data, transitioning between positions to optimize both field of view and observation detail according to feeding behavior detection needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the camera is positioned too close to feeding livestock, then the field of view is narrower, but a single livestock takes up the entire view preventing feeding behavior observation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding behavior detailVSAvoidfield of view

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts camera positioning and orientation based on the spatial distribution of livestock and feed pellets, automatically selecting optimal distances that balance individual animal detail with overall feeding behavior context

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If a winch-based system is used to position the underwater camera, then vertical positioning can be controlled, but the system requires external devices and continuous repositioning which consumes energy and processing resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical positioningVSAvoidrepositioning energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system utilizes the water current that naturally moves the feed pellets as a passive positioning mechanism, allowing the camera to remain in the same general area as the feed pellets without active repositioning, thereby reducing energy and processing resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

5Adaptability or versatility

If the underwater camera system is not affixed to a line beneath the feeder, then the system has more positioning flexibility, but the likelihood of locating feed pellets decreases in substantial current conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidfeed pellet location reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The line affixed to the feeder acts as a stabilizing reference that counteracts the displacing effect of water currents, ensuring the camera system remains in the same general area as the feed pellets despite substantial current conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS12487504B2Underwater camera system controller for aquaculture behavior observation

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 TIDALX AI INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for automated underwater camera system control for aquaculture systems. An underwater camera system includes (i) a line on which the underwater camera system is mounted, the line detachably affixed to a feeder that provides feed for aquatic livestock, (ii) a sensor manager, (iii) one or more sensors that are managed by the sensor manager, (iv) a line navigation controller, and (v) a first actuator for controlling a distance between the feeder and the underwater camera system. The one or more sensors obtain sensor data and the line navigation controller of the underwater camera system determines a distance to position the underwater camera system beneath the feeder to obtain additional sensor data. The line navigation controller transmits a first message to the first actuator to position the underwater camera system at the determined distance beneath the feeder.