Acoustic biomass monitor
First Claim
1. An aquaculture biomass monitor system for use in estimating the size, density and biomass of a plurality of aquatic animals in a seacage, said system comprising:
- (a) an acoustic transducer with associated transceiver, said acoustic transducer with associated transceiver capable of generating at least one acoustic signal within said seacage and receiving a plurality of acoustic echo signals from within said seacage, each of said acoustic echo signals received corresponding to an aquatic animal;
(b) a plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors capable of receiving a plurality of sensor measurements;
(c) a mobile platform, said acoustic transducer with associated transceiver and said plurality of sensors located on said mobile platform; and
(d) a processor, said processor connected to said transceiver and capable of converting said plurality of acoustic echo signals and said plurality of sensor measurements into screen displays and reports.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of monitoring systems, and specifically, to monitoring systems for measuring fish size, fish quantity and total fish biomass in a fish farming operation. The fish are located in a seacage in a body of water. A mobile platform is placed on the surface water above the seacage and is moved in a transect pattern above the seacage. A transducer with associated transceiver attached to the mobile platform generates an echo pattern that is converted by a processor into estimates relating to fish size, fish quantity, and total fish biomass data of the fish located in the seacage.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An aquaculture biomass monitor system for use in estimating the size, density and biomass of a plurality of aquatic animals in a seacage, said system comprising:
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(a) an acoustic transducer with associated transceiver, said acoustic transducer with associated transceiver capable of generating at least one acoustic signal within said seacage and receiving a plurality of acoustic echo signals from within said seacage, each of said acoustic echo signals received corresponding to an aquatic animal;
(b) a plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors capable of receiving a plurality of sensor measurements;
(c) a mobile platform, said acoustic transducer with associated transceiver and said plurality of sensors located on said mobile platform; and
(d) a processor, said processor connected to said transceiver and capable of converting said plurality of acoustic echo signals and said plurality of sensor measurements into screen displays and reports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6)
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4. An instrument control interface by which an aquaculture biomass monitor system can be controlled;
- wherein said instrument control interface provides system control parameters chosen from a group consisting of;
(a) a plurality of acoustic parameters;
(b) at least one transect pattern;
(c) at least one rate of travel; and
(d) at least one editable data field.
- wherein said instrument control interface provides system control parameters chosen from a group consisting of;
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5. A method of estimating size, density and biomass of a plurality of aquatic animals in a seacage, said method comprising:
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(a) locating a mobile platform on surface water of a seacage, said mobile platform including an acoustic transducer with associated transceiver, a plurality of sensors and a processor connected to said transceiver;
(b) generating at least one acoustic signal from said acoustic transducer with associated transceiver;
(c) receiving a plurality of acoustic echo signals and a plurality of sensor measurements; and
(d) converting said plurality of acoustic echo signals and said plurality of sensor measurements into screen displays and reports using said processor.
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Specification