The present invention relates to a system and method for locating fish and other marine animals, and more particularly a system and method for locating fish and other marine animals by means of using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Background of the Invention

Modern fishing vessels mainly use sonar (audio navigation & Spenner/Ranging) to locate schools of fish. The most common type of sonar used is an active type of sonar transmitting a sonic pulse that reads the reflection of the pulse that bounces back from objects below the surface of the sea. The sonar is usually located in one or more areas on the underside of the hull of the vessel.

A problem with this solution is that the range of the sonar is limited to a given area around the vessel itself. When using the current technology a vessel has to travel long distances in order to find schools of fish. In a further development of this technology, it is known to use one or more

Remotely Operated Vehicle(s) ROV's or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(s) UAV with a sonar attached in order to extend the range of the searching area.

By expanding the range of the searching area, it takes less time to find the schools of fish the vessel is searching for. Benefits of using this solution is reduced time used for searching, which again has the benefits of reduced costs and reduced pollution caused by the vessel moving around to locate the right type of fish.

A global fishing system is under development to reduce the time spent on finding fish. This system uses collected information from other fishing vessels with sonars, but also information collected by satellites. This is however an expensive solution and requires the fishing vessels to freely give their collected information to the benefit of other competing vessels. This might not always be to the benefit of the fishing vessel since their competitors gets an unfair advantage of the work and time they have spent in locating the fish.

US 20140345511 A1 and WO 2008029384 A, both describe systems and a methods for launching an unmanned airborne vehicle UAV from a vessel wherein the solution comprises a control center located on the vessel that receives information collected by the UAV. The solutions presented here however are not suited for locating fish since they collect data that is used for e.g. mapping the sea floor or for detecting objects intended for attacking said vessel.

Summary of the I nvention

It is an object of the present invention, as described in the set of claims, to solve the problems mentioned above.

The solution is to extend the range of the search for fish or other marine animals using drones (UAV). The drones can expand the search area many times over and can scan much faster than any normal fishing vessel. This again expands the reach of the fishing vessel as drones collect the data and the vessel catch the fish. The drones (RPAS) can either be remotely controlled by a person on the vessel or via a control center (RPS), or they can be programmed to fly in predetermined patterns.

In order to improve the ability to detect fish, the drones can also be equipped with special cameras such as heat detecting cameras, electromagnetic radiation and detection equipment, sound wave and pulse detector components along with cameras that has full spectrum recording capabilities.

If drones use multiple cameras with different characteristics and methods for detecting fish, the separate input data from these cameras can be combined in a control center for an optimal presentation.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of a fishing vessel launching a drone.

Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of a fishing vessel launching 3 drones working together using different equipment for locating fish.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein a drone is used to verify a detection of a school of fish.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein a drone and an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) work together with a fishing vessel for communication and localization of fish. Detailed description

The drones can be fitted with several types of equipment for detecting fish. Some types of equipment can be used for directly detecting the schools of fish and identifying the type of fish. Other types of equipment can be used for detecting secondary markers. By secondary markers we mean other marine animals that prey on the fish. This can be different types of birds, or whales or even seals and other animals.

The benefit of this method is that under certain circumstances, such as in shallow waters with a depth of ca. 50 meters or below and where the fish is located at the bottom, the results from using equipment like LI DAR or SONAR from an airborne vehicle are often very uncertain and can have misreadings. Under these circumstances it can be beneficial to use other indicators for the presence of fish. If a drone is fitted with a camera it can detect birds catching fish or it can detect whales swimming or seals searching. If the image is also capable of determining not only determine what animal, but also what specie, it is easy to get an idea of what kind of fish is present as different species hunt for different types of fish. If you are able to determine that a particular type of whale is present, one can draw the conclusion that the type of fish that this particular whale hunt for can be found in the area and that it is worth having a closer look.

A normal camera can be used in this process, but thermal cameras, or night vision cameras can be even better suited.

If the water column is deep the drone can use a LI DAR or SONAR to locate the schools of fish. If there are other animals present the drone can scan the area with SONAR or a LI DAR and get an indication of what type of fish, where they are, and even how many they are. In this event the equipment is used as to control other indicators, but the equipment can of course also be used without the presence of other indicators.

In an even further embodiment of the present invention, the drones can be launched from a vessel and used for inspecting and count fish in net pens.

Although the previous embodiments describe the use of the drones from a vessel a person skilled in the art will see that the drones can also be operated from land. ADS (Automatic Dependent Surveillance) can preferably be used in this solution. ADS is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground stations as a replacement for secondary radar as no interrogation signal is needed from the ground. It can also be received by other aircraft to provide situational awareness and allow self separation. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fishing vessel that has launched a UAV to search for activity. The UAV can be controlled via a remote control center operated by a user. Alternatively, the UAV can be used to fly in predetermined patterns within certain areas relative to the fishing vessel.

In a preferred embodiment, the components in the drone can be used to transfer real-time information collected on camera to a control center (RPS) on the fishing vessel.

However, one skilled in the art will also easily see that other equipment can be used to search for schools of fish. Examples of such equipment are LIDAR SONAR, and different types of cameras like night vision and thermal cameras. The information gathered is sent to the control center on board the vessel and interpreted. Preferably this is done in real time. However it can also be done after the drone has come back, if the link between the drone and the control center is too weak.

Using a high-tech 360 degree camera, the intention will be to lock on to secondary markers. By secondary markers, it is meant the activity of seabirds, whales or other aquatic animals known to hunt smaller prey.

Heat-sensitive cameras can be used to check for variations in temperatures that can be related, either directly or indirectly, to marine animal activity. A full- spectrum camera is known to be able to distinguish dead from living biological material.

The drones may also have the ability to release a waterproof component intended to float on the surface to detect possible schools of fish underneath the surface using optical solutions and sound detector equipment.

This floating mechanism may also be picked up. It can be picked up using magnetic or mechanical means. A magnet attached to the underside of the drone will e.g. pick up the floating mechanism after it has finished its search. Alternatively the drone can land on the water, perform its task, and take of again. It is also known drones that can go beneath the surface, come up again and take of.

Used in the present invention, such a camera may be able to indicate where live animals are. Further detection devices may also be used, such as equipment for detecting sound waves or electromagnetic radiation.

An electromagnetic radiation unit can be used to depict the bone of the fish in order to determine which species of fish is discovered. This solution allows for more accurate catch and reduces the bycatch. In another research-related embodiment of this invention, the drone (UAV) may additionally be used for whaling or for estimating the amount and size of different marine animal populations.

The drone (UAV) can also be equipped with GPS equipment so that the drone can orient itself, but also be able to accurately specify the location of the fish. The drone may also have the possibility of releasing a waterproof component intended to float on the surface in order to detect possible schools of fish underneath the surface using optical solutions and sound detector equipment.

Another option may be to have a detection system under the drone (about 2-3 meters) which can be lowered below the surface of the water. The drones fly around and when it wants to investigate if there is fish beneath the surface, it stops and lowers the detection system. The sensor is dipped in the water. Then it investigates for signs of maritime activity. The drones can then fly on with the sensor hanging down in the water. This allows for increased search area.

A system that can be used for detection of marine activity such as LI DAR. LIDAR can provide depth information and is robust against light reflection from the water surface and backsplash in water. With LIDAR, you are therefore be able to image objects that are below the surface of the water.

Another alternative method is polarized imaging. Polarized imagery lets you remove reflected sunlight or other unwanted light sources via polarization. This again helps to perceive things below the water surface.

Another method that is also effective to shorten down the time used for detecting fish is the use of a USV (unmanned surface vehicle) that consists of a floating vessel that can travel over large areas. USV's intention is to carry out the same mission as a flying vessel but here the solution may vary in the form that the USV vessel sends data to the user who wants access to the data obtained by the USV through the same detection system as are described above. Data and information obtained by the unmanned vessel may also receive data from the route, but also in real time.

Here a full-spectrum subsea camera may optionally be mounted on the underside of the USV vessel while the LI DAR system and m ultiple detection systems may be mounted on the upper side of the USV vessel. Components that are assembled in the flying solution are identical, but the solution and procedures for the unmanned surface vessel (USV) are different.

The solution is significantly different since there is a vessel that floats and retrieves data directly from the water surface and also stands out because this solution is not sent from a fishing vessel. It could also be a possible to substitute for missing knowledge from the user who, through this method, only receiving desired data from the "USV" vessel instead of sending up the drones.

The use of this method will create a platform of different sources that at any time can receive real time information about where the best catch area is and general data as needed.

Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of a fishing vessel launching 3 drones working together using different equipment for locating fish. Each of the drones can have different equipment in order to increase the likelihood of getting fish. Alternatively they can all have the same equipment and in that way expand the area that can be searched.

When fish has been found the drones can be used to herd the fish towards the vessel. This is done by landing the drone on the surface of the water, and taking of again. The noise and the vibrations created by the drone is enough to scare the fish away from the drone. Drones can also be used for marking and tracing schools of fish when the vessel needs to return to harbor

It can also be important to know the position, the speed of the school of fish when the vessel is encircling the school with a net. A drone would monitor the school position in real time and indicate to the boat in which direction it has to move in order to meet the school as fast as possible. This is difficult to do with sonar due to the noise from the boats wash and trawling net.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein a drone is used to verify a detection of a school of fish. In this embodiment the drone can be used to confirm or disconfirm findings on the sonar equipment on the vessel. Usually when something is detected just on the boarder of the detecting range of the sonar, it can be hard to establish what the finding is. A drone can then be launched from the vessel. The equipment on the drone can be used to get a better reading of the finding.

Verification of a sonar signal when a school is far away from the boat allow the boat not to lose time on false sonar signal or on small school s of fish. An example of when such a situation can be necessary is when the depth is ranging from 0 to 3000 m and at distance is ranging from 0 to 3000 m. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein a drone and an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) work together with a fishing vessel for communication and the locating of fish. The range of the communication equipment on a drone can sometimes be limited. In order to extend the range a USV can be used for retransmitting received communication from the drone to the vessel. The benefit of this is that the range of the drone can be extended, but also that the USV can have its own detection equipment attached that can be used to detect fish.

Abbreviations

(RPAS) Remotly piloted aerial system (UAV) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

(RPS) Tray System