Aquanet: Smart Net Break Detection
An IoT monitoring system that detects breaks and damage in aquaculture nets and mesh structures, before they lead to fish escapes or financial loss.
Challenge
Damage to nets in fish-farming cages is hard to spot, and manual inspections are slow and periodic. Most of the net hangs underwater, below the floating ring, where a break can go unnoticed. An undetected break can let fish escape and cause significant operational and financial losses.
How it works
Copper-wire sensing paths are built into the panel mesh rope of the net. Embedded electronics continuously check the electrical condition of these paths, and an interruption points to a broken wire or a damaged net section. The fault is processed by the firmware and reported to a remote monitoring dashboard, which shows the status of every panel so the crew can plan repairs.
Key features
- Break detection built into the mesh rope itself
- Continuous monitoring during normal farm operations
- Wireless reporting of system status and faults
- Firmware-based fault monitoring to identify abnormal conditions
- Over-the-air firmware updates, with no routine physical access needed
- Flexible communication options and a scalable design for different net configurations
Benefits
- Reduced risk of losses: early warning of net damage helps stop fish escaping through broken sections.
- Efficient maintenance: remote fault reports reduce manual inspections and help teams prioritise repairs.
- Better visibility: continuous data on the condition of every monitored net section.
Applications
- Fish-farming cages and net enclosures
- Aquaculture mesh structures
- Underwater net integrity
- Protected aquatic enclosures
- Other mesh structures needing break detection
Technology
- Copper-wire break sensing
- Panel mesh rope
- Embedded firmware
- Wireless communication
- OTA updates
- Remote monitoring dashboard
