Stable and precise data collection over time is crucial for reducing technical and biological risks in submerged production. Aquabyte Hammerhead addresses this challenge with unique self-cleaning technology that ensures continuous and reliable monitoring.
Dirty lenses and sensors can affect the quality of data collected by critical monitoring systems in submerged pens. In the worst case, data collection may come to a complete halt. Hammerhead uses UV light to prevent fouling and algae growth on the camera’s lenses and sensors, ensuring stable data collection over time with minimal maintenance.
– Fouling and algae growth pose major challenges, especially in submerged production, where equipment is installed at a depth of 30 meters and maintenance must be carried out by divers. This is both costly and time-consuming and also involves a certain level of risk for those performing the work, says Ulv Christian Sæther, Customer Success Manager at Aquabyte. He continues:
– With Hammerhead’s self-cleaning technology, we have drastically reduced the need for maintenance, while data quality is maintained throughout the entire production process.
Early warning reduces technical and biological risks
In submerged production, camera-based monitoring is the only way for fish farmers to keep track of their fish. With nearly 200,000 fish in the pen, the system helps reduce both technical and biological risks. It can also detect critical failures in other production equipment.
– We often see that our system functions as an early warning system. One customer discovered through our system that the fish had an increased swim tilt and a higher swim speed than normal. Such behavior can indicate that the fish is struggling to fill its swim bladder and is stressed. It turned out that a technical issue with the air dome was limiting access to air – something that had not been detected through regular routines, explains Ulv.
Fortunately, the problem was detected in time, allowing the company to fix the issue before it affected fish welfare.
– This highlights the importance of having a stable and precise monitoring system that ensures high data quality and reduces risk in submerged pens. The Hammerhead’s self-cleaning technology plays a key role in this, he adds.
Developed in close collaboration with farmers
The Hammerhead camera is the result of a close and long-term collaboration between Aquabyte and its customers. Valuable input from farmers has been crucial in developing a camera that meets the requirements for use in submerged production.
– Self-cleaning camera lenses and sensors, which drastically reduce maintenance needs, have been a high priority for farmers. Equally important has been developing a compact, lightweight, and user-friendly camera that simplifies installation, says Ulv, concluding:
– These requirements, by the way, are not exclusive to submerged production. All our customers demand the same, whether they operate on land or at sea. What they truly need is a user-friendly and reliable system that reduces both technical and biological risks throughout the entire production process.
