Automating Fishery Health Monitoring

Neousys Technology knows that modern aquaculture is embracing innovative solutions to improve fish welfare and streamline labor-intensive processes. 

One standout technology is Aqua-Tech, an advanced system designed — employing Neousys embedded systems — that automates critical tasks such as delousing, fish counting, and body length measurement.

By reducing stress on farmed fish, Aqua-Tech aims to enhance fish health and welfare while boosting operational efficiency in aquaculture.

Transforming Delousing Practices

Delousing, a vital procedure for removing parasitic lice like sea lice from farmed fish, is crucial for maintaining the health of aquaculture populations and mitigating economic losses. Aqua-Tech technology takes a comprehensive approach to delousing, integrating measurement, tracking, and treatment into a seamless pipeline system.

As fish move through the pipeline, they pass through a series of components, including a weighing and counting system, a delouser, and an ejector that transfers them into a clean pool.

This process ensures that lice infestations are accurately monitored and treated while also assessing the size and health of individual fish. The data collected provides actionable insights into the severity of infestations and the effectiveness of treatments, contributing to sustainable farming practices.

Addressing Challenges

Aqua-Tech not only simplifies delousing but also promotes uniform fish growth, higher production efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. Its chemical-free process ensures that treatments are environmentally friendly while maintaining scalability with additional pipelines capable of processing up to 200 tonnes per hour.

However, the technology presents unique challenges. The high-speed movement of fish through the pipeline requires rapid and precise identification and measurement. To achieve this, a robust computer vision system is essential, equipped with multiple cameras positioned along the pipeline.

Each camera relies on PoE+ and USB connections, demanding a computer system capable of reliably powering nearly 20 cameras simultaneously while ensuring seamless data processing.

Innovative Solutions with Neousys Embedded Systems

To overcome these challenges, Aqua-Tech employs Neousys embedded systems — the Nuvo-9160GC and Nuvo-9000 shown above — for its weighing and counting components. These systems are designed to handle the computational and connectivity demands of the delousing process, delivering reliable performance even under intensive workloads.

The embedded system features a Cassette module that supports both a GPU card and an additional add-on card, creating a thermally isolated space to shield the electronics from interference. This configuration ensures robust GPU processing capabilities, essential for rapid video encoding and analysis.

Powered by Intel® 14th, 13th, or 12th Gen processors with up to 24 cores and 32 threads, the system efficiently handles the high computational loads of the Aqua-Tech solution. For connectivity, the system includes IEEE 802.3at PoE+ PSE standards with a 100W power budget to support connected cameras.

Additional ports are provided through a PCIe-PoE354at add-on card installed within the Cassette module, ensuring ample PoE connections. With up to 8 onboard USB ports, the system can seamlessly support multiple cameras required for accurate fish monitoring.

Advancing Aquaculture Efficiency

By integrating cutting-edge technology into aquaculture operations, Aqua-Tech exemplifies the transformative potential of automation in marine industries. Through its partnership with Neousys embedded systems, Aqua-Tech addresses the complex challenges of high-speed monitoring and treatment, setting a new standard for efficiency, sustainability, and fish welfare in aquaculture.

This innovative approach highlights how technology can enhance environmental stewardship and operational performance, paving the way for a more sustainable future in fisheries management.