US-12616187-B2 - System and method for deterring aquatic animals by remote control of electromagnetic barrier

US12616187B2US 12616187 B2US12616187 B2US 12616187B2US-12616187-B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for deterring aquatic animals. The system includes a plurality of deterrent modules which are spaced apart from, and interconnected with, each other, and which are, in use, positioned/located in a body of liquid at spaced apart positions/locations. The deterrent modules are configured to generate an electro-magnetic field(s) between the spaced apart deterrent modules such that, when the deterrent modules are located in the body of liquid, an electro-magnetic field(s) is generated between the deterrent modules within the body of liquid, to thereby form a non-physical barrier between the deterrent modules within the body of liquid, which deters aquatic animals. The system also includes a management module which is configured to monitor the operation or functioning of each deterrent module by receiving data from each deterrent module. The data received from each deterrent module relates to an operation or functioning of the particular deterrent module.

Inventors

Jacob VENTER
Johannes VAN WYK
Gabriel Jacobs

Assignees

ARMAMENTS CORPORATION OF SOUTH AFRICA SOC LTD

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220614
Priority Date: 20210617

Claims (12)

1 . A system for deterring aquatic animals, the system including: a plurality of deterrent modules which are spaced apart from, and interconnected with, each other, and which are, in use, positioned in a body of water at spaced apart positions, wherein the plurality of deterrent modules each includes an electrode which is configured to generate an electric field so that electric fields are provided between the electrodes of adjacent deterrent modules such that, when the plurality of deterrent modules are located in the body of water, an electro-magnetic field(s) is generated between the plurality of deterrent modules within the body of water, to thereby form a non-physical barrier between the plurality of deterrent modules within the body of water, which deters aquatic animals; and a remote management arrangement which includes: a controller which is configured to send control instructions to each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules, and a monitoring arrangement which is configured to monitor the operation of each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules by receiving data from each deterrent module, wherein the data received from each deterrent module relates to an operation of the particular deterrent module, wherein each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules is configured to send data to the monitoring arrangement, wherein the data relates to an operation of the particular deterrent module, wherein the system further includes: a user interface which is hosted as a web interface on a web server or which is provided via a mobile application, wherein the system is configured to receive a control instruction from a user via the user interface and to relay the control instruction to: one or more of the plurality of deterrent modules, wherein each deterrent module is configured to perform one or more operations if the deterrent model receives a control instruction from the user interface, or the controller which then sends the control instruction to one or more of the plurality of deterrent modules, wherein each deterrent module is configured to perform one or more operations if it receives a control instruction from the controller.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules includes a communication arrangement which is configured to communicate with the remote management arrangement.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the communication arrangement of each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules is configured to communicate wirelessly with the remote management arrangement.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote management arrangement is, in use, connected to a power supply, and wherein the remote management arrangement controller is configured to supply power to one of the plurality of deterrent modules via a cable which connects the remote management arrangement to the said deterrent module, and wherein a power connection extends between the plurality of deterrent modules, in order to also supply power to the other deterrent modules, via the power supplied from the remote management arrangement.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is for deterring sharks.
6 . A method of deterring aquatic animals in a body of water, wherein the method includes: installing a plurality of deterrent modules, which are interconnected with one another, in a body of water at spaced apart positions, wherein the plurality of deterrent modules each includes an electrode which is configured to generate an electric field so that electric fields are provided between the electrodes of adjacent deterrent modules such that an electro-magnetic field(s) is generated between the plurality of deterrent modules within the body of water, to thereby form a non-physical barrier between the plurality of deterrent modules within the body of water, which deters aquatic animals, and a buoyant housing and wherein the electrode of the deterrent module extends downwardly, or is suspended from, the housing; receiving a control instruction(s) via a wireless communication network from a user via a user interface which is hosted as a web interface on a web server or which is provided via a mobile application; relaying the control instruction(s) to one or more of the plurality of deterrent modules; and performing one or more operations, using the one or more deterrent modules, based on the control instruction(s) received by the one or more deterrent modules.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform a self-test on each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules by sending an instruction to each deterrent module to interrupt routine operation and generate an electric field, and then to relay a field measurement back to the controller, whereby each deterrent module is configured to generate and measure an electric field in response to receiving the said instruction and transmit field data on the field measurement back to the controller.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to correlate the received field data to accepted operating thresholds.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the self-test in response to receiving an instruction to self-test from a mobile communication device of a user via the user interface, and after receiving field data from each deterrent module, to communicate a status for each deterrent module back to the user via the user interface on whether each of the deterrent modules are still functional.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to send control instructions to the various deterrent modules of the plurality of deterrent modules such that a sequence in which the deterrent modules generate electric fields are synchronized.
11 . The method of claim 6 , which includes performing a self-test on each deterrent module of the plurality of deterrent modules by sending an instruction via a communication network to each of the deterrent modules to interrupt routine operation and generate an electric field, and then to send a field measurement back via the communication network, and at each deterrent module, generating and measuring an electric field in response to receiving the said instruction and transmitting field data on the field measurement back via the communication network.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of performing the self-test includes sending an instruction from a mobile communication device, via a communication network, to each of the deterrent modules to interrupt routine operation and generate an electric field, and then to send a field measurement back via the communication network.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 filing of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2022/055489, filed Jun. 14, 2022, which claims priority to South African Patent Application No. 2021/04125, filed Jun. 17, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. PRIOR ART U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,643 relates to a method and apparatus for controlling aquatic animals, particularly sharks. Electrodes are immersed in a body of water and an electric field is created between the electrodes by applying electrical pulses thereto. In a preferred form of the invention, the pulses are generated in pulse trains each comprising a plurality of pulses. U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,083 relates to a device for repelling selected aquatic creatures, such as sharks. The device consists of an electromagnetic field generator for generating an electromagnetic field that repels sharks and is supported by a buoyant device. This provides a shark-free region about the device. Multiple devices can be connected together to form an array of repelling devices, thereby extending the shark-free region. U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,980 relates to a method for repelling sharks and the like by creating an electric field containing a zone about an anode and/or cathode electrodes submersed in salt water. A voltage gradient of sufficient magnitude to overstimulate the nervous system of a shark has been found. The electric field is determined by considering the free space solutions of Maxwell's electro-magnetic field equations. The d.c. square wave potential is applied to the electrodes for that period of time wherein electron flow from cathode to anode is continued. The square wave potential is maintained only long enough to allow nerve cell response in a shark. WO1996037099 relates to an apparatus for repelling aquatic creatures such as sharks. The apparatus comprises of a pair of electrodes for immersion in a body of water and charge storage means such as a capacitor charged to a predetermined voltage by a charging circuit from a source of electrical power (e.g. a battery). It also includes a control logic to generate control signals and controllable switch elements, such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCR's), thyristors or the like. The thyristors connect the capacitor selectively to the electrodes in response to the control signals, to discharge the capacitor charge into the water, thereby to create an electrical field between the electrodes. The charging circuit may be a DC to DC converter that provides an output voltage higher than the battery voltage. The thyristors and associated circuitry are set to discharge the capacitor charge into the body of water in a series of pulses. ES2556223 relates to a device and method attractor of sharks. The device comprises an electromagnetic module for the generation of an electromagnetic field by means of the electric excitation of two metallic electrodes in contact with water by means of a generating unit of electric pulses in a frequency range of 1-8 hz. The apparatus also includes an optical module with a light pattern generating unit in a band comprised between 440-560 nanometers wavelength; an acoustic-vibratory module with an acoustic transducer element responsible for generating vibrations in the water; and a frequency generating unit for the emission of acoustic underwater pulses configurable in frequency, amplitude and duration, in a bandwidth between 50 hz-20,000 hz. U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,968 relates to an immaterial fish fence that is based on a combination of low frequency mechanical vibrations and synchronously modulated electric fields, where fish approaching the fence will be given at the same time fear reactions and directional information by mechanical vibrations, and in addition will feel pain due to the electric field. The fish will then turn and swim away. The fence is implemented by means of columns positioned side by side, each comprising a number of low frequency transducers suspended above each other, each column being suspended in a float. Each column also has two electrical conductors to which a high voltage can be delivered. Thus, synchronized fields of both acoustic and electric type can be generated between and around the columns. U.S. Pat. No. 8,925,488 relates to a system and method for a controlled electrified fish barrier that induces a potential field in a body of water with an electric field generator, a control system, and an object detection system. When the anode and cathode of the electric field generator are inserted in a body of water, and the object detection system detects an object, the object detection system electrically signals the control system; and in response the control system electrically adjusts the electric field generator. Other prior art documents which relate to the general field of technology includes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,822,403, 3,683,280, 4,825,810, 5,341,764, 4,750,451, 7,412,944, 8,456,310, 9,820,474 and WO201620