Robotics and the Future of Marine Fishing
OVERVIEW
Automation and advanced technology are playing transformative roles in various industries, shaping the future of marine fishing. Robotics is expected to significantly contribute to fisheries' enhanced efficiency, with potential improvements in sustainability. Governments, industry stakeholders, and researchers worldwide are investing significant attention and resources in this field, viewing automation as a viable answer to the industry's most pressing challenges.
THE CURRENT STATE OF MARINE FISHING
The global fishing industry is worth approximately $240 billion US dollars, with marine fishing contributing the majority. However, aquaculture is expected to exceed capture fisheries production by 2030, indicating a significant shift in the sector's structure. Human-based marine fishing is confronted with various challenges, including unsustainable practices, overfishing, and labor-intensive operations. The development and integration of robotics technology are seen as promising solutions to these issues.
THE IMPACT OF ROBOTICS ON MARINE FISHING
The adoption of robotics in marine fishing can drastically enhance the industry's efficiency, safety, and sustainability. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia found that robotic fishing gear could reduce bycatch by up to 90%. Furthermore, automation could also tackle overfishing by providing accurate data and predictive analytics on fish populations and migratory patterns, which, once scaled, could lead to up to 47% reductions in overfishing.
SAFETY AND RELIABILITY IN ROBOTIC FISHING
Robotic operations in marine fisheries present new challenges regarding safety and reliability, essential factors to ensure successful adoption. For instance, autonomous fishing vessels should operate with minimal human intervention while guaranteeing the safety of workers in close proximity. Companies like 3Laws Robotics develop innovative software to address the issue of certification—a significant pain point for robotics companies, working to make this process simpler and more straightforward.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The global fishing industry is valued at around $240 billion.
- Marine fishing faces challenges, including overfishing and unsustainable practices that can be mitigated through robotics and automation.
- Robotic fishing gear has been found to potentially reduce bycatch by 90%.
- Automation in fisheries can provide accurate data and predictive analytics on fish populations, resulting in up to 47% reductions in overfishing.
- Companies like 3Laws Robotics are addressing the challenges of certification and safety for robotics in the fishing industry.
3LAWS ROBOTICS
3Laws Robotics offers innovative software solutions designed to enhance safety and reliability in robotic systems. They address the certification challenge—a major pain point for robotics firms—with their 3Laws Supervisor software, simplifying the process. Offering robust safety features and evidence of system robustness, 3Laws Supervisor potentially facilitates the certification process.
At their core is the Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) technology, developed at Caltech, which offers mathematically provable safety guarantees. The software is versatile and has several use cases, notably:
- Warehouse automation: 3Laws assisted an autonomous forklift client to secure a 40% efficiency gain, achieving a 6-month payback period.
- Human-robot interaction: their software addresses the rising demand for safe and continuous operation of robots in proximity to humans.
- Dynamic environments: 3Laws software's reactive collision avoidance abilities allow robots to navigate effectively in unpredictable surroundings.
With 3Laws Supervisor, operational efficiency is enhanced by reducing unnecessary downtime caused by e-stops or collisions. They offer real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks to enable safe operation at peak capabilities.
Positioning themselves as a next-generation safety solution, 3Laws Robotics offers proactive safety that goes beyond traditional e-stop methods. Their dynamic, predictive safety approach can unlock the full potential of robotics and can be safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.