Publication

Abstract : The increasing need for sustainable and efficient aquaculture practices due to rising global seafood consumption and challenges such as labor shortages, environmental degradation, and inefficiencies in manual feeding methods highlights the crucial requirement for an autonomous fish-feeding robot. Service robots are usually designed as a mechatronic design issue focused on implementing essential technological functions, frequently neglecting the significance of intuitive operation and usability. Using the double diamond design framework, this study details the development of a human-centered autonomous fish-feeding robot for fish farming. The goal was to make it more user-friendly and sustainable. The project began the discovery phase to gather insights into aquaculture difficulties and find potential for innovation in fish-feeding procedures. Around 38 small- and medium-sized fish farmers from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha were interviewed to gather their needs for fish farm feeding systems. In the Define phase, the focus shifted to developing a system that optimizes feeding efficiency while considering environmental factors and user requirements. During the development process, the team utilized iterative design and prototyping, incorporating modern technology such as AI for accurate feed distribution and sensors for evaluating water quality and fish health. User comments played a vital role in enhancing the robot’s usability and functionality. The Deliver phase concentrated on deploying the robot in simulation environments using ROS AND GAZEBO for the technical feasibility test, assessing its influence on operational efficiency and waste reduction, and advocating for sustainable aquaculture methods.