Multiple sensor fish surrogate interface system for acoustic and hydraulic data collection and analysis

US5995451A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as represented by Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• James G. Evans · Colts Neck Township, US
• Falih H. Ahmad · Cornelius, US
• Richard W. Haskins · Raymond, US
• John M. Nestler · Vicksburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 4, 1996
• Grant date: Nov 30, 1999
• Expiry date: Jan 4, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01H3/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention is a processor based analysis system with appropriate interface that includes multiple fish surrogates that each have a plurality of piezoelectric and triaxial accelerometer sensors for emulating sensory organs of a particular fish. The multiple fish surrogate array is immersed in flowing water intakes of a hydraulic structures such as intakes, intake bypasses, and diversion structures, and natural geological formation such as riffles, shoal areas, and pools. The invention is an interface system for data acquisition analysis and perspective display of acoustic and fluid dynamic data in or near these hydraulic structures and/or natural formations. To accomplish this, multiple sensors in each of the fish-shaped surrogate physical enclosures that form the array are deployed at the same time to describe a fish's aquatic environment at the hydraulic structure location. The gathered data can then be correlated with fish behavior for the purpose of developing methods of diverting fish from such areas of danger of a water intake or to attract them to a water bypass entrance system.