1. Introduction
Echofeeding is an intelligent feeding program designed for salmon. Its desinged to improve the consistency of salmon feeding by using real-time data and algorithms to monitor and adjust the feeding, promoting healthier growth and reducing waste.
2. Product Overview
The program consists of:
Planner: Plan your meals.
Execution: Execute your meals.
Discovery: Analyze your feeding. It actually is Marina Pina , but it is outside the Echofeeding UI/program
3. Use
3.1 Planner
3.1.1 Main page
“Planner” is where you can schedule future meals using Echofeeding.
The main page provides an overview of all the cages at the farm. It helps you create a feeding plan for the next day and visualize the estimated schedule on a timeline.
Here you will edit different settings to give Echofeeding a frame and rules to work on.
Changing main page settings
To change the feeding settings for individual cages on the main page:
Unlock the plan
Adjust start/end time by editing ‘'WORKDAY STARTS/WORKDAY ENDS’'*
Select under ‘'KG TO FEED’' by the left corner from the cage you wish to edit.
Add the estimated amount to be fed.
Select over the line assigned to the cage.
Choose the number of meals.
Divide them into percentages.
Select priority on the feeding line if applicable**.
Add an event if needed***.
Click on ‘'RECALCULATE’'
Check to make sure you are happy with the plan created
Click on ‘'APPROVE & EXECUTE’' to lock the plan.
Once the plan is approved, a timer will show you how much time there is before the next meal starts.
*No feeding will happen before or after the selected time.
**Priority in which cage starts feeding first, in the case two or more cages shares a line.
***No feeding will be schedulled during a planned event.
3.1.2 Feeding settings
To change the settings:
Go to "Planner."
Select the gear icon to open the settings.
Adjust the settings for each cage.
Feeding setting details
To change feeding setting details for individual cages you can use the +/- arrows by the setting or click on the desired setting and type using the keyboard.
Minimum intensity: This indicates the minimum rate, in kg/min, at which feed will be dispensed at the cage. The meal will start at the intensity specified here and will adjust based on fish behavior, as determined by sensor feedback or human input.
Maximum intensity: This indicates the maximum rate, in kg/min, at which feed can be dispensed at the cage. The intensity will only be higher if the user takes manual control of the cage by clicking on the override button while feeding.
Min. amount required to feed: This represents the minimum amount of feed, expressed as a percentage (and shown above in kg), that should be delivered to the cage regardless of sensor-detected appetite. This value is based on the planned amount to be fed to the cage as specified on the Planner main page.
Max. amount required to feed: This represents the maximum amount of feed, expressed as a percentage (and shown above in kg), that can be delivered to the cage. This value is based on the planned amount to be fed to the cage as specified on the Planner main page.
Flush Duration: This indicates the amount of time the blower's air is activated before any feed is dispensed into the cage.
Pause feeding with air pressure above: The air pressure (in BAR) threshold at which feeding will stop (high-pressure alarm).
3.1.3 Creating a Plan for the Next Day in Planner
To create a plan for the next day in Planner, ensure you enter all the required data. The program will use this information to automatically calculate the plan.
Refer to the example above for the final steps needed to create and approve the plan. Please note that the plan must be approved before it is set to start the next day.
Main steps:
Choose the Estimated Amount to Feed: Select the estimated amount of feed for each cage.
Select the Number of Meals: Choose how many meals will be fed to each cage.
Divide Meal Percentages: If there is more than one meal, allocate the percentage of feed for each meal.
Set Cage Priority: If the cage shares a line with others, select which cage should have priority for the starting time.
Create Events: Add events if there are planned operations or to avoid feeding during certain hours.
Recalculate Plan: Click on "Recalculate plan" for the Planner to generate a suggested plan.
Approve and Execute: Once satisfied with the plan, click "Approve plan & execute" to save it and have it ready for execution the next day.
3.2 Execution
3.2.1 Main page
"Execution" is where you monitor and adjust meals according to your requirements.
The main page provides an overview of all cages on the farm and basic details about planned meals, such as estimated time and feed quantity.
Meals will automatically start on each cage according to the displayed plan, with intensity adjusted to optimize feeding based on sensor feedback. As a feeder you can provide additional input as needed to refine and guide the meals.
Giving manual input on appetite
Click anywhere over the line from the desired cage to open the control menu > click on ‘'Increased/decreased appetite’'
This action allows you to provide human input on the fish's response, helping to adjust feeding intensity either higher or lower based on their observed behavior.
Execution details
Only feeding cages toggle: Displays only cages that are currently feeding.
Next day date: Click here to open the Planner for the next day.
Cage line: information about what line number the cage is assigned.
Fed today: Displays the total amount of feed, in kilos, dispensed in that cage for all meals combined.
Kg/min: Shows the intensity, in kilos per minute, currently being applied in that cage.
Pressure: Displays the current air pressure in the pipes, measured in BAR.
Feeding profile: Provides an estimation of the planned meal, including start time and maximum length.
Decreased intensity: Displays the previous intensity. Orange arrows indicate that the feeding intensity has dropped.
Increased intensity: Displays the previous intensity. Green arrows indicate that the feeding intensity has increased.
Cage mode: If the cage is not on autonomous mode, there will be an indication showing its current state.
3.2.2 Operation modes
Mode | Function | Integration with the feeding system |
|---|---|---|
Autonomous Mode | Autonomous feeding. Takes input from the user. | Enabled |
Manual mode | Manual feeding in Echofeeding UI. | Enabled |
Service Mode | Pause the feeding for different reasons. | Active integration. Stop command is sent** |
Monitoring | Feeding in a different user interface. | Enabled. Listening mode* |
*EF is not sending any comands to the feeding system in the barge
**Feeding can not start from the feeding system in the barge
Autonomous Mode
Autonomous mode is a the default setting on EF, it allows the feeding system to operate independently using AI and algorithms. This mode utilizes input from hydroacoustic sensors, which provide real-time data on the location and movement of the fish within the cage. Based on this information, the system determines the feeding to the fish behavior and predetermined setting to that cage.
On this mode the feeder can still give input about appetite increase or reduction, affecting the feeding intensity immediatly.
Data Analysis: The system continuously analyzes data from hydroacoustic sensors to identify where the fish are most densely located.
Automated Feeding: Using the analyzed data, the system automatically starts and stops feeding sessions without the need for human intervention.
Optimized Feeding: The AI adjusts feeding intensity and duration to ensure efficient feeding according to the appetite.
Manual mode: Overriding for manual control or stopping a meal immediately
To override a meal:
Click anywhere over the line from the desired cage to open the control menu > turn off ‘'Autonomous feeding is on ’'
After this is done you can continue using EF UI to manually control the feeding and change intensities according to their preferences. This is done if the feeding from EF does not align with the feeder's desired outcomes.
To exit manual mode and go back to autonomous mode:
Click on ‘'AUTONOMOUS FEEDING is off’'
When doing this the feeding will continue running automatically and events can be sent.
To stop a meal:
Click anywhere over the line from the desired cage to open the control menu > click on ‘'override control’' > click and hold over the red stop icon for 3 seconds
This action is taken if you wish to stop the meal. Flushing the pipes will then run for the time the cage is set to have before the blowers stop.
Service Mode
When a cage is set to service mode, the current meal from that cage is paused, allowing you to perform actions such as changing the silo without fully stopping the meal in EF. When switching back the meal will resume on EF.
Turning on service mode:
Click anywhere over the line from the desired cage to open the control menu > click on ‘'Cage Service’' > Click on the toggle to turn on Service Mode
Turning off service mode:
Click anywhere over the line from the desired cage to open the control menu > Click on the toggle to turn off Service Mode
What happens when service mode is activated
During a meal:
VIDEO
If service mode is activated during an ongoing meal, the system will automatically flush the pipes for the predetermined amount of time specific to that cage.
There is a possibility to skip this by clicking on ‘'skip flushing’' in order to save time, if flushing the pipes are not needed.
While in service mode, the current meal will be paused until its scheduled end time. If you do not exit service mode before this time, the meal will end in EF.
When exiting service mode, the pipes will be flushed again for the same predetermined duration.
After exiting service mode, the cage will return to manual mode. You can then switch it back to autonomous mode if desired.
Outside meal time:
If service mode is activated while feeding is not active, the pipe flushing process will not occur.
A scheduled meal on EF will not start if the cage is in service mode.
Important Notes:
When in service mode, EF sends a stop signal to the feeding system on the barge, preventing it from feeding.
To feed using the barge's system, the cage must be switched to monitoring mode.
Disconnect EF
Click anywhere over the line from the desired cage to open the control menu > go to “CAGE SERVICE” > click on “STOP MEAL & DISCONNECT EF”
By changing from autonomous to stop meal and disconnect EF while feeding, the cage continues on the current state and you will need to take control from the feeding system at the barge. When entering this mode no automatic changes will be done by EF and you have full control from your local feeding system. This meal will be considered ended in EF UI.
When activating monitoring mode outside a meal nothing will happen, but you can control lines from the feeding system at the barge if desired.
Note: This should be done as a last resort from the feeder.
4. Troubleshooting
4.1 Common issues
EF pages are not loading. Check if
There is internet at the barge (Martin Munkeby is this needed?)
CageEye server is powered and online
Planner:
I’m not able to approve my plan for tomorrow. Check if:
The settings for ‘'Workday start/end’' are correct and not preventing the meals to be distributed.
All cages that will be fed have at least one meal.
On settings: I can’t increase the minimum intensity for a cage. Check if:
Maximum intensity is above minimum desired intensity.
Minimum intensity is below maximum desired intesity.
Execution:
Feed not coming out. Check if:
The correct silo is assigned to the cage.
There are any blockages on the silo/screw/feeding hose/spreader top.
Power is connected.
The meal did not start. Check if:
The meal is in fact planned to start now.
The line is active/enabled* on the feeding program at the barge
The cage is not on Manual Mode, Service Mode or disconnected on EF UI
The meal is stopping on EF before I want. Check if:
The maximum amount allowed to feed on the Planner was not too low, preventing the meal from continuing.
Timeout: The estimated meal time on Execution reached it’s maximum for that meal.
*DIREKTE mode on Fluctus
4.2 Support
📞 +47 729 09 222