Plan

Ep.4 - Plan.mp4

Plan

Plan is the step of the engineering design process where you choose an idea from the various that were brainstormed in the previous step, and you plan out your design and the specifics of it.

Design Breakdown

The Net

Unlike most fishing nets that are made up from materials such as high density polyethylene and nylon, Bye-Catch is focused on creating a more ecologically friendly way to fish. One of the ways we will do this is by changing the formula of the net itself. Our nets will be made of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), an ecologically friendly and sustainable material. PHA is biodegradable and a renewable resource. It is also an extremely durable material, perfect for underwater use because of its hydrophobic properties.

The Magnets

Magnets are one of the main elements that will deter sharks from our nets. Rather than use regular magnets, we are using a considerably more effective alternative: electromagnets. Unlike normal permanent magnets, electromagnets are temporary. They make use of the magnetic fields that moving electrons create. All moving electrons create a magnetic field. When coiled up, the sum of all the magnetic fields causes the coil to behave as a magnet. This magnetic field is very small though. In order to make this magnetic field stronger, you need to wrap the coil around a solenoid, or a metal rod. The more and tighter the coils are around the solenoid, the stronger the magnetic field will be. As long as the coil is connected to a power source, it will become a magnet. If this power source is cut of though, it will lose its magnetic properties. The reason we are choosing to use electromagnets is because not only are they easier to handle because of their temporary nature, but they can be many times stronger than any permanent magnet. Sharks have a sixth sense that doesn't affect humans. They are able to detect the earths electromagnetic fields. They do this using their ampullae of Lorenzini. these are basically special pores that act as electroreceptors.

The Lights

Along with the magnets, the lights we will incorporate into our net have a large affect on sharks. Sharks are very sensitive and receptive to light. A still and consistant light will catch their attention without introducing the thought of possible prey. On the contrary, most species of fish are attracted to light, especially light hunters who rely on vision to hunt, such as tuna, salmon, and cod. This will, in turn increase fishing productivity and decrease shark bycatch. Specifically, we will be using LED's because of their high efficiency and light them at 800 lumens. To maximize the effect of the lights we have chosen to make them blue. This works because blue is one of the very few colours that sharks can actually see, so they will notice it. It will blend in with the surrounding water enough so that they don't suspect prey, but might sense something unknown. This paired with the other elements of our net will likely lead them to sense danger.

Technical Drawings

The drawings below are the iso/ortho drawings of our design. The diagram on the left depicts what the final product would look like, and the drawing on the rights depicts what our prototype will look like.

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