Research status and prospects of Automatic Feeding Boats for Shrimp and Crab Ponds

In China, there is a large expanse of shrimp and crab pond aquaculture, with a high demand for automatic feeding. Implementing automated feeding is crucial for ensuring the output and quality of the cultivated species, as it helps to manage cultivation costs and minimize pollution of the aquaculture water body. This is a critical step in enhancing the efficiency of shrimp and crab pond aquaculture, and is also a vital aspect of the advancement of mechanization and automation in this industry. Given the limited swimming ability of shrimp and crabs, it is essential to evenly distribute feed throughout the pond based on their feeding behaviors. Researchers are increasingly focusing on the development of automatic shrimp and crab pond feeding boats with such functions as precise positioning, automatic navigation, autonomous operation, and uniform feeding capabilities. This paper has conducted a survey on the research and implementation of feeding boats for shrimp and crab ponds by both domestic and international scientific research organizations and businesses. It has subsequently outlined the current research status of automatic feeding boats for shrimp and crab ponds based on three key aspects: the propulsion system of the feeding boats, the bait delivery mechanism, and precise feeding control technology. Firstly, the current propulsion systems used for feeding boats are primarily paddle wheels and propellers, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, suitable for different scenarios. Scholars are conducting structural optimizations to improve speed, efficiency, and maneuverability for both systems. Additionally, in response to the aquaculture environment with dense aquatic plants, some researchers are exploring the use of blowers and integrated screw systems for feeding boats. However, research on these two mechanisms is still in the exploratory phase. Secondly, the feeding mechanism consists of a feeding mechanism and a scattering mechanism. Scholars have designed different mechanisms to achieve the transportation and scattering of feed under various aquaculture conditions. 1) The feeding mechanism mainly includes screw feeding mechanisms, rotary valve feeding mechanisms, and vibrating feeding mechanisms. The main research focuses on achieving lower feed breakage rates and higher transportation speeds, efficiency, and accuracy. 2) The scattering mechanism primarily uses centrifugal scattering discs, which can achieve a wide scattering range. To achieve higher uniformity in scattering and lower feed breakage rates, scholars have optimized it using various simulation software. There are also scholars who, based on the feeding characteristics of shrimp, apply direct feeding methods in shrimp ponds. Thirdly, the precise feeding control technology mainly focuses on three aspects: 1) Path planning, where research primarily involves planning edge-following and coverage paths according to different breeding needs, using a combination of sensors, satellite navigation systems, and path planning algorithms. 2) Automatic recognition technology for shrimp and crabs, which uses machine vision and acoustic technology to identify these creatures, allowing the feeding boat to formulate feeding strategies based on their distribution within the aquaculture pond. 3) Precise control technology for predicting and accurately controlling the amount of feed, which uses deep learning to accurately predict and control the amount of feed for shrimp and crabs. Furthermore, this paper examines the limitations of current research and anticipates future research trends focusing on: 1) enhancing adaptability and operational reliability in complex environments, 2) investigating the interaction mechanism between feed particles, feeding boats, and breeding organisms, 3) improving precision performance and implementing new artificial intelligence technologies, and 4) standardization and systematization. And from the perspective of practical application, the standardizations of equipment layout, pipelines distribution and waterweed planting are emphasized. It is expected that this will offer valuable insights for further research, development, and promotion of the application of automatic feeding boats for shrimp and crab ponds in China.