SINGAPORE, Aug. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- UMITRON PTE. LTD.
(Singapore, Co-founder/ Managing
Director Masahiko Yamada) launches
Fish Appetite Index (FAI), the world's first real-time ocean-based
fish appetite detection system. UMITRON FAI uses efficient machine
learning and image analysis techniques to extract relevant data
from video streams that can then be used to accurately quantify
fish appetite. FAI software has already been rolled out to existing
customers to optimize their feeding operations.
Over the past twenty years the aquaculture industry has been
expanding at an exponential rate with annual production tripling
during this brief time span. At the same time, however, aquaculture
feed prices have also risen dramatically. This presents an
ever-growing challenge for farmers since feed costs account for a
majority of their operational overhead. Farmers must walk a tight
line: underfeeding their fish risks lower growth rates and slower
time to market, while overfeeding increases costs and potentially
harms the environment. New data analytics technologies such as IoT
devices and machine learning offer farmers a solution to improve
their feeding operations.
The FAI algorithm takes in the same visual information that
humans would and then scores fish appetite and presents it in an
easy to understand chart. When used in tandem with a smart feeder
such as UMITRON CELL, the feed time intervals and amounts can be
automatically adjusted with minimal human interference. Farm
operators can utilize FAI to fine-tune their feeding schedules,
ensuring fish are always satiated. This is easily done via their
smartphones with the UMITRON app, where they can check and remotely
adjust feed settings based on the FAI feedback.
FAI benefits farmers by reducing wasted feed, improving
profitability as well as environmental sustainability. FAI in
combination with technology such as CELL allows farmers to stay
onshore during dangerous weather conditions or holidays while still
keeping a close eye on their fish stocks. Furthermore, it reduces
the need for every employee to be an expert at feeding and instead
frees workers to focus on other tasks that improve fish
welfare.
Existing UMITRON customers have already begun using FAI
alongside CELL. "Today, there are many companies developing
machine-learning algorithms for a variety of industries but only
testing them under ideal conditions. The UMITRON Fish Appetite
Index on the other hand is already being embraced by our existing
customers at their ocean-based farm sites where it operates under
real world conditions. It might be difficult for some of our
potential customers to completely trust artificial intelligence at
first, but FAI is an important tool that can be used to increase
productivity and reduce waste," said Masahiko Yamada, managing director of
UMITRON. "Our appetite analysis approach is being developed
with customer feedback in mind. UMITRON will continue to develop
similar value-added software services that can be automatically
rolled out to our existing customer base. Also, we are open to
developing other practical applications after discussions with
potential customers or equipment partners," added
Takuma Okamoto, CTO of UMITRON.
UMITRON is looking for partners interested in using FAI for
species such as Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, European sea bass,
and gilthead sea bream. Similarly, UMITRON is looking for feeding
system manufacturing partners who wish to utilize data analysis
software such as FAI to improve their current products.
UMITRON will participate in AquaNor, which will be held in
Trondheim, Norway from August
20-23, and The Japan International
Seafood & Technology Expo from August
21-23 in Tokyo, Japan.
Interested parties should contact UMITRON in advance to set up an
informational meeting.
About UMITRON
UMITRON is a Singapore and
Japan based deeptech company whose
aim is to solve worldwide food and environmental problems by
empowering aquaculture through technology. We build user-friendly
data platforms for aquaculture by using IoT, satellite remote
sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Our technology helps
farmers improve farm efficiency, manage environmental risks, and in
turn increase business revenues. Our final goal is to utilize
computer models in combination with aquaculture to help the world
sustainably and efficiently deliver protein in a human-friendly and
nature-friendly way. Ultimately, we aim to "install Sustainable
Aquaculture on Earth".
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SOURCE Umitron