Underwater Drone for Harvesting Marine Sponges and Method for Harvesting Marine Sponges

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a specialized underwater drone designed for harvesting marine sponges in a sustainable and efficient way. The drone is equipped with a cutting unit that removes only the upper (apical) part of the sponge, allowing the base to stay on its natural substrate and enabling the sponge to regenerate. The system further includes mechanisms to safely collect the cut piece using gripping elements and to attach and inflate a buoy (such as an inflatable balloon) so the harvested sponge pieces float to the water surface for easy collection. The method reduces the damage to sponges and their environment compared to traditional full-removal techniques.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Automated and sustainable harvesting of marine sponges in aquaculture or wild marine environments.
• Supply of sponge biomass for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or biomedical industries due to the chemical compounds extracted from sponges.
• Ecological monitoring of sponge regrowth and population health using the drone’s cameras and GPS functions.
• Remote or autonomous sponge farming, reducing human labor and diving risks.
• Custom harvesting for research purposes (e.g., sampling without destroying whole organisms).

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly reduces environmental impact and damage to marine sponge habitats compared to traditional manual harvesting methods.
• Promotes faster sponge regeneration, increasing long-term yield per site.
• Enables precise, repeatable, and efficient underwater harvesting, suitable for industrial-scale operations.
• Minimizes the need for human underwater work, enhancing safety and reducing labor costs.
• Improves traceability and monitoring of harvested sites with integrated cameras and GPS, supporting sustainable management and research.
• Permits selective and partial harvesting, preserving sponge populations and local biodiversity.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to an underwater drone (6) for harvesting marine sponges (1), comprising a drone body (7) with a propulsion mechanism for underwater movement of the drone (6). The present invention solves the problem to omit the complete distortion of the maritime sponges and aims to leave them growing in their particular underwater environment. To solve the aforementioned problem, the underwater drone is further provided with a cutting unit (20) which is mounted on the drone body (7), which is adapted to cut a marine sponge (1) at an apical sponge end (4), which is distal from a basal sponge end (3). Moreover it is provided a method for harvesting marine sponges.