In Norway, researchers at SINTEF have been working on the idea of designing deep sea aquaculture cages using the principles of tension integrity or “tensegrity”. The idea here is to use adaptation rather than brute strength to withstand the forces of nature. Tensegrity is based on an idea that stems from nature, where plants are able to bend with the wind without breaking, and then return to their original shape afterwards. Much of the original research into this area has been done for the aerospace industry. More recently, researchers at SINTEF have turned their attention to bringing “space technology to the ocean” by designing marine structures that can withstand the effects of severe ocean conditions.

The idea is to develop intelligent aquaculture cage structures that use automation to adapt to wave loads instead of trying merely to withstand them. It is envisaged that these “smart” cages would change their shape in order to minimize the area which is presented to the high waves. During calmer seas, the area presented to the waves will be increased resulting in more oxygenated water entering the cage. 

A patent for a tensegrity marine structure is described here: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2006/0102088.html 

The patent’s introduction is as follows: 

“The present invention relates to design concepts for flexible marine aquaculture structures. An extraordinary freedom to control shape, motion and vibration can be achieved by designing the system as a so-called tensegrity structure and by introducing appropriate actuation, sensing and control. A tensegrity structure comprises compressive elements like rods, and tensile elements like lines or wires, of which the compressive elements may not be under continuous compression. The invention also comprises interconnected units of flexible offshore structures.”