I recently came across the amazing work of R. Buckminster Fuller, a visionary architect, inventor, futurist, designer, author and the second president of Mensa. Among his many contributions was the 1949 construction of the first geodesic dome, a self-supporting tensegrity structure that harnesses a synergy between balanced tension and compression components.
Tensegrity structures are built up by combining compression members (e.g. rods or bars), under compression, and tension members (e.g. cables or strings), in tension. This structural concept has been applied in civil engineering, structural engineering, architecture and aerospace engineering…and now, in aquaculture.
Norway’s SINTEF Marine are investigating the development of “smart” sea-cages for fish farming. Traditionally, designers have opted to ‘design in’ strength into marine structures so that they can withstand the forces of the ocean and extreme weather events. SINTEF are experimenting with a different philosophy of design, one that prefers adaptation and cooperation to raw strength.
In extreme weather events in open water, the use of tensegrity structures at the top of cages would significantly improve the stability of aquaculture cages and enable them to withstand severe environmental forces.
If necessary, a aquaculture sea-cage comprised entirely of tensegrity structures could change its own shape, so that it reduces the cross-sectional area that it presents to the waves. If there is little current and thus relatively little oxygen available to the fish, it will increase the area turned towards the direction of the waves.
Tags: sea cages, Tensegrity
Posted in Environment, Open Innovation, Technology. Permalink for this post: permalink.
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Very interesting concept. The ability to change the shape so easily would be an excellent advantage and provide farmers with more options. A true open innovation concept.
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