In a significant advancement for aquaculture technology, Dr K A Sunitha, Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, along with her B.Tech ECE students Ms B Harshitha and Mr B Taraka Rameswara Kanaka Durga Prasad, have made headlines with their latest invention. The team has successfully filed and published a patent for “A Fully Automated System for Real-Time Monitoring of Aquaculture Environment and a Method Thereof.” The application number 202441034671, has been officially recorded in the Patent Office Journal, marking a milestone for the team and the institution they represent.
This pioneering system promises to revolutionise the way aquaculture environments are monitored by leveraging automation to ensure real-time, accurate assessments. The invention stands as a testament to the innovative spirit and dedication of Dr Sunitha and her students, who are now recognised as contributors to the technological advancements in the field of aquaculture.

Abstract

This project involves the design and development of an Automated water quality analysis system to assist aquaculture farmers. The proposed system is tailored for aquatic environments, particularly ponds to monitor crucial parameters say Dissolved Oxygen (DO), PH, Temperature and Humidity levels, signaling when concentrations drop below the predefined threshold set by the user every thirty minutes. The system features autonomous activation and deactivation of aerators to ensure continual oxygenation of water and aids in energy optimisation. Utilising advanced sensors and a microcontroller, the device offers continuous monitoring of parameters to facilitate pond operators with timely insights into water quality dynamics, enabling proactive interventions to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Brief Explanation of the Project

India is the second-largest aquaculture nation in the world, and this sector provides livelihood support to about 280 lakh people. The aquaculture industry globally faces numerous challenges, such as Viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases and Suboptimal water quality. One crucial criterion for evaluating the quality of water is measuring the Dissolved Oxygen level. Water and other liquids contain free, non-compound oxygen, which is measured as dissolved oxygen (DO).

Long-term exposure to low DO levels increases stress and infections and, in certain situations, causes the death of the organism because dissolved oxygen is essential for the health and reproduction of many fish and invertebrates. This project highlights the design of a timer based automated water quality analysis system which can be used in the inland aquaculture farms to continuously monitor the water parameters and automate the calibration process and the operation of aerators without human intervention.

Practical Implications of the Research
The main objectives of this research are
1) To monitor the parameters, say Dissolved Oxygen, PH, Temperature and Humidity levels
every thirty minutes.
2) To automate the Calibration process to maintain accuracy and reliability of the system.
3) To automatically turn ON/OFF the aerators in the event of Low/High oxygen levels detection in the pond.
4) To send notifications to the technician or farmer every thirty minutes to help them monitor.

Future Research Plans

The developed prototype is currently validated with standard DO meter during experimental trials. Moving forward, further research and development efforts may focus on refining the system’s functionality, expanding its sensor capabilities, and integrating advanced analytics for predictive monitoring and decision support, thereby advancing the state-of-the-art in aquaculture management technology and promoting the long-term viability of inland aquaculture operations.

Pictures Related to Research

Dr Sanjeev Mani Yadav, Assistant Professor from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, has published a cutting-edge research paper titled “Au-Al2O3 Coated Highly Sensitive Broad Range Refractive Index Sensor for Detecting Malaria Disease in Human Blood” in the IEEE Sensors Journal with an impact factor of 4.3. This research focuses on developing a highly sensitive biosensor using photonic crystal fibres and a technique called surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to detect changes in the refractive index, which is how much light bends when it enters a material. This biosensor can also detect malaria in the human body.

Abstract

The paper represents the photonic crystal fibre-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for broad-range refractive index sensors along with the detection of malaria disease in the human body. α-Al2O3-Au dielectric-metal interface has been proposed to stimulate the free electron on the metal surface via evanescent to result in an SPR phenomenon. The proposed sensor shows a sufficient shift in resonance wavelength for the change in external RI from 1.32 to 1.40 for an optimised Al2O3/Au thickness of 50nm/12nm. The broad-range sensing applicability of the designed sensor shows a maximum sensitivity of 6000 nm/RIU when the external RI changes from 1.38 to 1.40. The detection accuracy of the designed sensor is reported to be 1.66×10-5 (RIU) and reported compatible in comparison to broad RI sensors. The proposed SPR sensor has been utilised to sense the malaria diseases in the human body by filling infected RBC samples on the dielectric-metal surface. The proposed study aids in detecting various stages of malaria-infected RBCs, including the Ring phase, Trophozoite phase, and Schizont phase, by measuring the shift in resonance wavelength. The sensor’s wavelength sensitivity varies across the phases: 5714.28 nm/RIU for the Ring phase, 5263.15 nm/RIU for the Trophozoite phase, and 5931 nm/RIU for the Schizont phase. The sensor exhibits the highest reported sensitivity among other biological sensors in this category. The proposed sensor fulfils all the requirements for a diagnosis of early malaria disease in the human body, along with its high sensitivity, low detection limit, and capability of sensing broad RI.

How does the sensor work?

1. Biosensor Basics: The sensor uses a combination of a special crystal fibre and a metal surface (a mix of aluminium oxide and gold) to create a reaction when light hits it. This reaction is called SPR and it helps in detecting tiny changes.

2. Detecting Changes: When the external refractive index (a measure of how light bends in a substance) changes, the sensor detects this by a shift in the wavelength (colour) of the light. The study found that the sensor is very sensitive to changes in the refractive index between 1.32 and 1.40.

3. Sensitivity: The sensor is incredibly sensitive, with a maximum sensitivity of 6000 nm/RIU (nanometres per refractive index unit). This means it can detect very small changes very accurately.

4. Malaria Detection: The sensor can also detect malaria by analysing infected red blood cells. Different stages of malaria infection (Ring, Trophozoite, and Schizont) cause different shifts in the wavelength, which the sensor can measure. The sensor’s sensitivity varies slightly with each stage but is consistently high.

5. High Performance: This sensor is reported to have the highest sensitivity compared to other similar sensors and meets all the requirements for early malaria diagnosis due to its high sensitivity, low detection limit, and ability to detect a wide range of refractive indices.

In essence, this sensor is a powerful tool for detecting both refractive index changes and malaria in the human body with high accuracy and sensitivity.

Practical implementation/Social implications of the research

The photonic crystal fibre-based SPR biosensor represents a significant advancement in medical diagnostics with wide-ranging practical applications and social implications. Its high sensitivity and accuracy in detecting malaria and potentially other diseases can lead to better health outcomes, economic benefits, and improved access to healthcare, particularly in regions that need it the most.

Dr Sanjeev Mani Yadav acknowledges Dr Amritanshu Pandey, Electronics Engineering Department, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, for his continuous support and guidance throughout this research.