MuseBox super hero against Blue Crab invasion

Introduction

Ahoy, fellow ocean enthusiasts and nature aficionados! Italy's picturesque coastlines and vibrant marine ecosystems have long been a source of wonder and beauty. However, there's a new twist in the aquatic tale – the invasion of the notorious blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). But fear not, for in this age of technological marvels, an unexpected hero has emerged to safeguard the Italian shores: MuseBox and its ingenious AI-powered animal detection capabilities.

The Blue Crab invasion

An ecological challenge brews beneath the surface. The blue crab has found its way into Italian waters, unsettling the balance of the marine ecosystem. But where there's a challenge, there's also an opportunity for innovation.

Italian fishing communities in the northern regions of the country are actively combating an influx of predatory blue crabs. This situation poses a significant threat to the economic stability of entire areas.

Enter MuseBox, a cutting-edge AI technology that goes beyond the realms of music composition. With its remarkable animal detection task, MuseBox has a new role to play – as a virtual sentinel guarding the coastlines against the blue crab invasion. How, you might ask? Let's delve into the depths of this unique alliance between AI and environmental conservation.

MuseBox, the digital lifeguard

Traditionally, monitoring vast coastlines for invasive species has been a monumental task, requiring substantial manpower and resources. However, MuseBox's AI prowess changes the game. Leveraging its advanced animal detection capabilities, MuseBox can tirelessly scan the waters, identifying and alerting authorities about the presence of blue crabs. Imagine a digital lifeguard that never tires never blinks, and can spot even the sneakiest of crabs scuttling along the ocean floor.

But how does this AI marvel work? MuseBox's animal detector is trained on an extensive dataset of marine life, enabling it to distinguish between various species, including the infamous blue crab. As these creatures wander into Italian waters, the AI springs into action, triggering an alert to the coastguard. This seamless integration of AI and human efforts creates a formidable defense against the invasion, ensuring swift responses to potential threats.

Current seabed analyzer

Normally, underwater seabed analysis relies on 2D camera systems or similar technologies. These setups capture visual data from the ocean floor, recording the intricate details of marine life and habitat. However, their effectiveness can be limited due to the flat perspective, making it challenging to discern spatial depth and identify subtle changes in the environment. Additionally, varying water conditions and lighting can hinder clear imagery, potentially leading to misinterpretations. Despite these challenges, these systems form the foundation of marine monitoring, providing valuable insights into the underwater world.

Moreover, these 2D camera systems are often combined with specialized software that processes the captured footage. The software attempts to categorize and identify different species and objects based on visual patterns, shapes, and colors. However, this approach has its constraints. It heavily relies on predefined templates and can struggle when faced with novel or rare species, potentially leading to misclassifications.

Furthermore, the lack of depth perception in traditional 2D systems can make it difficult to accurately estimate the size and distance of objects, which is crucial for understanding the marine ecosystem's dynamics. Despite these limitations, these technologies have played a vital role in marine research and conservation, offering glimpses into the hidden world beneath the waves.

Now, with MuseBox's AI-powered animal detection, we stand on the brink of a new era in underwater analysis. The incorporation of artificial intelligence not only enhances species recognition but also introduces an element of automation that can tirelessly and accurately monitor vast stretches of coastline. This innovation holds the promise of more efficient and effective marine conservation efforts, paving the way for a better understanding of our oceans and their inhabitants.

MuseBox solution

The detection of the presence of the invader crabs is easy for humans. It is also very inefficient when dealing with large numbers of small groups or the necessity of automation of the detection. Nevertheless, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) can help automate the process of detection.

In order to create our invader crabs’ detector we will leverage the new AMD’s KR260 kit.

Firstly, we need to create a map of our surroundings. These operations require simulating a Sonar or similar objects using a gold-standard DSP operation, beamforming. However, you might wonder, what beamforming is? Concisely, beamforming is an operation that emits a wave (can be electromagnetic or sound, as in our case). Beamforming is when a wave is sent out (like a radio wave or sound) and the bouncing back of that wave from an object gives us info about where and how the object is.

The sensors

Before the next step, we need to understand how to characterize our invader crabs with respect to the others. To do this operation we are going to partner our sonar with a camera. We will use the camera to help in the differentiation of normal crabs with respect to the invader ones.

As a matter of fact, Beamforming will help us locate and track in the water anything that is similar to a crab. This also helps in understanding if the crab is an invader, as our native crabs are much smaller and move much slower.

To conclude, our 2D camera will confirm the result of beamforming. In fact, with beamforming, we can detect and track anything similar to a crab, and by its size and velocity, we can help distinguish the invader crabs. With a 2D camera, we can record an image and exploit Musebox to confirm with an AI model that what we see from the beamforming is actually a blue crab. AI helps in the decision-making process of detecting the invader crabs.

Next steps

Innovation and environmental stewardship converge as MuseBox's AI aids Italy's battle against the blue crab invasion. This collaboration showcases the potential of technology and nature working together.

Real-time alerts from MuseBox's vigilant AI empower Italian coastguards to swiftly counter invasive species. This partnership signifies AI as a catalyst for positive change, steering towards a resilient marine ecosystem.

The blue crab challenge marks a turning point for Italy's coastlines. MuseBox's AI-driven vigilance contributes to a harmonious marine ecosystem, where innovation and conservation intertwine effectively.

MuseBox's melodies now extend beyond music, resonating in the ocean's depths. Its AI animal detection serves as a sentinel, uniting humanity and technology for a progressive future.