'cerberus' aquafarming vessel sails the waters autonomously to harvest algae

introducing the ‘cerberus’ algae cultivation system

Algae is considered to be a nutritional food source for both humans and animals, as well as a valuable resource for medical technology, 3D prototyping, production of e-fuels, textile processing, and many more. But while research currently tends to focus on their processing and use, contemporary concepts for efficient cultivation are still lacking.

This is where ‘Cerberus’ comes in with an interesting concept that promises to make algae cultivation much more efficient and ecological in the future. Created by industrial design student Bernhard Büttner from HTW University in Berlin, Cerberus takes shape as an ultra-modern aquafarming vessel that scouts the waters autonomously to extract algae without causing water pollution or depleting aquatic life.

all images courtesy of Green Product Award

autonomous aquafarming catamaran

The Cerberus vessel is shaped like a catamaran to sail the waters smoothly. As it drifts on the water surface, a connected harvesting system draws out the algae and filters the contents. Collection pods anchored to the seabed then process the contents for future usage.

Instead of growing algae on disposable synthetic fiber nets, Cerberus uses buoys with adjustable spokes that are carried in by specialized vessels. The buoys increase the cultivation area by roughly 90% when compared to nets, allowing for more efficient use of limited coastal land. Furthermore, buoys may be mended and maintained, whereas discarded nets must be disposed of. Cerberus will start out as a semi-autonomous system, but thanks to its advanced AI, it will eventually become a fully autonomous idea. The concept has a lot of potential for a long-term operating cycle, as it can provide raw materials for a variety of ecologically beneficial companies without contaminating the environment or harming marine life.

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project info: 

name: Cerberus
designer: Bernhard Büttner of HTW University