Hybrid aerial/underwater robotics system for scalable and adaptable maintenance of aquaculture fish farms

A method for operating a system including at least one Hybrid/Aerial Underwater Robotics System (“HAUCS”) sensing platform, comprising:

• performing autonomous operations by an Unmanned Aero-Amphibious Vehicle (“UAAV) of the HAUCS sensing platform to travel to a first location in proximity to a body of water by at least one of air, land and water in accordance with a pre-specified mission plan;
• actuating a mechanical device to transition at least one sensor of the HAUCS sensing platform from a retracted position in which the at least one sensor is adjacent to the UAAV to an extended position in which the at least one sensor resides a given distance from the UAAV, when the HAUCS sensing platform is at the first location;
• performing operations by the HAUCS sensing platform and the at least one sensor to collect first sensor data concerning a water condition of the body of water at a plurality of different depths while the HAUCS sensing platform is at the first location;
• actuating the mechanical device to transition the at least one sensor of the HAUCS sensing platform from the extended positon to the retracted position after the first sensor data has been collected;
• causing the first sensor data to be processed using a machine learning based analytical engine to determine whether a water distress condition exists or is predicted to occur in a given amount of time;
• and
• modifying the pre-specified mission plan to change at least one operating parameter of the HAUCS sensing platform when a determination is made that the water distress condition exists or is predicted to occur in a given amount of time.