Water Roomba
Autonomous waste-collection vessel for ocean pollution, AKA: Marine Autonomous Litter Collector (MALC)
This project addresses ocean pollution by developing an autonomous waste-collection vessel. The team aimed to create a device capable of both autonomous and manual operation, with a capacity of 5 kilograms and a 10-minute runtime.
The researchers tested their prototype in a controlled pool environment, collecting common ocean debris including soda bottles, water bottles, and plastic bags. Testing revealed:
- GPS accuracy of approximately 93% - Average boat speed of roughly 0.1 meters per second - Speed measured across a 3.5-meter distance
The team identified significant areas for improvement. The speed of the boat was disappointing, however the team identified many points of failure that could be enhanced.
Primary inefficiencies stemmed from homemade propellers that poorly converted rotational energy into forward motion, and underpowered motors lacking sufficient torque and speed capability.
Future enhancements include more efficient waste storage systems, improved garbage disposal mechanisms, and real-world testing in actual polluted waters.