Project Overview
The Garbage Collection Boat is an autonomous water vehicle designed to help clean up water bodies by collecting floating garbage. It uses Arduino-based control systems and sensors to navigate and collect debris effectively.
Problem Statement
Water pollution from floating debris is a significant environmental concern. Manual cleanup is labor-intensive and often hazardous. An autonomous solution can make cleanup operations more efficient and sustainable.
Solution
Our autonomous garbage collection boat provides an innovative solution to address water pollution. The boat uses sensors to detect and navigate toward floating debris, then collects it using a specialized collection mechanism.
Technical Implementation
Main Control Logic
#include <Servo.h>
#include <NewPing.h>
// Motor pins
const int leftMotorPin = 5;
const int rightMotorPin = 6;
// Ultrasonic sensor pins
const int trigPin = 9;
const int echoPin = 10;
// Collection mechanism
Servo collectorServo;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
collectorServo.attach(3);
pinMode(leftMotorPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(rightMotorPin, OUTPUT);
}
Key Features
- Autonomous navigation using ultrasonic sensors
- Solar-powered operation for extended use
- Debris collection mechanism with servo control
- Water-resistant electronics housing
- Remote monitoring capabilities
Results & Impact
The prototype successfully demonstrated the ability to navigate and collect floating debris in controlled testing environments. The project shows promise for scaling to larger implementations for real-world cleanup operations.
Future Improvements
- Integration of machine learning for better object recognition
- Improved battery capacity and solar efficiency
- Fleet management system for multiple boats