Innovative River Cleanup Device: A Low-Cost Solution for Combating Water Pollution

Problem Statement

Rivers globally are overwhelmed with surface pollutants such as plastics, debris, and organic waste. This disrupts ecosystems, reduces water quality, and harms communities dependent on these water bodies for drinking water, agriculture, and recreation. Current cleanup technologies are often costly and not scalable for broad public use. The team at the Innovation School Residency aimed to create an affordable, accessible, and efficient solution to this challenge.   

Contributors

Aarini Sheth | Kavan Ramaswamy | Atharva Shukla | Prarthna Chopra

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About Innovative River Cleanup Device: A Low-Cost Solution for Combating Water Pollution

Solution

  The final prototype is a remote-controlled river-cleaning bot that floats on plastic bottles. It uses a propeller system to navigate. The bot is steered through a Bluetooth app interface. A net collects floating waste as the bot moves through polluted water. The device is designed to be cost-effective, modular, and replicable. 

Additional Info

Idea: To design a remote-controlled, app-connected river cleanup bot that can: Float using low-cost materials (plastic bottles) Collect surface-level waste via a mounted net system Be controlled via Bluetooth through a custom mobile application Be scalable and suitable for mass production Objectives: Construct a buoyant base using plastic bottles Mount a lightweight platform with acrylic rings Attach a functional waste-catching net Program DC motors for mobility and Bluetooth connectivity Integrate an efficient propulsion system to overcome river current Make the electronics waterproof and easy to maintain

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Built on Unicorn Platform