Underwater ROV for Ghost Net Retrieval: Protecting Marine Ecosystems

Problem Statement

Ghost nets — lost or abandoned fishing gear — continue to entrap marine life indiscriminately, causing massive harm to marine biodiversity. These nets are difficult to retrieve using traditional methods, which are often costly, inefficient, and limited in reach, especially in hard-to-access underwater areas. This issue was tackled during the team’s participation in the Innovation School residency.   

Contributors

Sachit Bagheria | Saloni Rane | Siddharth Jain

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About Underwater ROV for Ghost Net Retrieval: Protecting Marine Ecosystems

Solution

  A fully functional ROV designed for the retrieval of ghost nets. The vehicle incorporates modular electronics, precise control mechanisms, and custom underwater hardware to efficiently remove marine waste and contribute to ocean sustainability. 

Additional Info

Idea: To build a cost-effective and efficient Underwater ROV that can: Detect ghost nets even in low-visibility conditions, Navigate complex underwater terrains, Retrieve nets with minimal environmental disturbance. Objectives of the Project: Detection Use advanced imaging and sensors to locate ghost nets on the seabed, even amid poor visibility, vegetation, and uneven terrain. Navigation Design an autonomous and maneuverable ROV capable of avoiding obstacles and staying stable in strong currents while operating near the ocean bed. Retrieval Integrate robotic arms or suction-based mechanisms that can extract ghost nets safely without further damaging the marine environment or harming marine life.

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Built on Unicorn Platform