AQUABOT: I Innovative solution to detect 'and clean up solid waste from lakes

Abstract

In Pakistan, plastic water contamination is a severe environmental issue. Approximately 20 million tonnes of solid waste are produced in Pakistan annually, out of which 5 to IO percent constitutes plastic waste. This plastic waste commonly ends up in various water bodies, leading to the endangerment of aquatic life and polluting drinking water resources. To address this issue, we developed and built Aquabot, an autonomous device that detects and collects plastic garbage on the water's surface in real-time. The product has undergone multiple revisions and ideations to achieve an intuitive, inventive, creative, and long-lasting design. It has a sophisticated camera and an image-detection system that detects plastic waste and controls the product's motions. The product has undergone extensive research and thorough evaluation to be highly effective at collecting plastic waste. Though still in its developmental stages, Aquabot has the ability to make a long-lasting positive effect in tackling the issue of plastic water pollution. The scope of this report includes highlighting the presence of plastic water pollution in Pakistan, its causes and effects, and establishing appropriate problem and solution statements. Furthermore, various design objectives were defined and the development of Aquabot is discussed in detail, along with its design features, material study, and relation with different design principles. Aquabot is a revolutionary and futuristic product with an improved waste collection approach in comparison to conventional methods and has positive implications on environmental health while creating favorable economic and social impact as well.