Coastal sea areas are considered to be some of the most beautiful, and at the same time, among the most natural ecosystems on the planet. However, they are currently facing a serious threat called plastic waste.
According to the United Nations’ report, every year more than 11 tons of plastic waste enter the oceans, and a significant share of it enters open waters through coasts. Field surveys in Iran also show that the northern and southern coasts, particularly during holidays, have faced the problem of abandoned waste, the majority of which includes plastic bottles, single-use containers, nylons, and food leftovers.
The piling up of waste not only spoils the natural appearance of the coasts but also indirectly threatens marine life. Many of these species mistake the waste for food and are poisoned or choked. This environmental crisis has highlighted the need for innovative actions to clean up coasts and prevent waste from entering the sea.
In order to solve the issue, a startup team has designed and built a robot that automatically recycles waste and collects it from coastal areas to protect the environment and reduce plastic pollution in the coastal environment.
The robot separates waste from sand with the help of a brush that is linked to a motor on one side and a holder on the other side. In the electronic design part, an Arduino Mega board has been used as the main brain of the robot, and four ultrasonic sensors have been deployed as the smart eyes of the robot to detect barriers and waste.
To provide the required energy, three lithium batteries are embedded in the head part, and a strong brush is primarily responsible for collecting the waste.
