Floating Waste Collecting Robot with Integrated Water Quality Monitoring

Abstract

Abstract: Floating debris and deteriorating water quality are major environmental challenges that threaten aquatic life, human health, and tourism. Traditional cleaning approaches are labour- intensive, hazardous, and unsustainable for large-scale operations. This work introduces an autonomous floating robot designed to simultaneously collect floating waste and monitor water quality. The robot employs a conveyor-based mechanism for capturing plastic, bottles, polythene, and other debris, while integrated sensors measure turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and water temperature. Key innovations include GPS-enabled geofencing, automatic fill-level monitoring, adaptive conveyor control with anti-jam features, and mobile connectivity for live data access. A servo-secured modular bin and compaction mechanism enhance storage capacity, while an emergency retrieval system ensures operational safety in cases of low battery, tilt, or water ingress. By combining waste removal with real-time water quality monitoring, this system offers a low-cost, eco-friendly, and scalable solution for maintaining cleaner aquatic ecosystems.