Autonomous Ocean Garbage Collection With On-Board Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning ocean garbage are inefficient and costly, with high human involvement and limited ability to collect microplastics and large debris, and existing systems like the Ocean Cleanup Project are passive and require significant manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
The Ocean Cleanup Autonomous System (OCAS) is an autonomous system that includes various vehicles and mechanisms for collecting, sorting, and transporting ocean garbage, using interchangeable equipment to minimize costs and operate independently, capable of collecting microplastics to large pieces, and utilizing renewable energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive cleanup systems like Ocean Cleanup Project are used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity is insufficient and human involvement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors, processors, and actuators that enable self-navigation, self-collection, and self-sorting of garbage without human intervention. The autonomous vessels can independently detect garbage patches, navigate to them, collect debris using nets and conveyors, and sort materials on-board, making the system self-sufficient and highly productive
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces passive mechanical drift systems with active autonomous vehicles that use sensors, processors, and control systems to navigate and collect garbage. The system substitutes passive mechanical structures with intelligent autonomous platforms that can actively seek out and respond to garbage patches, significantly improving collection efficiency
2Measurement precision
If human involvement is increased for manual garbage collection, then measurement precision and control are improved, but operational costs increase and autonomy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual human operations with autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors, cameras, LIDAR, and processors that detect, identify, and track garbage with high precision. The autonomous control systems process sensor data and navigate vehicles to garbage patches without human intervention, maintaining detection accuracy while achieving full automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces autonomous vehicles as intermediaries between the ocean environment and garbage collection. These vehicles serve as autonomous agents that sense the environment, process information, and execute collection tasks, replacing direct human involvement while maintaining high measurement precision through advanced sensors and processors
3Loss of energy
If sorting machine is deployed at ocean garbage patches, then delivery cost is reduced by avoiding unwanted garbage, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sorting function directly into the autonomous collection vehicles by integrating sorting machines, sensors, and conveyors on-board. This consolidation allows the vehicles to collect and sort garbage in a single integrated operation at the source, eliminating the need for separate sorting facilities and reducing overall system complexity while minimizing delivery costs
4Ease of repair
If standard and interchangeable mechanisms are used, then ease of repair and cost reduction are improved, but adaptability to specific conditions may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal standardized modules for propulsion, navigation, collection, and sorting that can be configured in different combinations to suit various ocean conditions and garbage types. The autonomous vehicles use interchangeable components that maintain standardization for ease of repair while allowing flexible configuration to adapt to specific operational requirements and environmental conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for cleaning and/or removal of ocean garbage are provided. The system includes a cleanup autonomous vessel (CAV) for collecting garbage, an autonomous tugboat (AT) for moving a large ocean container (LC), and a sorting machine (SM) and for sorting garbage. The system may also include an autonomous boat (AB) for transferring garbage from the CAV to the SM and for supplying fuel from the AT to the CAV. The system further includes regular ocean vessels (ROV) for moving the LC to different location. The CAV, AT, AB, LC, and ROV may operate in conjunction with a bidding process.