Autonomous Sea Cleaner also Fights Invasive Plants

Clear Robotics is broadening its array of self-operating marine garbage collectors. The Class 3 vessel offers increased onboard storage and the potential to tow barges, enabling extended cleanup operations. Additionally, it’s engineered to address invasive weeds.

Two Hong Kong University graduates created Clearbot, a robotic vessel to ease the task of removing floating debris from nearby waters. They deployed it in harbors, lakes, and canals, where it would collect debris with its open bow and store it for proper disposal or recycling.

Collaboration with Razer and Deployment of Class 3 Vessel in India’s North East Region

In mid-2021, gaming company Razer innovatively updated the design, leading to the deployment of numerous Clearbots for operational tasks since then. The company has now elevated its efforts by introducing a Class 3 vessel in the North East Region of India.

The new system is designed to collect up to 200 kg (441 lb) of floating waste per hour and has an onboard storage capacity of 500 kg (1,100 lb). Additionally, it can equip a towing barge to boost its per-trip payload to 1.5 tonnes.

Features of Clear Robotics’ Electric Propulsion System

Its electric propulsion system maintains an average speed of 3 knots (3.5 mph), while the 3-kWh battery pack provides up to 8 hours of operation on a single charge. To extend its runtime, Clear Robotics has integrated solar panels on top, which can yield an additional 4 hours under optimal conditions.

The company has also implemented a self-docking mechanism across its entire fleet, allowing vessels to autonomously return to docking stations equipped with solar charging units for recharging.

The Class 3 Clearbot, measuring 4.04 x 2.3 x 1.68 meters (13.25 x 7.5 x 5.5 feet), features a 1080p camera and LiDAR technology. It can integrate anti-collision features for complete autonomous operation.

The vessel includes a front conveyor for collecting floating debris and a specialized cutter for removing invasive plants like hyacinth and duckweed.

Clearbot’s Operational Efficiency

When focused on clearing trash, the vessel purportedly has the capacity to cover an area of up to 10,000 square meters (107,600 square feet) per day. However, when it engages in the task of cutting and removing weeds, its coverage reduces to 2,500 square meters (approximately 27,000 square feet).

As for its commercial availability, there is currently no information provided. Nevertheless, you can observe the newest addition to the Clearbot fleet in action, targeting weeds, in the video below.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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