RMIT University engineers in Australia created a remote-controlled minibot that cleans oil spills with a sea urchin-inspired filter. Oil spills are a global threat, damaging ecosystems, endangering wildlife, and costing billions to clean up.
To address the global issue, the team built the “Electronic Dolphin” minibot to safely and precisely remove oil from water. The dolphin-sized device uses a water-repelling filter to quickly and efficiently skim and collect oil.
Minibot Enables Safer Oil Cleanup
Dr. Ataur Rahman, lead researcher at RMIT University School of Engineering, stated that the proof-of-concept minibot demonstrates how compact, versatile platforms can aid cleanup operations while keeping human responders out of dangerous conditions.
Oil spills cause severe environmental and economic damage. He explained that their goal was to create a system that’s fast to deploy, precise, and safe for hazardous areas.
“Our long-term vision is to create dolphin-sized robots that can vacuum up oil, return to base to empty and recharge, then redeploy automatically—repeating the cycle until the cleanup is complete.”
The current experimental minibot runs for roughly 15 minutes per charge, though the final model’s endurance would increase with larger pumps and oil-storage capacity.
“Unlike previous cleanup methods that rely on harsh chemicals and fixed filters requiring manual operation, our technology uses an eco-friendly filter coating we developed, making it safer and more sustainable.”
Water‑Resistant Filter for Efficient Oil Collection
The minibot features the coated filter at its front, where a small pump pulls oil through the filter into an onboard storage chamber. In trials, it collected oil at 2 ml/min with 95%+ purity, without the filter saturating.
The filter is coated with a material that forms microscopic, sea urchin-like spikes visible only under an electron microscope. These tiny spikes trap air pockets, causing water to bead and roll off while allowing oil to adhere. The filter absorbs oil without water and is lightweight, reusable, and practical for cleanup.
Ph.D. researcher Surya Kanta Ghadei, who spearheaded much of the materials development, explained that the project was motivated by both technical curiosity and personal experience.
“Growing up in India, I witnessed firsthand how oil spills affect marine life, particularly turtles,” he said.
“That experience stayed with me. When I started my Ph.D., I aimed to develop a solution that enables responders to act quickly while protecting wildlife from harm.”
The team is now investigating ways to scale up the technology by expanding the filter area across the robot’s body, which would necessitate a more powerful pump. The next steps include field trials and evaluating long-term durability.
Rahman added that the researchers are eager to collaborate with industry and innovation partners to fine-tune the design for specific uses and explore options for broader deployment.
Read the original article on: Tech Xplore
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