Autonomous Design of a Green Sea-Cleaner Boat

Abstract

This paper addresses the urgent global issue of marine pollution, with a focus on the inadequacies of traditional cleanup methods and the promising potential of an autonomous green sea-cleaner boat. The study presents a sea-cleaner boat design with reduced wake-wash, integrated with an autonomous system using visual equipment and LiDAR sensors for precise navigation and debris identification. Parametric studies of catamaran hull configurations show that the Flat-Outside Model exhibits the lowest wave elevation, indicating reduced hydrodynamic force and wake-wash, making it an environmentally preferable option. Additionally, the sea-cleaner boat employs LiDAR for obstacle detection and a camera with a Convolutional Neural Network for efficient debris identification and collection, enhancing operational safety and efficiency. Overall, the autonomous green sea-cleaner boat represents a significant advancement in maritime environmental conservation.