Developing drone solutions for marine plastic pollution.

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  Side view of the CAD Model

Project Inspiration

As an environmental enthusiast, I've always been interested in finding innovative solutions to address environmental issues. I was particularly drawn to the problem of plastic pollution in marine environments, which is a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems. I wanted to create a solution that would efficiently collect plastic waste from the ocean and bring it to shore for proper disposal.

What I Learned

During the course of the project, I learned a lot about the capabilities and limitations of drone technology, as well as the specific challenges of collecting plastic waste from the ocean. I also gained a deeper understanding of the environmental impact of plastic pollution and the urgent need for innovative solutions to address this problem. I worked with marine biologists, environmental engineers, and drone experts to develop a solution that was both effective and environmentally responsible.

How I Built My Project

I began by researching the latest drone technology and identifying the sensors and features that would be most useful for collecting plastic waste from the ocean. I designed and built a prototype that included a camera, GPS, and sensors to detect plastic waste. I also developed software to enable the drone to fly autonomously, navigate around obstacles, and avoid collisions. I tested the drone in a simulated ocean environment and made adjustments based on my results.

Challenges I Faced

One of the biggest challenges I faced was ensuring that the drone could locate and collect plastic waste in a way that was both efficient and safe for marine life. I also had to ensure that the drone could navigate around obstacles and avoid collisions, while still collecting the maximum amount of plastic waste. Another challenge was developing a solution that was both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, which required me to carefully consider the materials and manufacturing processes I used.

Overall, I'm proud of the drone prototype I developed, which I believe has the potential to make a real impact on the health of our oceans. I hope that my solution will inspire others to develop innovative approaches to addressing plastic pollution and protecting our environment.

Built With

• ardupilot
• dronekit-python
• machine-learning
• mavlink
• missionplanner
• opencv
• pymavlink
• python