Veículo de superfície não tripulado para coleta de resíduos sólidos flutuantes em água doce

Abstract

Water bodies has been a global concern for decades and has become even more evident in recent times. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in measures that can mitigate such problems. This study is based on existing Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) models and sensors capable of measuring the necessary parameters while maintaining a low cost. Based on the literature, LoRa communication technology was adopted, allowing the operator to remotely control the vehicle and providing resistance to interference. The prototype uses the DHT22 and ST100 sensors to measure temperature, humidity, and liquid turbidity. These devices are managed by the Heltec ESP WiFi LoRa 32 V2 microcontroller, which is also responsible for communication between the devices. After individual bench tests, the construction of circuit boards and 3D structure modeling began. The design was then sent to a specialized company for fabrication. Once the prototype was built, a series of final tests was conducted to validate the effectiveness of the sensors and their precision range. Overall, the USV performed satisfactorily, demonstrating efficient maneuverability, and the sensors showed a maximum relative error of 7%. During the tests, the possibility of constructing the vehicle's structure using the material collected during operation was also evaluated. This was proven to be possible and quickly achievable, depending on the operator's usage. In conclusion, despite areas for improvement such as the use of more precise sensors, the study confirmed the feasibility of developing and constructing an unmanned surface vehicle for collecting floating solid waste while maintaining a low cost, making the product accessible to a wide range of consumers