How Unmanned Solar-Powered Boats Safeguard Marine Ecosystems?

Automated Solar Boats – Protector of Marine Ecosystem

The JNPA (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority), took an iconic step finally to tackle marine waste recently by deploying unmanned solar-powered boats. These automated solar boats are capable of trash collection and are often found floating on the oceans at the Gateway of India.

This event was organized in October 2024 to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on his birth anniversary.

Key Purpose of Using Unmanned Boats for Marine Trash Collection?

• Protect the seas, and oceans from marine pollution by standing tall as a guardian of the country’s blue economy?
• Run unmanned boats for waste collection at the Gateway of India twice a week to ensure a cleaner Arabian Sea?
• Sanitize the Elephant Sea to maintain cleanliness within coastal areas?
• The JNPA has tied up with the Clearbot team to foster smart sustainable marine solutions by navigating and detecting trash objects via LiDAR sensor technology?

Role of LiDAR Sensor Technology to Clean Marine Trash

• LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors create high-resolution maps of underwater debris and identify the exact location of the waste?
• Cleaning and sanitizing the marine waste from those identified locations turn easy?
• Unmanned vessels equipped with LiDAR sensors can track the obstacles while passing through its pre-mapped route course charted to its database?
• The automated vessels also use LiDAR technology to avoid murky and challenging underwater environments as well?
• LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging Sensors), can also detect the movement of sensitive marine species during cleanup program, and avoid harming those in sanitizing operations
• Repeatedly mapping areas with time to track the changes in marine ecosystem and avoid accumulation of waste debris in water bodies?

Salient Features of Unmanned Boats Equipped with LiDAR Technology?

The automated boats operated via JNPA-Clearbot collaboration is known for some of these advanced technological features-?

• Real-time consistent data collection with information displayed within the online dashboard
• Easy monitoring and analysis via integrated solar panels that can be charged simultaneously while operating
• Assures mechanical glitch-free performance without relying on traditional power sources
• Equipped with long-lasting batteries for robust and extensive marine operations?
• The UV’s (Unmanned Vessels) also feature auto-docking facilities so that they can return to docking stations effortlessly
• These boats are also known for zero-carbon emission marine clean-up and waste recovery operations

Conclusion?

The ongoing concern about sanitizing marine trash is a significant step toward eliminating aquatic trash from the marine ecosystem. That’s why the sustainable step initiated by JNPA to deploy UVs can sanitize marine waste and lead water bodies towards net-zero emission.??