Explorer was my final-study project and dealing with a subject close to my heart: environment protection, especially the oceans. Maybe, you have you already heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It's the biggest plastic pollution in the oceans. Everything is summarized in this video and this one... And it's quite alarming. Thanks to many organisations, I studied every details of the phenomenon and I designed Explorer to reduce pollution globally and in a profitable way.

 

The idea was based on the basking shark morphology and I've "mechanized" it. Broadly speaking, Explorer is a marine drone which collects plastic waste and works like a submarine. Due to an echo sounder, it can move automatically, detects waste and move to them. The "ProFish" technology keeps the fish and other animals away from its nets. Solid-state lithium-ion batteries keep its autonomy for one week. 

 

Its container can store about 45m³ of waste. Two blades swirl the waste and prevent the risks of clogging up the net. When Explorer doesn't work, a closure system shuts the container. 

 

When Explorer needs to reload its batteries, it moves to a hydrokinetic charging station. "Witricity" technology enables a wireless energy transmission. At this location, a boat empties the container and takes over. 

 

Finally, the waste will be transformed into electric energy during the incineration process in a specialized company. This solution is the most suitable and profitable given the nature of the waste and their high calorific potentiel.