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Solar Based Pond Water Cleaner - An Automated Solar-Powered Surface Cleaning System with IoT Monitoring
Summary
Researchers built a solar-powered robot that automatically skims plastic waste, leaves, and other debris off pond surfaces, then uses a smartphone app to let you check water quality and control it remotely. This matters because dirty ponds—especially those clogged with plastic waste—can breed bacteria and break down into microplastics that contaminate water supplies and enter the food chain, posing risks to nearby communities; a low-cost, solar-run cleaner offers a practical way to keep local water sources healthier without relying on constant human labor or electricity.
Pond water bodies face severe environmental challenges due to floating debris such as plastic waste, dead leaves, and other garbage that degrade aquatic ecosystems and public health. This paper presents the design, development, and implementation of a Solar-Based Pond Water Cleaner — an automated, eco-friendly system that harnesses renewable solar energy to remove floating debris from pond surfaces without requiring grid electricity or continuous manual intervention. The proposed system integrates a 12V photovoltaic solar panel with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm implemented on an ESP32 microcontroller to maximize energy extraction under varying sunlight conditions. The harvested energy charges an 8V, 1.5Ah rechargeable lead-acid battery through a buck converter, ensuring continuous operation during night-time and cloudy weather. A motor-driven conveyor belt mechanism physically lifts and collects floating waste into an onboard collection tray. Infrared (IR) sensors provide obstacle detection for autonomous navigation, while a pH sensor and ultrasonic distance sensor enable real-time water quality monitoring and spatial awareness. The system supports IoT-based remote monitoring and control via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through the Blynk mobile platform, enabling users to supervise operation, override cleaning cycles, and receive status alerts from any location. Protection mechanisms including flyback diodes, fuses, voltage regulators, and waterproof wiring ensure reliable and safe outdoor operation. Experimental results demonstrate that the system effectively removes surface debris while operating within an efficient power budget. The modular and scalable design makes it adaptable for small ponds, lakes, and other open water bodies, contributing significantly to sustainable water resource management and environmental conservation goals.