DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF A LOW COST IOT ENABLED AUTONOMOUS RIVER CLEANING ROBOT FOR SMALL-SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

This paper presents the design and simulation of a low-cost Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled autonomous river cleaning robot developed as a student prototype for small-scale environmental applications. River pollution in Malaysia, driven by improper waste disposal and rapid urbanization, has increased the need for efficient and safer cleaning solutions. Conventional river cleaning methods rely heavily on manual labour, which is time-consuming, hazardous, and lacks real-time monitoring capability. To address these limitations, the proposed system integrates an ESP32 microcontroller, ultrasonic sensors for waste detection, DC motors for navigation, and a conveyor mechanism for debris collection. The system operates semi-autonomously while transmitting operational data to an IoT platform such as Blynk or Firebase for remote monitoring. As a prototype development study, simulation was conducted using Proteus to evaluate system functionality and effectiveness. The results demonstrate that the system is capable of detecting objects and activating the cleaning mechanism accordingly. Although reduced motor performance was observed due to simulation constraints, the system successfully validates the core operational logic of the proposed design. Overall, the prototype shows strong potential as a scalable and cost-effective solution for river cleaning in narrow waterways, while also serving as a practical learning platform for IoT and embedded system applications. This work contributes to sustainable environmental management and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Future work will involve physical prototyping and real-world performance evaluation.