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International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)

e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 12 Issue: 06 | Jun 2025

p-ISSN: 2395-0072

www.irjet.net

Arduino-Controlled Boat For Floating Waste Collection In Rivers Vaishnavi Chavan1, Shrutika Shinde 2, Rutuja Bhandare3 , Deepali Gaikwad4 ,U.S.Bhandari5 U.G. Student,5Assistant Professor Department of Electronics &Telecommunication Engineering Shree Siddheshwar Women’s College Of Engineering Solapur -----------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------1,2,3,4

Abstract - Water pollution has become one of the most

densely populated areas where proper waste management infrastructure is lacking. Traditionally, waste collection in rivers has relied heavily on manual labor, with workers using boats or nets to collect debris from the surface. This method, while effective on a small scale, often proves inefficient for larger water bodies or areas with high pollution.

pressing environmental concerns, especially in rivers and other natural water bodies. This project focuses on building a simple and affordable boat designed to clean floating waste from river surfaces. The boat runs with the help of a conveyor mechanism that picks up debris and stores it in a container. It moves through water using DC motors, and its functions are managed by an Arduino Nano microcontroller. The system is intended to reduce human effort in cleaning and make the process safer and more efficient. Initial testing of the model in a controlled setting showed positive outcomes, suggesting it can be used in practical field conditions with some future improvements.

2. Arduino-Based Environmental Solutions The Arduino platform has emerged as a popular choice for developing low-cost, programmable solutions for environmental monitoring and automation. Its accessibility, affordability, and versatility make it a strong candidate for developing systems intended to solve realworld problems like water pollution. Arduino microcontrollers have been used in a variety of environmental projects, including water quality monitoring, weather stations, and small robotic vehicles.

Key Words: Arduino Nano, River Waste Cleaner, Water Body Maintenance, Floating Debris Collector,etc

1.INTRODUCTION Rivers play a vital role in the ecosystem, supporting both human life and biodiversity. Unfortunately, due to increasing urban activity and poor waste management practices, many rivers are now heavily polluted with floating debris such as plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other non-biodegradable materials. This pollution not only threatens aquatic life but also affects water quality and public health in communities that rely on these water bodies. Manual methods of cleaning rivers are still widely used, but they tend to be slow, labor- intensive, and often dangerous for workers.

Table -1: Arduino-Based Environmental Monitoring Boat Component Table Arduino Nano

ATmega328P, 14 digital I/O pins

Control Unit

DC Motor

12V, 150 RPM

Propulsion

L298N Motor Driver Module

Dual H-Bridge, 2A per channel

Motor Control

1.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

Conveyor Belt Motor

12V geared motor

Collection

Over the past decade, water pollution especially the accumulation of floating waste in rivers has become a growing concern for many urban and rural communities. Numerous efforts have been made to address this issue, primarily through manual methods involving workers with nets and boats to remove waste from the water surface. While such approaches can be effective on a small scale, they are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and sometimes dangerous, particularly in polluted or fastmoving water. To overcome these limitations, various mechanical and semi- automated solutions have been introduced.

Ultrasonic Sensor

2-400 cm Range

Obstacle Sensing

Arduino has become a practical and accessible platform for developing real-world environmental solutions, especially in low-cost or student-led innovations. In this project, the Arduino Nano microcontroller is responsible for managing motor operations, controlling the conveyor mechanism, and ensuring reliable power distribution. Its ability to interface with sensors and actuators makes it ideal for semi- autonomous systems like river-cleaning boats. To give a detailed overview of the system, a component table has been included below that outlines the essential parts used in the development of the prototype. Each component was selected based on functionality, cost-efficiency, and ease of integration with the Arduino platform. Along with the table, actual photographs of the circuit assembly,

1.2 Previous Efforts in River Waste Collection The accumulation of waste in rivers has long been recognized as an environmental crisis, especially in

Impact Factor value: 8.315

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