Diseño y automatización de un prototipo recolector de residuos flotantes en aguas lénticas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to design, build and automate a floating waste collector prototype in lentic waters by applying the QFD methodology of product design to obtain a model that meets the needs of the study location. For its design, it was divided into a mechanical module made up of the following systems: structural validated by finite element analysis in the ANSYS WORKBENCH software, a collector in charge of waste storage, a propellant in charge of moving the prototype, along with a control module made up of the Lora WAN protocol, radio control, FPV first-person vision and user interface developed in LabVIEW software that allows handling and communication with it. With the design results, the prototype was built on a 1:2 scale using 3D printing to be subjected to a test protocol in the Valle Hermoso lagoon in Guano canton in different scenarios, where for a critical situation, favorable results were obtained with respect to the flotation with a maximum value of 8 cm, 30 minutes of duration of each battery, and responses to the control system for a range of 500m. In this way, it was shown that the design is functional both in its mechanical and control systems, presenting slight differences between the proposed model and its final behavior. It is recommended that users implement this model as an alternative to reduce the number of residues in sluggish water, and to follow the detailed instructions in the prototype's operation and maintenance manual to extend its useful life.