A non-profit engineering innovation company Draper has teamed up with Sprout and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design an underwater drone to detect and analyze the invisible microplastics that pollute our oceans, rivers, and lakes.
The Microplastics-Sensing Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is the first of its kind for microplastic sensing drones.
When the AUV is deployed it skims along the top 9 meters of water. This is where the majority of microplastics are found. Upon scanning and analysis of the debris, the AUV sends information and GPS coordinates into a heat map that will be seen by scientists.
Microplastic particles are less than 1mm in size, which makes them undetectable with the naked eye. These particles attract pollutants in the water that are ingested by animals. As Draper points out, very little is known about the distribution or the volume of microplastic entering our waterways, ‘because no measurement system exists’.
Director of Strategic Technical Opportunities at Draper, Sheila Hemami discusses the project:
We are focusing on microplastics that are the same size as plankton—particles ranging in size from one micron to one millimeter. Microplastics in the water column have broad-ranging impacts on food security, the global carbon cycle, and our planet’s health, and can provide a snapshot of the success of on-shore solid-waste management efforts. This project will ultimately provide a de facto world standard for measurement and assessment, which are required first steps for management and mitigation.
The AUV designed will help in determining where the microplastics are most likely to originate from and give us a better idea for prevention.
Sprout explains what went into the AUV design process:
We designed a large intake on the front of the drone to filter a high concentration of microplastic into its internal processing unit while the excess water is flushed out the back. There are two proximity sensors located on either side of the intake that communicates with the GPS antenna to help the drone navigate the world’s waterways.
The two thrusters located on either side of the processing unit that propels the drone and the rear rudders handle the steering.
The large outer ring houses the batteries, control unit, and induction charger while the open chassis allows for easy deployment and retrieval. The battery-powered drone is both low-energy and self-sustaining when paired with its self-docking, wind-powered, charging buoy.
This project was made possible by funding from the Wallace Research Foundation, along with supplemental funds from Patagonia.
This is part of a long-term strategic design initiative to develop iconic visual branding across Draper’s different divisions and categories. The sensing technology to detect microplastics will be made available to everyone via a Plastic Particle Pollution Index with open-sourcing as Hemami says here:
The Plastic Particle Pollution Index project will enable governments, environmental organizations, NGOs, private entities and individuals worldwide to assess the microplastics level in their ocean and freshwater bodies, thereby providing distributed yet accurate and calibrated measurements.
The Natural Resources Defense Council also commented on the project and talked about the urgency that is needed for these types of projects:
Marine scientists are becoming more and more concerned about how microplastics can harm our oceans. This kind of microplastics sensor would be a major step forward in allowing us to document and monitor the problem. In recent decades, the development of automated sensors has transformed the way marine sciences can inform, motivate, and identify solutions to vexing problems in ocean conservation. The development of a microplastic sensor could dramatically accelerate the science and policy around the problem of microplastics in the marine environment. With global plastic production increasing nearly exponentially, we need this kind of innovation now.
Information about the project to detect microplastics will be available at PPPIndex.info, and those who would like to contribute to the project can contact Draper at [email protected]
