Pontoon

Remote-Controlled Debris Cleaner (2019)

Pontoon: An Innovative Solution for Cleaning Urban Lakes and Ponds

This project began in 2019 with the goal of finding a more efficient way to clean Berlin’s parks. To achieve this, I conducted on-site investigations to identify the problem areas, defined the specific challenges, and worked on creating a solution. In 2022, we started developing prototypes in collaboration with Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) and with Engineer Sebastian Schaub, who handles the engineering aspects of the project.

01

Project Overview

  • Pontoon is a remote-controlled boat with a push-plow, designed to remove floating debris from small lakes and ponds in urban areas. The primary objective of this project was to find a more efficient way to clean Berlin’s parks. To achieve this, I conducted on-site investigations to identify the problem areas, defined the specific challenges, and worked on creating a solution.
02

Design and Features

  • Pontoon is a small and easy-to-use device. It features a transport case, which allows for easy handling and storage. The boat is designed to glide across the water’s surface, collecting floating debris, particularly larger pieces of trash such as bottles and packaging.
03

Push-Plow Mechanism

  • The heart of Pontoon is the push-plow, which has a trapezoidal collection area that ensures efficient debris capture. As the boat moves, the push-plow gathers debris, directing it towards the collection area. Once the collected debris reaches the shore, it is retrieved by a cleaning staff member using a net and properly disposed of.
04

Structural Components

  • Structurally, the boat is divided into three main segments: the push-plow, the parallel pontoons, and the technology box. The pontoons serve as the base and are connected to the technology box, which houses electronic components such as the battery, a servo, a speed controller, and a camera. The propeller drives are located at the rear of each pontoon and are covered by a propeller guard to prevent damage.
05

Development Process

  • The design process behind Pontoon focused on creating a compact, user-friendly device that could navigate in small urban water areas efficiently. The development included extensive prototyping and testing to ensure reliability and performance. Since 2022, we have been cooperating with Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) and developing several prototypes to further refine the design and functionality of Pontoon.
06

Environmental Impact

  • Overall, Pontoon offers an effective and innovative solution for removing floating debris from small lakes and ponds in urban areas. By doing so, it helps reduce environmental pollution caused by floating trash, contributing to cleaner and more pleasant park environments in cities.

Conclusion: The prototyping phase for Pontoon is nearing completion, and the device has demonstrated its effectiveness and ease of use in various tests. As we finalize the design, we are preparing to develop Pontoon in serial numbers. This will enable widespread deployment in urban areas, further enhancing our ability to maintain clean and healthy parks and other public spaces. Pontoon is poised to make a significant impact on environmental conservation and urban cleanliness.

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