International Journal of Advanced Engineering Application

Design and Development of a Solar-Powered Autonomous Floating Bot for Water Quality Monitoring and Surface Cleaning

Author(s):Aadit Aggarwal¹, Hitendra Vaishnav²

Affiliation: 1Sacred Heart Convent International School

Page No: 54-61

Volume issue & Publishing Year: Volume 2 Issue 12 , Dec-2025

Journal: International Journal of Advanced Engineering Application (IJAEA)

ISSN NO: 3048-6807

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17950124

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Abstract:
Over time, freshwater systems have encountered issues such as pollution, floating debris, and decreasing water quality, resulting in an increasing need for a low-cost, scalable, and energy-efficient monitoring solution. Traditional water sampling techniques require extensive labor, have limited sampling coverage, and lack a real-time component. In this study, we provide the design and development of a solar-powered, IoT-enabled floating bot that can function independently, monitor critical water-quality values, and help remove waste from the surface level. The bot is powered by a 20 W photovoltaic module, a 12.6 V, 1800 mAh Li-ion battery, and electrical components that allow for renewable-energy-based operation of the device. A microcontroller (ESP32) works as the processing and connectivity hub and connects to sensors (DHT11 for ambient parameters, DS18B20 for water temperature, analog turbidity sensor, and the pH probe). Two continuous rotation servo motors actuate the propeller method of navigation; and onboard Wi-Fi provides remote access and a dashboard for real-time monitoring of sensor readings. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that the solar panel can generate up to 72 Wh/day of usable energy, enabling continuous monitoring and up to 2.6 hours of cruising on battery alone. With a 14 Wh/day positive energy balance under typical 4.5 peak sun hours, the system is effectively energy self-sustaining. Sensor observations for pH, turbidity, and temperature remained stable and accurate within expected tolerances, validating the platform’s capability for environmental assessment. Overall, the developed prototype offers a low-cost, sustainable, and scalable solution for water-quality monitoring and floating waste collection, with future potential for autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and AI-driven water treatment recommendations.

Keywords: Solar-powered water monitoring, IoT-enabled floating bot, water-quality assessment, turbidity sensing, pH sensing, renewable-energy-based system, ESP32 microcontroller, autonomous environmental monitoring, floating waste collection, real-time data acquisition, low-cost scalable prototype.

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