Abstract Marine oil spills threaten coastal ecosystems, as demonstrated by high-profile environmental disasters such as the Wakashio incident in Mauritius on 25 July 2020. These events reveal deficiencies in existing response mechanisms, including limited autonomous monitoring systems, insufficient oil recovery, and the hazardous reliance on human intervention. To address these issues, this paper presents the design and development of a novel, multi-functional robotic platform capable of autonomous sea navigation, real-time seawater quality monitoring, oil spill detection and skimming, and spatial mapping. The modular and solar-powered system integrates several key subsystems: a propulsion and energy management unit, an advanced sensor and control suite (including GPS, dissolved oxygen sensors, ultrasonic and visual obstacle detection), and an oleophilic belt-based oil skimmer with autonomous deployment. It also features seawater sampling and GIS-enabled real-time data logging for spatial environmental profiling. The design was optimized for buoyancy, hydrodynamics, and structural integrity in marine conditions using modelling tools such as SolidWork, Floatsoft, and ANSYS. The final prototype employs a catamaran hull for stability and load capacity (up to 150 kg) and is powered by two 450W solar panels with battery storage. Laboratory testing validated the navigation, control, and oil skimming subsystems, confirming the feasibility of autonomous operation. Simulations indicated effective obstacle avoidance, an average speed of 5 m/s, and structural resilience against wave-induced stress. This affordable, scalable system offers a promising alternative to conventional clean-up methods, with potential for swarm deployment. It enhances disaster preparedness and supports long-term marine ecosystem management through continuous monitoring and autonomous intervention.
Callyhurn et al. (Wed,) studied this question.