Smart Rubber Balloon Dam for Coastal Hurricane and Tsunami Protection: A Renewable Energy-Powered System with Hydrodynamic Design and Adaptive Control

The Coastal regions are increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes and tsunamis, which cause severe damage to infrastructure and communities. Traditional barriers such as seawalls and breakwaters are rigid, costly, and often ineffective under extreme hydrodynamic forces. This study proposes a smart rubber balloon dam as a flexible, rapidly deployable, and renewable-energy-powered alternative for coastal protection. The system consists of elliptical inflatable balloons anchored in underground trenches along the shoreline. Balloons are inflated using compressed air supplied by an air storage tank, powered by a Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine coupled with a Doubly Fed Induction Generator, and supported by deep-cycle batteries. To ensure precise operation, a backstepping controller regulates the three-phase induction motor driving the air compressor, achieving a 95% reduction in rotor speed tracking error and settling time of less than 0.5 s. Balloon inflation pressure is stabilised by an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System, which reduces transient variations by 70% and maintains a pressure stability of ±5 % under dynamic hydrodynamic loads. The system was validated through Simulink modelling and hydrodynamic analysis, including case study forces derived from the 2004 Sumatra tsunami. Results confirm reliable balloon deployment, consistent rigidity against bore wave action, and renewable energy self-sufficiency, with 85% conversion efficiency and a stable 4.8 kW output across wind speeds. Compared to conventional defenses, the proposed system offers a faster response, greater adaptability, and a lower environmental impact. This research highlights a novel AI-powered, renewable energy-integrated coastal defense strategy that provides a scalable, sustainable, and climate-resilient solution for shoreline protection. The Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System controller achieves consistent balloon rigidity even under dynamic contact loads, reducing transient variations by 70% while maintaining pressure deviations of less than 5% from the setpoint.