Revolutionising surveying in high risk marine sites with Clearbot's Autonomous Boats: A Case Study | Clearbot

The Challenges of Traditional Methods

Why we ventured into this space of marine surveillance in high risk areas?

Manned surveillance has long been the norm in marine construction, but its limitations are impossible to ignore. We saw an opportunity to revolutionise the industry by addressing these challenges head-on:

• Cost: Manned surveillance can be costly, especially for large or complex projects. This is because it requires the use of personnel, vehicles, and equipment.
• Human error: Manned surveillance is susceptible to human error. This can lead to missed or ignored incidents, which can create security risks.
• Weather conditions: Manned surveillance can be disrupted by weather conditions, such as rain, fog, and wind. This can limit the effectiveness of surveillance and make it difficult to monitor the site.
• Limited coverage: Manned surveillance can only cover a limited area. This is because it is limited by the range of human vision and the mobility of personnel.
• Safety of personnel: Manned surveillance personnel are at risk of injury or death from a variety of hazards, including falls, struck by objects, drowning, and electrocution.
• Environmental impact: Manned surveillance vehicles and equipment can pollute the environment with noise, emissions, and waste.

What Drove Our Vision and What We Set Out to Create

At Clearbot, we saw the potential for a solution to these challenges. We aimed to create an innovation that would redefine the very concept of surveillance in high-risk and inaccessible areas. Our goal was to create  a simple yet powerful tool boasting a level 3 autonomy. We envisioned a system that could remotely livestream site conditions, thrive even in the harshest weather conditions, operate 24/7 (even in low-light situations), and possess unparalleled versatility. We dreamt of a machine that could seamlessly switch between tasks, effortlessly handling pollution recovery and surveillance with the same Clearbot in a single day.

This solution would then be able effortlessly tackles the challenges faced in construction site operations, including collecting clumped-up waste on the sides of steel platforms and performing unmanned surveillance despite the obstacles posed by concrete and steel interference.

After extensive research and development, we successfully adapted Clearbot's autonomous boats that would able to:

• Real-time video streaming: Clearbot streams live video footage to a remote viewer, allowing for 24/7 monitoring of the construction site.
• Night vision: Clearbot can operate in low-light conditions, making it ideal for night-time surveillance.
• 4G-enabled control dashboard: Clearbot can be controlled remotely from a 4G-enabled device, allowing for easy and efficient navigation.
• Collision avoidance: Clearbot uses sensors to detect obstacles and avoid collisions, ensuring the safety of the boat and the construction site.
• GPS navigation: Clearbot can navigate to GPS waypoints, ensuring that the boat stays on course.

Navigating Challenges: Clearbot's Autonomous Boats Deliver in Real-Life Construction Project

When it comes to revolutionising high-risk site surveillance, Clearbot knows that real-world testing is the ultimate proof. That's why we took our autonomous boats to a large-scale construction project, where they tackled the crucial tasks of cleaning, providing visibility under steel platforms, and collecting surface waste within the site. Let's dive into the challenges we faced and the successful outcomes of Clearbot's deployment.

1. Extreme Weather Conditions: Protecting our Bot from DamageExtreme heat posed a significant risk to the electronics of our autonomous boats. To combat this, we implemented advanced cooling systems integrated inside the robot, safeguarding the delicate electronics from heat-related damage. Additionally, we enhanced the waterproofing and weatherproofing of the electronics by incorporating water and emergency pumps, along with connectors designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. These improvements ensure that Clearbot can operate flawlessly, even in the most challenging weather environments.
2. Enhancing Deployability and SafetyDeploying our autonomous boats from elevated heights proved to be unsafe and impractical. To address this, we introduced lifting hooks to the bot, enabling secure attachment to a crane. This innovation streamlined the deployment process, minimizing risks associated with manual handling and ensuring a safe and efficient launch of Clearbot into action.

But we also had a lot of successes:

• Reduced risk: Clearbot reduced the risk of accidents and injuries, as well as the risk of theft and vandalism.
• Improved efficiency: Clearbot systems improved efficiency by freeing up staff to focus on other tasks.
• Enhanced security: Clearbot helped  to enhance security by providing a 24/7 monitoring solution.
• Reduced environmental impact: Clearbot helped to reduce the environmental impact of marine construction by reducing the need for manned vessels and personnel.
• Flexibility: Clearbots can be deployed in a variety of environments and situations, making them more flexible than traditional manned surveillance methods.
• Scalability: Clearbots can be scaled up or down to meet the specific needs of a surveillance operation, making them more scalable than traditional manned surveillance methods.
• Confined spaces and shallow water navigation: Clearbot excelled in confined spaces and shallow water navigation. Its remarkable agility and maneuverability were enabled by its compact design, advanced navigation capabilities, shallow water capabilities, and lack of onboard personnel. These features made Clearbot ideal for a variety of applications, such as construction site surveillance, environmental monitoring, and cleaning and inspection.

As a result of these advantages, unmanned surveillance systems like Clearbot are becoming increasingly viable alternative for a variety of marine surveillance applications as well, including:

• Security: Unmanned systems can be used to patrol coastlines and waterways to deter and detect illegal activities, such as smuggling, piracy, and illegal fishing.
• Environmental monitoring: Unmanned systems can be used to monitor marine ecosystems for signs of pollution, climate change, and other environmental threats.
• Search and rescue: Unmanned systems can be used to search for missing persons or vessels in distress.
• Scientific research: Unmanned systems can be used to collect data on marine life, ocean currents, and other scientific phenomena.

(Note: This blog is intended for informational purposes only. The availability and implementation of Clearbot's technology may vary. Please consult with Clearbot or relevant professionals for specific details and inquiries.)

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