Marine and river pollution, particularly during coastal disasters, threatens the biodiversity of affected areas due to the inflow of hazardous contaminants. In addition, with the increasing use of plastics, microplastic pollution in water bodies is also on the rise. To address such marine pollution, cleanup operations must be carried out promptly to reduce the negative impact on the environment. However, these operations are typically costly, require extensive coordination, and are cumbersome.
A Korean startup has designed and developed an autonomous ocean cleaning robot capable of accurately detecting and collecting marine debris in real time during coastal disasters. This ocean cleaning robot is built to remain durable and reliable even under harsh weather conditions. Equipped with proprietary AI algorithms as well as LiDAR and vision sensors, it enables intelligent perception and decision-making, adapting to changing marine environments such as obstacles, waves, and currents. With its on-device AI functionality, this marine robot can operate independently without relying on external communication networks. This provides a practical solution for faster and more cost-effective maritime emergency response, while delivering measurable ESG improvements.
The technology owner is seeking marine environment service providers and government agencies that are open to conduct pilot trials, as well as partners to jointly develop complementary technologies to further enhance the robot’s capabilities.
This compact modular autonomous surface drone, powered by on-device AI capabilities, can collect floating debris and oil spills while providing continuous service even in challenging coastal and marine environments—particularly during emergencies or in areas with limited connectivity—through smart navigation and stable operation.
The robot includes the following features and specifications:
- Pollutant collection system capable of efficiently recovering a wide range of complex marine pollutants, including high-viscosity low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), low-viscosity heavy fuel oil (HFO), diesel, and surface microplastics ranging from 0.001 mm to 5 mm
- Neural Processing Unit (NPU)-AI autonomous collection and navigation together with proprietary AI algorithms, enabling real-time pollutant recognition without reliance on cloud infrastructure
- Smart navigation and obstacle avoidance for dynamic marine environments
- Camera-sensor fusion technology for low-latency video streaming and 5G transmission
- IP-rated shock-resistant polyethylene chassis equipped with dual propulsion motors, ensuring stable performance even in rough seas and harsh weather conditions
- Swarm control and management platform enabling large-scale deployment and coordinated mission execution
["Marine Autonomous Robot","Marine Pollution Cleanup","Water Surface Cleaning","Oil Spill Detection","On-Device AI","Edge AI","Coastal Disaster"]