Project: To design and fabricate a working prototype of a remote controlled

underwater vehicle for cleaning the Ganges River.

Need for the project: The Ganges river is amongst the 10 most polluted rivers in the
world. While there are a lot of existing advanced cleaning devices and techniques for
cleaning the surface of the river but cost efficient devices that could also clean the
riverbed are difficult to be found.

Project Outcome:

 A remote controlled submarine-like underwater vehicle capable of working

underwater in the Ganges River filled with wastes of different densities and
compositions.

Methodology:

1. Specifying Functions and limitations of the vehicle:

a) Type of waste which can be reduced-sewage, chemical,
plastics etc.
b) The depth to which the vehicle can travel
c) The maximum distance the vehicle can travel
d) The maximum load the vehicle can carry
2. Designing:
a) Preparing and finalizing a drawing of the vehicle
b) Main frame design phase with suitable geometric
dimensions for assembly
c) Propeller design with suitable geometric dimensions for
assembly
d) Fin design with suitable geometric dimensions for
assembly
e) Selecting suitable material
f) Planning the circuit that will control the manoeuvring of
the device, on signal command from the controller.
g) Designing of the recharging system
3. Analysis:
a) Use of engineering design and analysis software as well
as computational software’s such as CFD to aid in the
analyses of load carrying capacity, failure analysis, fluid
flow, effect of fluid flow on vehicle and the overall
feasibility of the proposed design
4. Redesign the device:
a) The need to redesign the vehicle/modifying dimensions
for assembly on the basis of the analysis
b) Identification of new constraints that might need to be
included
5. Analysis:
a) Verification of changes made in the redesign phase
6. Material Cost computation:
a) Based on the geometric dimensions of the prototype and
the chosen material
7. Material purchasing:
a) Generating a BOM and placing an order for the
material/components
8. Assembly
9. Error proofing & testing:
a) Testing in nearby water bodies and identifying errors
10. Constraints
a) Cost of material used
b) Timely completion of project/ not exceeding deadlines
c) Limit on the resources available, making sure chances of
failure/redesign are minimum
d) The extent to which technology both new and old that
can be incorporated into the design and fabrication of the
vehicle prototype
11. Benefits to industry/ society
a) The economic value of an increase in tourism, recreation and
transportation over the stretch of river Ganga
b) The economic value of improving drinking water supply, industrial
water supply and reducing the stress on groundwater
c) The economic value of non-contaminated water for the irrigation of
crops
d) The economic value of an increase in aquatic life (fishes, shrimps etc.)
for the people relying on it