Design and Simulation of NEPTUNE-R: A Solar-Powered Autonomous Hydro-Robot for Aquatic Purification and Oxygenation

Mihaela Constantin (), Mihnea Gîrbăcică, Andrei Mitran and Cătălina Dobre ()
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Mihaela Constantin: Department of Thermotechnics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Mihnea Gîrbăcică: Department of Computers and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering in Foreign Languages, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Andrei Mitran: Department of Computers and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering in Foreign Languages, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Cătălina Dobre: Department of Thermotechnics, Engines, Thermal and Refrigeration Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: This study presents the design, modeling, and multi-platform simulation of NEPTUNE-R, a solar-powered autonomous hydro-robot developed for sustainable water purification and oxygenation. Mechanical design was performed in Fusion 360, trajectory optimization in MATLAB R2024a, and dynamic motion analysis in Roblox Studio, creating a reproducible digital twin environment. The proposed path-planning strategies—Boustrophedon and Archimedean spiral—achieved full surface coverage across various lake geometries, with an average efficiency of 97.4% ± 1.2% and a 12% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional linear patterns. The integrated Euler-based force model ensured stability and maneuverability under ideal hydrodynamic conditions. The modular architecture of NEPTUNE-R enables scalable implementation of photovoltaic panels and microbubble-based oxygenation systems. The results confirm the feasibility of an accessible, zero-emission platform for aquatic ecosystem restoration and contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, and 14 by promoting clean water, renewable energy, and life below water. Future work will involve prototype testing and experimental calibration to validate the numerical findings under real environmental conditions.

Keywords: water oxygenation; robotic purification; solar-powered robot; boustrophedon; archimedean spiral; path planning; MATLAB simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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