Energy Autonomy

Ecobot III is an EPSRC funded project which ended in January 2007. The main objective of this project was to develop a robot with onboard fluid circulation, capable of collecting its energy from the environment and getting rid of its own waste; all of these functions are powered by the MFCs. Due to the challenging nature of this project rapid prototype technology was fully utilised in order to produce a uniquely designed, lightweight and strong robot structure comprising multiple parts. Furthermore, because of the scarcity of onboard energy, the team was required to develop ultra low power electronic circuitry to operate the robot.

The image at right shows the current ecobot team.

Ingestion/Digestion/Egestion Vessel

This is the upper most component of the robot which constists of the ingestion, artificial digestion and solid waste excretion mechanism. The image clearly shows sludge within the vessel and solid waste sedimented into the egester.

Sludge and Water Distribution and MFCs

This is the middle section of the robot which consists of the sludge distribution mechanism (white solid helical rings), and the MFCs (24 in total) which are shown just below the distribution mechanism. Underneath the MFCs there is an overflow collection tray which feeds back into the ingestion vessel above.

Video Gallery

Note that the DivX software/codec is needed to play these files.

This movie is a sub-assembly test for the solid waste removal system, this is not powered by MFCs.

This movie is a sub-assembly test of the sludge distribution system, this is not powered by MFCs.

Links

Ecobot Project & Team

Ecobot I

Ecobot II

Artificial Gill

Ecobot Home

For more information or any comments about the ecobot project please email to ioannis.ieropoulos@brl.ac.uk