McKenna Cox

Make a business plan for "Poseidon", a business that combines social media, video games, and robotics to help clean polluted bodies of water.

Started Jan. 29, 2025

Abstract or project description

I developed a business plan for a robotics-based polluted water cleanup solution. The purpose is to create an affordable, human-controlled robot that collects trash and microplastics from bodies of water. In comparison to other robots, this robot is user-driven, allows people to gain volunteer service hours, and has a low cost compared to other cleanup robots. Since it is user-driven, expenses from autonomous functions are cancelled, making it accessible and usable by the general public.

The robot will be connected to a mobile app where users can control the robot from. Once users finish their cleanup session, they will be prompted to post about their efforts on social media and receive a global ranking based on how many pounds of trash they collected. This gamified, social-media-integrated system is designed to attract pedestrians, students, robotics teams, tourists, and sustainability-focused companies.

Students can earn volunteer service hours for their participation, and robotics teams can learn about how robotics can be applied to address climate change. Tourists and everyday users will be drawn in by the app's social and game-like elements, while sustainable companies may lease robots to accomplish their own sustainable goals.

Each robot has its own dock that they lock to. This protects them from weather, vandalism, and loss. Users will approach the robot and download the app. They will then connect to the robot using Bluetooth. Once they begin their session, the robot will detach, and they can begin their session! After the session, the user drives the robot back up the ramp and returns it to the cubby.

Many risks such as weather, loss, breaking, and theft are accounted for in the system of the app and robot. The app will be connected to the weather app so that users cannot use the robots when the weather is bad. Also, a geofence will be implemented along with the app and the robot to prevent the robot from interfering with lake activities and getting lost and/or stolen. Geofencing means that robots cannot go further than a certain point.

I hope that the first location of implementation will be at White Rock Lake in Texas, one of the most polluted lakes in Texas that suffers from trash from other lakes and microplastics. White Rock Lake already involves lots of communal cleanup opportunities, but the majority of them are focused on trash inside of the lake. The robot will use a net-based system tailored for microplastic collection. The goal is for Poseidon robots to expand to other polluted lakes in Texas and, eventually, to large-scale polluted bodies of water like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

To get started, I’m actively presenting to the committee of White Rock Lake as I make progress. Also, I am conducting user interviews with a wide range of possible users (ex. students, organizations, sustainable enthusiasts) who can help me further my idea and make edits to my business plan along the process. One of my priorities right now is discussing with cleanup committees, organizations, departments, and management committees to gain the necessary approvals for implementing Poseidon robots at White Rock Lake. I am also in the search for sponsors and ways to make funds, such as submitting my business plan to competitions!