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/10 · Autonomous water purification
Kraken | Conrad Innovator, Conrad Challenge
A GPS-assisted autonomous water-purification system that turns invasive algae into filtration material, combining an algal-cellulose–graphene oxide membrane with a catamaran platform.
CAD render · Kraken catamaran
01 / The question
Addressing the environmental problems caused by eutrophication and invasive algae.
03 / Technical approach
- Rather than treating invasive algae as waste, Kraken turns them into filtration material. Cellulose extracted from the algae was combined with graphene oxide to develop a nanocellulose–graphene oxide membrane intended to filter organic and inorganic pollutants.
- The membrane was integrated into a GPS-assisted autonomous catamaran system designed to move across the water while performing filtration.
- The project combines materials science, environmental engineering and autonomous robotics, aiming for a scalable, low-cost approach to sustainable water purification.
04 / Outcome & recognition
Earned the Conrad Innovator distinction in the international Conrad Challenge. Intellectual-property protection is in progress.