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Autonomous Flood Water Removal Robot
Self-navigating dewatering system for unattended flood response, continuous sump management, and automated water level control in critical infrastructure
The robot employs a sensor fusion navigation stack combining LiDAR, ultrasonic ranging, and inertial measurement to map and traverse flooded environments without operator input. A pre-loaded site map enables the unit to plan optimal routes between water accumulation zones and discharge points. Obstacle detection operates at 20 Hz, allowing the robot to avoid submerged debris, structural columns, and uneven terrain. When the primary route is obstructed, the navigation engine recalculates a viable path within 1.5 seconds. The system supports both fully autonomous mode and supervised remote operation, with seamless handover between the two.
The unit integrates a dual-redundant water level sensing array comprising ultrasonic sensors and pressure transducers. The system continuously monitors water depth with 5 mm resolution and automatically activates the pump when depth exceeds a configurable threshold. Pump speed modulates in response to inflow rate, maintaining optimal discharge efficiency while preventing dry-run conditions. When water level drops below the minimum operating depth, the pump enters standby mode and the robot relocates to the next accumulation zone. All threshold parameters are configurable through the remote dashboard.
The power system combines a 48V lithium iron phosphate battery pack with an onboard diesel generator for continuous operation. In battery-only mode, the unit operates for 8 hours. With the generator engaged, runtime extends to 72 hours without refueling. The robot automatically returns to its docking station when battery state of charge falls below 20 percent, recharges, and resumes its patrol cycle. Fuel consumption is monitored in real time, and low-fuel alerts are transmitted via the telemetry link 30 minutes before depletion. The system is configured for deployment durations typical of multi-day flood events.
The robot transmits operational data through dual-channel communication: 4G LTE for high-bandwidth video and telemetry, with automatic fallback to LoRaWAN for extended range in areas with poor cellular coverage. The cloud dashboard provides live position tracking, water level history, pump performance curves, and battery state of charge. Fleet management capabilities support simultaneous monitoring of up to 24 units across multiple sites. Integration with SCADA and municipal emergency management platforms is available through RESTful API and MQTT protocols.
The navigation stack processes LiDAR and ultrasonic data at 20 Hz, detecting obstacles within a 5-meter radius. Upon detection, the robot decelerates and attempts to navigate around the obstruction. If no viable path exists within 1.5 seconds, the robot halts, transmits an alert to the remote dashboard, and awaits operator instruction. The operator may then manually guide the robot past the obstacle or dispatch personnel to clear it.
In the event of communication loss, the robot continues operating in autonomous mode using its onboard navigation and control systems. All operational data are logged locally. Upon restoration of the communication link, the robot synchronizes logged data with the cloud dashboard. If communication is lost for more than 24 hours, the robot completes its current cycle and enters a safe standby state until reconnection.
Site mapping is performed by our technical team during the pre-deployment survey using a portable LiDAR scanner. The resulting point cloud is processed into a navigable 2D occupancy grid with elevation data. This map is loaded onto the robot and serves as the reference for path planning. For sites with dynamic layouts, the map can be updated remotely through the dashboard using new survey data.
LiDAR and ultrasonic sensor windows should be cleaned weekly or after each flood event. The navigation map should be reviewed and updated quarterly for sites with changing layouts. Battery capacity should be tested semi-annually. The docking station contacts should be inspected monthly for corrosion. Generator maintenance follows standard diesel engine service intervals.
Yes. Up to 6 units can operate simultaneously on a single site with coordinated task allocation. The fleet management system assigns water accumulation zones to individual robots based on proximity, battery state, and pump capacity. Collision avoidance is maintained through inter-robot communication and shared map updates. Larger deployments can be managed across multiple sites through the central dashboard.
