Journal of Computer Sciences and Applications
ISSN (Print): 2328-7268 ISSN (Online): 2328-725X Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/jcsa Editor-in-chief: Minhua Ma, Patricia Goncalves
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Journal of Computer Sciences and Applications. 2018, 6(1), 38-42
DOI: 10.12691/jcsa-6-1-5
Open AccessSpecial Issue

Algae Harvesting from Large Outdoor Ponds Using a Novel Parallel Robot System

Robert L. Williams II1, and Jesus Pagan2

1Mechanical Engineering Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA

2Engineering Technology and Management Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA

Pub. Date: June 04, 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Information Technology and Computational Intelligence)

Cite this paper:
Robert L. Williams II and Jesus Pagan. Algae Harvesting from Large Outdoor Ponds Using a Novel Parallel Robot System. Journal of Computer Sciences and Applications. 2018; 6(1):38-42. doi: 10.12691/jcsa-6-1-5

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method for effective, economical, energy-efficient algae harvesting from large (1-4 acre) outdoor circulating raceway pond systems: a portable 4-cable-suspended robot. Algae, used as an alternative energy crop to produce biofuels (and other consumer products), still remains too expensive. One of the greatest expenses in processing algae is the harvesting process. To replace the typical energy-intensive pumping of the entire pond water through algae filters, we propose using a cable-suspended robot to collect algae, which largely then drains of water while the robot translates the product to a collection point. An additional benefit of our concept, in additional to lower harvesting cost, is that the algae still growing in the pond is not shocked as in the current pumping process, leading to better, healthier yields. Further, the proposed robot system is portable, capable of harvesting multiple ponds while algae continues to grow.

Keywords:
cable-suspended robot algae biofuels algae harvesting four-cable pseudostatics positive cable tensions kinematics singularities stiffness

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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