BLEU
BLEU (ongoing) is an underwater drone designed for coral reef conservation and oceanic movement tracking. Coral reefs, the "rainforests of the sea" are vital for biodiversity, coastal protection, economies, and food security, yet they face threats from pollution, climate change, and destructive human activities.
Our goal with BLEU is to:
-> Tracks fish migrations to observe impact of environmental changes.
-> Fleet used to gather statistically significant amount of data.
-> Drone’s fish-like form blends seamlessly into environment.
-> Help restore/ transplant coral reef.
Spearhead:
UX-design
Physical-Prototyping
ENG-Research
Team
Ethan Lin
Siwei Jin
Tools
Figma
Adobe CC
Duration
Spring 2024
2 months
Conceptual Model
developed this as a guiding framework for BLEU
Designers should define a clear purpose and concept, iterating on hardware, software, user interactions, and the business model while prioritizing ethics. Balancing automation with human control ensures both effectiveness and trust
Engineering research
Focused on the transformation aspect to assist material selection (Flexible + Coral-Like Materials for Transformation)
Using fluidic actuation can enable camouflage by shape morphing, supporting the goal of blending into reef environments.
The goal is to create a lightweight, durable, and coral-like structure that mimics natural reefs while maintaining hydrodynamics and flexibility.
3D-printed terracotta clay mixed with calcium mimics natural coral, providing an eco-friendly solution for marine life colonization. The material can be secured in removable panels using magnets or clips, ensuring easy maintenance and customization.
The testing and iteration process ensures the efficiency, durability, and marine compatibility of the terracotta-integrated drone.
Initial water tank trials assess the drone’s buoyancy, hydrodynamics, and movement with various tile placements to optimize performance. Following this, the drone undergoes marine life interaction tests in controlled environments to observe coral and algae colonization, ensuring the material effectively supports marine biodiversity. Based on these results, structural adjustments are made to refine the camouflage, flexibility, and durability of the terracotta tiles, improving attachment methods and overall integration.
This iterative approach enhances the drone’s adaptability while maintaining seamless functionality in underwater environments.
Physical Prototype
EMphasized on the coral transformation
Since our robot is designed to operate in a fleet, we focused on coral-inspired transformations to enhance camouflage, enabling seamless integration into the environment for unobtrusive observation.
-Lidar Sensors: Integrated into the sides in the form of fish gills for 3D environmental mapping.
-Double Cameras: Positioned as eyes for a broad, stereoscopic view.
-Transplant Tools: Extend from a mouth-like opening for tasks like coral transplantation.
-Swivel Head: Allows a wide range of views, enhancing surveillance capabilities.
-Main Chamber: Houses both sample collection facilities and the robot’s internal hardware.
-Mimic Coral Extensions: Concealed in the main body for camouflage, enabling unobtrusive observation.
A low fidelity physical prototype was constructed using everyday materials like cups and eating utensils, which helped us visualize and refine the robot's design, emphasizing on the unique coral transformation.
Digital Prototype
We prioritized aesthetic appeal and user-friendliness for the digital interface, making it accessible to non-technical users
Dashboard for monitoring robot working performance, managing rentals, and assigning tasks.
VR experience for users to go in depth and navigate through the ocean floor.
Business Model
We prioritized aesthetic appeal and user-friendliness for the digital interface, making it accessible to non-technical users
How BLEU operates and it’s 3 main functionalities
How BLEU creates value to (L) and generate revenue from (R) stakeholders
Design System
Tackled the challenges when operating traditional robot control systems
