Innovation Project

Rub-a-Dub Innovation Project: Protecting The Reefs

Our innovation project

Robot Design

Our Robot

This is a photo of our robot. It's very versatile, being able to complete many missions in the robot game. Pictured above is our feed the whale attachment, which enables our robot to be able to pour krill down into the open whale's mouth.

Attachments

Our robot utilises numerous attachments to complete the missions. In one of our attachments, two large connected robot arms are used to press buttons down, drag levers up, or to push buttons. Another attachment is only for the 'feed the whale' mission, where the robot has to pour krill into the whale's mouth after pressing a latch/lever button to open the whale's mouth.

Design

The design of our robot is versatile, in being able to easily add attachments and get through most tight gaps on the board. Our robot has two large wheels and a sort of spherical wheel (bearing) used for rotating. Two motors are used for the wheels, and another two for the arm/attachments.

Understanding The Threats

Trawling Devastation: Weighted nets destroy centuries-old coral reefs in minutes, leaving barren seabeds
Overfishing Impact: A quarter of freshwater fish face extinction due to unsustainable fishing practices.
Ecosystem Disruption: Predators can swept into new areas by currents

The Challenge: Saving Ocean Habitats

Destructive Trawling - Massive nets scrape the ocean floor, destroying delicate coral reefs and marine habitats.
Overfishing - Fish populations plummet as catch rates outpace reproduction, pushing species towards extinction.
Ecosystem Imbalance - Predators displaced by currents disrupt fragile ecosystems in new environments.

Our Solution: Protective Reef Shelters

Our solution is to use protective reef shelters.

Innovative Design: Shelters with small openings protect coral reefs and allow small fish to thrive.

Predator Protection: Larger predators can't access the ecosystem in the shelter, safeguarding endangered species within.

Fishing Prevention: The shelter structure makes it impossible to fish in protected areas.

Challenges & Considerations

Light Reduction: Shelters may limit sunlight, affecting coral growth and ecosystem balance.

Size Restrictions: Larger non-predatory fish might be unable to access protected areas.
Behavioural Changes: Shelters could alter natural feeding, hunting, and breeding patterns of marine life.

Model

Our model can open up to allow submersibles to enter. Holes on the sides allow small fish to enter, and larger predators cannot enter.

mORE iNFORMATION

Population decline: Almost 50% of all fish perished to overfishing and trawling between 1970 and 2012 alone.
Massive trawlers: The Atlantic dawn, the biggest trawling ship of all time, brought back anywhere from more than million to thousands of fish per trip.
Deep trawling: Trawling isn't limited to oceans only hundreds of metres deep as the largest and deepest trawlers can reach depths of 1.6km.

rEFERENCES

The World Counts. Overfishing statistics. Found on 12/11/2024.
Scientific American. Ocean Fish Numbers Cut in Half Since 1970. Found on 12/11/2024
The Ecologirst. Atlantic Dawn. Found on 12/11/2024.