Enhancing swimming pool hygiene: A robotic approach to debris removal and water quality monitoring

The World Health Organization has underscored swimming as a significant exercise for attaining health, and it is also recognized as a competitive sport in many nations. Individuals across all age groups choose swimming as a means to enhance their fitness levels. Maintaining the cleanliness of the swimming pool is imperative to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. Despite regular weekly or monthly maintenance, cleanliness is often compromised due to service provider limitations. In the contemporary landscape, artificial intelligence technologies are progressively assuming roles where human providers fall short. This article proposes the integration of ethical robots to augment cleaning services both within and around swimming pools. These waterproof robots are designed to navigate within the pool environment, efficiently collecting debris and waste into their attached receptacles. The deployment of such ethical robotics marks a significant advancement in swimming pool maintenance, promising enhanced efficiency and hygiene standards. This work presents the design and implementation of an autonomous swimming pool cleaning robot, integrating multiple functional units: Power, sensor, wireless communication, motor, and water quality monitoring. After the power is on, the robot starts calibrating its sensors and establishes a connection with a remote human-machine interface to transmit the initial operational status. By utilizing advanced image processing algorithms, specifically color moments, the robot identifies and classifies floating debris while continuously monitoring water quality parameters. When debris is detected, the robot calculates its trajectory based on X and Y coordinates, adjusting its movement accordingly to collect the debris with a salvage net. It incorporates ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection, employing a threshold-based avoidance algorithm to navigate around obstacles effectively. The cleaning process is repeated until the pool is cleared, after which the robot returns to its charging station, powering down non-essential systems in preparation for the next cycle. This study highlights the efficiency and effectiveness of robotic automation in pool maintenance, demonstrating significant advancements in the integration of robotics, sensor technology, and real-time data communication. The findings contribute valuable insights into future developments in robotic cleaning systems and their applications in various environments.