VIRA Ocean Cleaner

Project Description — VIRA Ocean Cleaner

VIRA Ocean Cleaner is a ring-shaped autonomous marine platform designed to clean the ocean surface from plastic waste, floating debris and oil pollution while partially generating its own electricity.

The system consists of a large floating circular structure equipped with external sail-blades, internal guiding blades, electromagnetic coils, a central rotor and a buoy-like robotic waste collector. The external sail-blades use wind and water movement to create circular water circulation inside the ring. This circulation forms a controlled artificial vortex that gently pulls floating pollution toward the centre of the platform.

Inside the ring, guiding blades help direct plastic waste, oil films and other floating contaminants into the central collection zone. The central module works like an autonomous ocean vacuum robot: it collects, separates and temporarily stores waste before it is transported for recycling, treatment or disposal.

The platform also includes electromagnetic coils and energy-generation modules inside the ring structure. These elements are intended to convert part of the mechanical movement of water and rotating components into electricity. The generated power can support onboard sensors, navigation, communication, control systems and the central collector.

VIRA Ocean Cleaner is designed to work together with European space technologies. Copernicus and Sentinel Earth observation data can be used to detect oil spills, floating debris accumulation, water colour anomalies and pollution movement. Galileo and EGNOS can support precise positioning, autonomous navigation and route optimisation. Drones, onboard sensors and satellite data can work together to monitor polluted areas, guide the platform and verify cleaning results.

The project directly supports the CASSINI Hackathon “Space for Water” challenge by addressing the detection, tracking and prevention of water pollution. It combines Earth observation, satellite navigation, artificial vortex generation, autonomous marine robotics and environmental cleanup into one integrated solution.

The long-term vision is to create a scalable network of autonomous ocean-cleaning platforms that can operate in polluted coastal zones, ports, river mouths, oil-spill areas and ocean plastic accumulation zones. The system could help reduce marine pollution, support faster emergency response after oil accidents and contribute to cleaner, healthier oceans.