Russia Develops AI-Powered Catamaran to Clean Waterways

Russian engineers are building a smart, autonomous catamaran that uses neural networks to detect and collect floating waste. The vessel is designed to outperform foreign models in endurance and precision.

Russia is actively developing a next-generation 'smart' catamaran designed to clean waterways from waste. The underwater section of the vessel is equipped with a special collection basket and additional grates for capturing debris.

What sets the robot apart is its intelligent object recognition system powered by neural network algorithms. By combining data from lidar and video cameras, the catamaran can identify different types of waste and move directly toward them.

The system is expected to outperform foreign counterparts in terms of autonomous operation, running for up to 12 hours without recharging.

The project’s creator has already built a 3D model of the catamaran and partially developed its software, including a stereo vision system. Algorithms are now being trained on image datasets to improve recognition accuracy. The hull is planned to be manufactured using 3D printing with reinforced waterproof plastic.

Environmental protection has become one of the key areas driving Russian tech innovation in recent years. For example, unmanned boats have already been launched on Russian rivers to locate underwater waste dumps.

Following a designated route, the new robot will identify clusters of debris and transmit coordinates to specialists for cleanup.