Remote Controlled Unmanned Ground and Aerial Vehicle (UGAV) for Waste Disposal

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20260603025

Published In

Volume 6, Issue 3 (2026)

Published Online

May-June 2026

Pages

209-217

Article Type

Original Article

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The rapid expansion of urban environments and the increasing demand for automated cleaning solutions highlight the operational limitations of existing robotic vacuum systems, which are largely constrained to planar surfaces and require manual intervention for waste disposal. This study proposes a remote- controlled hybrid unmanned ground and aerial vehicle (UGAV) designed to perform integrated waste collection and disposal through dual-mode mobility. The system employs a wheeled ground platform equipped with a vacuum suction mechanism to collect debris and store it in an onboard container, followed by a controlled transition to an aerial operation for transporting and releasing the collected waste at a predefined disposal location. A unified control architecture governs locomotion, actuation, power allocation, and safety constraints to ensure stable operation during the ground and flight phases. The design emphasizes energy efficiency by favoring terrestrial movement for routine cleaning tasks while reserving aerial operations exclusively for disposal requirements. Experimental trials confirmed reliable waste collection, smooth mode transitions, and consistent aerial disposal behavior under varying operational conditions. By combining surface cleaning and airborne waste handling within a single robotic framework, the proposed UGAV reduces human involvement, enhances safety, and extends the functional coverage beyond that of conventional cleaning robots. The system demonstrates a strong potential for deployment in smart homes, industrial facilities, and public infrastructure as a scalable and intelligent waste management solution.