Bank-Foot Water Channel Cleaning Work Truck - Sediment Absorbing Robot and Dehydration Plant

A l.fi-meter channel runs along the bank foot of Lake Kasumigaura, lbaraki Prefecture. From fields and rice paddies that surround the area, soil drains into this channel and accumulates in the bottom. Unless removed, the accumulated soil degenerates the functions of the channel, and in the long run, possibly drain into Lake Kasumigaura. With such anticipation, the Ministry of Construction has introduced the ""Bank-foot channel cleaning work truck,"" a compact, highly mobile l l-ton truck installed with apparatuses necessary from absorbing to dewatering soil accumulated. Major advantages of the truck are: a suction robot, operated by wireless controller, runs pulling a suction hose by own driving system; and all apparatuses mounted on the truck are automatically-operated. Each apparatus was designed based on calculation and experiment, and specifications were designed to satisfy each function. Special attention was paid to the design of the suction robot, as well as to the balance between apparatuses mounted on a limited space on the truck bed. After factory testing, we conducted a site test, and confirmed that the truck has a soil collection capacity even higher than expected. However, repeated testing has shown that the truck requires further improvement. We intend to institute changes that will enhance its functions.