This innovative robot may align with the summer season, particularly with beachgoers swimming and sunbathing. Its main goal is to identify scattered trash on the beaches, then pick it up and gather it for disposal. Details reveal that Italian researchers have developed a robot named "VERO," which has four legs and resembles a dog mounted on a vacuum cleaner, capable of recognizing trash. Its primary mission is to collect cigarette butts on the beaches. The ends of its limbs are equipped with flexible "suction cups" that allow it to gather the cigarette butts as it approaches them. The suction cups, made using 3D printing technology, have nozzles that enhance suction at ground level without hindering the robot's movement, ensuring smooth and effective trash collection.
These details were shared on the website of the "Italian Institute of Technology," where the robot was conceived by its engineers, highlighting that it is specifically designed to remove waste particles and help restore environmental balance. Researchers also believe the robot can assist in cleaning gardens, beaches, and narrow alleys, particularly in removing cigarette butts from areas that are difficult for wheeled robots to access.
Additionally, this innovation is of great importance as trash poses a significant threat to the balance of many ecosystems, especially marine environments, where coastal and urban waste travels through drains, streets, and waterways, ultimately reaching the sea. As this waste breaks down, it releases toxic chemicals and microplastics, which further contribute to environmental pollution. Traditionally, this trash is removed through manual labor, limiting the amount of waste that can be effectively collected.
In this context, the team presented an innovative prototype for this quadruped robot specialized in dealing with waste, particularly cigarettes, which are considered the second most common form of litter in the world. It is estimated that 4.5 trillion cigarettes are discarded into the environment each year. Furthermore, the innovative Italian team conducted extensive testing in six different outdoor scenarios to demonstrate the prototype's performance and functionality. In preliminary tests involving its operation in various environments, the robot succeeded in collecting nearly 90% of cigarette butts. Unlike other robots, which temporarily repurpose their limbs for tasks like opening doors, this robot continues to use its legs for movement while performing additional tasks. This feature marks the first instance of a robot utilizing all four limbs for dual functions of movement and task execution.
