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Waiblingen relies on high-tech: Robot hunts down garbage for a clean city!
Waiblingen is testing an autonomous garbage collector to support city cleaning and improve cleanliness.
Waiblingen relies on high-tech: Robot hunts down garbage for a clean city!
An innovative automatic garbage collector is currently being tested in the city of Waiblingen. The robot works autonomously and is intended to increase the cleanliness of the city by collecting garbage from public areas. This is reported by the Stuttgart News. The model project covers a total of ten cities, with Waiblingen being one of the first locations to test this robot vacuum cleaner from Angsa Robotics.
The robot, which is often mistaken for a large robot lawn mower, is equipped with several cameras that help it with orientation and waste detection. Despite its advanced technology, it is not uncommon for complaints from passers-by who find the machine annoying. The robot's most important function is to independently travel through previously programmed areas, whereby it can also recognize and vacuum up small pieces of rubbish such as bottle caps, broken glass and cigarette butts.
Technology and use
Technically speaking, the robot has a movable vacuum cleaner arm that picks up the garbage. Its waste bin holds 30 liters, which means that items of waste that are too large, such as tissues, cannot be collected. The robot complements the work of city cleaning, but does not replace employees. In addition, the robot is not allowed to drive unaccompanied on paths with pedestrian and bicycle traffic, which ensures safety for all road users.
The robot's performance is continuously monitored during a six-month test phase. The test will aim to identify suitable uses for the robot and a final decision on future use will be made at the end of this test period. One of the biggest challenges comes at the end of June at the Old Town Festival, where a lot of broken glass is expected.
Networking with industrial waste management
In parallel to the tests in Waiblingen, the EU-supported WEXOBOT project has made progress in industrial waste management. The project aims to integrate robots into dirty and dangerous tasks in waste management. Loud CORDIS WEXOBOT combines artificial intelligence with telepresence technology in a software solution that offers a wide range of possible uses. Robot systems like WEXOBOT are said to be ideal for sorting centers where waste is separated.
The project uses ABB industrial robots and is expected to help increase recycling rates and create safer working environments in sorting centers. The successful use of the technology in the pilot projects will continue to be accompanied by extensive tests planned for this year.