Imagine a world where cigarette butts, the second most common type of litter, are a thing of the past. Thanks to the innovative minds at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), that future may be closer than you think. Meet VERO, a quadrupedal robot designed to find and suck up trash with its feet, revolutionizing the way we approach litter cleanup.
VERO, short for “Vacuum-cleaner Equipped Robot,” is a game-changing platform built to tackle the issue of cigarette butt litter head-on. This robot dog, based on an AlienGo unit from Unitree, features a commercial vacuum mounted on its back, with hoses and custom 3D-printed nozzles attached to each foot.
The system allows VERO to autonomously locate and collect cigarette butts, even on uneven terrain like beaches and stairs, where traditional wheeled robots struggle. With an estimated 4 trillion butts tossed onto the ground every year, each leeching over 700 toxic chemicals into the environment, VERO’s potential impact is significant.
As Engadget reports, initial testing has shown VERO to be highly effective, collecting nearly 90% of cigarette butts in various environments. While speed may not be its strong suit, VERO’s ability to work tirelessly without getting fed up makes it an ideal solution for litter cleanup.
The researchers behind VERO envision a range of potential use cases beyond cigarette butt collection. Popsci points out that this could include spraying weeds, inspecting infrastructure, and even placing nails and rivets during construction. As the world continues to grapple with the environmental and health impacts of cigarette butts, this robot dog may just be the hero we need to make a real difference in the fight against litter.
How VERO Works
VERO’s operation is straightforward. As reported by Spectrum.ieee an operator designates an area for cleaning, and the robot takes over. It uses its onboard cameras and a neural network to detect cigarette butts. The system filters out duplicates and plans the most efficient route to collect the trash. This ensures the robot maintains a stable pose to avoid tipping over.
An additional Intel RealSense depth camera on the robot’s chin fine-tunes the collection process. VERO autonomously navigates the designated area, sucking up cigarette butts with its custom 3D-printed nozzles attached to each foot. The vacuum mounted on its back provides the suction power needed to collect the litter effectively.
By combining advanced robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, VERO can tackle the challenge of cigarette butt litter in a way that has never been done before. Its ability to work tirelessly and navigate uneven terrain makes it a game-changer in the fight against this pervasive environmental problem.
Image credit: Screen shot from Youtube video
