It's a well-established fact that dogs hate vacuum cleaners, although I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the high-pitched sound or the peculiar movement of the device, but every dog I’ve ever encountered has had an adversarial relationship with the vacuum. Robot dogs, however, seem to be the exception.
Laura Davis, the editor in chief of New Equipment Digest, recently reported on a team of researchers from the Dynamic Legged Systems lab at the Italian Institute of Technology. The researchers designed and built a four-legged robot vacuum that can identify and suck up a variety of trash, including cigarette butts on the beach.
Below is an excerpt from her blog post:
The team published a paper in April 2024 on VERO's development and effectiveness in the Journal of Field Robotics. The paper states that cigarette butts are a serious concern for the environment as they release toxic chemicals and microplastics into the as they break down. The team also noted that cigarette butts are the second most common undisposed waste worldwide, in terrains that are hard to reach for wheeled and tracked robots.
VERO has a vacuum mounted on its back with hoses traveling down each leg to its feet. Able to autonomously navigate and handle diverse terrain, its two depth cameras—one front-facing and one on its chin that's downward-facing—enable it to move about safely while an AI program identifies any litter for it to vacuum up. It does move slowly, but it can handle more different types of terrain than a robot with wheels, which can't get to too many places, especially beaches or steps. It's also impressive how it can identify litter on the ground and then move into position so it's back foot can suck it up.
The Lighter Side of Manufacturing
Created by the editors of Plant Services and New Equipment Digest, The Lighter Side of Manufacturing is a feel-good blog that showcases how advances in science, math, engineering, and technology are making our world more whimsical. Here’s another post that is guaranteed to brighten your day.
Transforming industrial waste heat into energy and clean drinking water
Norwegian industry produces 20 TWh of waste heat each year. Most of this heat is released into the air or the ocean, but there might be a new way to utilize this resource.
