Dustbot

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Prototypes of various dustbots

The term dustbot (Engl. Dirt robots ) are several different being developed robot summarized.

Their common feature is that they can dispose of garbage completely independently. As part of a European research project that has been running since the end of 2006, practical tests of Dustbots have taken place in Italy and Sweden in 2009, which has generated worldwide media coverage.

Similar developments and practical tests are taking place in South Korea and Japan .

Function and development

The autonomous robots navigate via GPS and can be "ordered" at any time by phone or SMS . The autonomously driving robots find their way to the customer on their own, collect the garbage and drive back to their headquarters or to the landfill just as independently. A special “intelligent environment” must be created for this, equipped with cameras and special sensors for monitoring and independent coordination of the robots with one another via the Internet.

The development of Dustbots has been advanced at the universities of Örebro , Pisa , Florence and Lucerne in the Dustbot (Networked and Cooperating Robots for Urban Hygiene) project since December 2006. The estimated project costs are around 2.8 million euros for 36 months. Nine partners from five nations, including Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as several companies and the European Union are involved. The first prototypes have been in operation in Peccioli / Italy and Örebro / Sweden since the beginning of 2009 .

The aim is to develop a “system to improve urban hygiene”, especially in old, densely built-up European cities.

technology

Detail view of a dustbot

In addition to GPS , the robots also have stored street maps of their area of ​​operation. You are able to use wireless communication . Ultrasonic and infrared sensors are built in to avoid obstacles . The dustbots also have pollutant sensors with which they can measure air pollution . Their capacity is 40 kg.

The Dustcart Robot will use the Segway system as a platform with which it will be able to reach speeds of up to 15 km / h. The range is 19–24 kilometers with a running time of around six hours. The empty weight is 64 kg. The Dustcart Robot will have a user interface so that the customer can specify the amount and type of waste with which the Dustbot has been loaded.

Types

There are two types of Dustrobots. Dustclean operates as a sweeper over the streets, sweeping and vacuuming them clean. The other version, called the Dustcart Robot , serves as a kind of garbage container that can be ordered by phone or SMS and then loaded with waste.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See media reports on the practical tests in Peccioli , Italy , such as at: www.switched.com , Spiegel-Online ; and in Örebro in Sweden , for example at: www.20min.ch , www.dn.se , www.krone.at (each accessed on July 13, 2009).

Web links