Robots Are Doing More Than You Think for Our Planet
We have seen robots in many movies and television series - Iron Man, Black Mirror, Ex Machina, Finch, just to name a few. The things we thought robots cannot possibly perform are slowly and surely becoming a reality as our technology advances at a lightning speed.
Robots work perfectly with automation which provides us with cost-effective work time, improved quality and productivity. Robots are changing the way businesses operate, and even better, they are changing the way we protect our planet. Did you know that robots have been revolutionizing sustainability and becoming great help to clean the ocean and preserve the environment?
Ocean Cleanups
Jellyfishbot, a small marine drone designed to collect waste and hydrocarbons on the surface of the water, was first introduced in June 2018 in France by IADYS. It has since been adopted in several countries around the world, including Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Norway, and so on. Other than waste collection, Jellyfishbot also provides de-pollution services to clean up port areas, lakes, canals and industrial sites to avoid the spread of pollutants in the environment. IADYS also runs educational campaigns in Port of Cassis, South of France, to raise awareness of the importance of water and the role everyone plays in protecting it. People can also play with Jellyfishbot to get more hands-on experience and learn more about how it operates.
Preserving Ecosystems
Research and observation are critical parts of conservation, especially for species that are threatened or endangered. This is where SlothBot comes in, an adorable, energy-efficient robot built by robotics engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2020. This slow-moving, multi-functional robot will linger in the environment to observe without interrupting wildlife, recording things we can only see by being present continuously for months or years, transferring data to the lab so scientists can learn more about the ecosystem. Its 3D-printed shell helps protect the motors, gearing, batteries and sensing mechanisms from the weather. Beyond conservation, SlothBot could have applications for various areas, such as weather, agriculture, etc. The team mentioned in their latest video that they are working on a new version of the SlothBot that is smaller, more dexterous and intelligent. This will definitely be something to look forward to in the future.
Climate Change
When we think of climate change, recycling is usually not the first thing that comes to mind. The truth is, recycling is one of the fundamental methods to directly help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases as it prevents waste to end up in landfill and reduces the need to harvest new materials. Glacier, an innovation leader in AI-powered waste technology has just raised $4.5M in seed funding earlier in 2022, backed by prominent leaders from different industries including former GE CEO Jeff Immelt, climate investor and former climate policymaker Sierra Peterson and former Uber CPO Manik Gupta. Glacier produces an industry-leading recycling robot that sorts over 30 different item types and costs up to 60% less than other robots while matching or exceeding their performance.
Robots are making great processes in helping to build a more sustainable future and the possibilities are endless. TGB Charity cares about the environment and believes in sustainability, we proudly support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and invite you to join the movement.
