"Sorting Robot is controlled by a perception and artificial intelligence system that identifies plastic, cardboard and metals that can be recovered from marine waste”
We have developed an intelligent robot to sort and separate waste by type of material for its recycling
We have developed an innovative robot capable of sorting and separating waste by type of material, which represents a breakthrough for the improvement of recycling processes. This automated system uses advanced artificial intelligence that identifies different types of materials, such as plastic, metals and cardboard, among others. The robot optimises the recovery of recyclable materials and contributes to environmental sustainability.
Marine waste and plastic from the bottom of the oceans
Our research engineers, specialised in the field of robotics, have been working on the MAELSTROM H2020 initiative for the past few years to remove marine waste and plastic from the bottom of our oceans.
As part of this project, the Sorting Robot, controlled by an artificial intelligence and perception system, has been developed to identify plastic, cardboard and metals that can be recovered from marine waste.
- Sorting Robot has proven its effectiveness in sorting marine waste: plastic and other debris have been collected during beach cleaning operations and by the SeabedCleaner underwater robot in the Sacca Fisola canal in Venice.
- The Sorting Robot uses an artificial intelligence system that combines NIR hyperspectral data, 2D and 3D vision to perform pixel-by-pixel sorting. The artificial intelligence model applied by the robot currently uses a pixelwise LDA classification based on NIR data with black and white normalisation. Furthermore, a deep learning model has been developed and implemented using a 1D convolutional neural network (CNN).
Recycling and sustainability applications
In the Reconmatic and Circulessprojects, the robot tackles construction waste, removing contaminants, such as gypsum and plastic to produce higher quality recycled aggregates.
The technology is also starting to be applied to the sorting of textiles, separating them by fibre type and colour, which opens up new possibilities in the recycling of clothing and other textile products.
Advanced technology for recycling
This breakthrough not only facilitates waste separation, but also represents a milestone in the circular economy, maximising the recovery of recyclable materials and helping to reduce pollution. By optimising the waste identification and sorting process, the Sorting Robot fosters environmental sustainability and efficient use of resources.
