Cleaning our environment is becoming a problem worldwide. Due to the increasing rate of growth of the global population as well as the consumption of resources. The global population growth also resulted in rapid urbanization that made the world’s industries to produce 448 million tons of plastic that made people generate more waste.
Experts predicted that we’d have a waste-covered Earth in no time. Due to the pace of people making recycling efforts not matching the world’s industries production of plastic. Several countries facing recycling crisis are now turning to recycling-capable robots as the most effective incentive to improve recycling to keep the environment clean.
However, given that developers are hopeful with their research to produce useful waste-collecting robots. There are still several factors that need further researching to allow robots to reach difficult areas by enabling them to move through the land, water, and air. Read on to know more about how recycling robots can help the environment.
Deep Learning Algorithms to Recognize Specific Objects
Trash-sorting robots are rapidly becoming a common sight in recycling companies because of the advancements in artificial intelligence that gave robots unique features. The unique features of robots use sophisticated deep learning algorithms and cameras to identify specific objects in wastes on conveyor belts.
Sophisticated learning algorithms in recycling-capable robots allow them to sort our cans, glass, plastic containers and bottles, and much more recyclable materials. Using these robots will enable companies to have a safer workplace. Since robots are capable of utilizing dirty, dangerous jobs that can otherwise put a human’s life in danger.
Further, the advancements in artificial intelligence also allowed recycling-capable robots to improve their accuracy of sorting over time through learning processes. Whenever a robot misses out on particular recyclable items, recycling companies can use the learning mode of the robot to re-identify an item again by running it under the camera.
One of the first tech companies responsible for making such innovative robots is a Finnish company called ZenRobotics. ZenRobotics’ trash-sorting robot uses 3D laser cameras, metal sensors, as well as spectroscopic cameras for extreme accuracy. Their robots can also gather data to learn from them through artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Given that humans are throwing away unimaginable amounts of wastes yearly, the benefits of these recycling-capable robots reduce the people’s environmental impact. Further, they also prevent the mining of more raw materials by sorting and cleaning out the recyclable materials closely similar to mining raw materials.
Rapid Sorting of Recyclable Objects
Machinex developed a robotic innovation called SamurAI capable of sorting out recyclable objects at a fast pace compared to a human’s capabilities. Utilizing artificial intelligence to identify the recyclable objects, the SamurAI sorts out every recyclable bit of trash on a conveyor belt.
All recyclable wastes such as containers, cartons, and plastic bottles, the robot integrated artificial intelligence to identify the material of the items within the conveyor belt. Further, the SamurAI will then determine which wastes are recyclable and not recyclable, using suction cups to transfer and place the recyclable wastes to their designated bins.
Given that humans’ capabilities of sorting out recyclable trash and putting them to their designated bins can only pick up 35 pieces every minute. The SamurAi is capable of picking up 70 bits of waste simultaneously. This significant robotic innovation allowed waste industries to enhance their overall productivity while reducing operating costs.
The capabilities and potential of SamurAI opened the eyes of several recycling companies to have this artificially intelligent robot improve their operations. For instance, the largest recycling company in Illinois called Lakeshore Recycling Systems are saving hundreds of thousands every year alone due to the installation of SamurAI.
Several chief executive officers of recycling companies believe that SamurAI is one of the best contributions technology that’ll help preserve the Earth. They also think that implementing SamurAI worldwide can provide countries the innovative solution to linking environmentally responsible waste with recycling.
Taking Apart Mobile Phones and Reusing the Materials
The efforts of a major technology company called Apple enabled them to develop robots capable of recycling iPhones by taking them apart and sorting out each material. One of the major problems we now face worldwide is the increase in technological devices that uses a lot of valuable materials to make.
The traditional electronics recycling machine attempts to expose and collect valuable materials by smashing them. However, the risks of crushing electronic devices to collect valuable materials become incredibly impossible due to materials mixing after the smashing process. Thus, making the materials impure and impossible to recycle.
The big technology company, Apple, took advantage of the advancements in technology and artificial intelligence by creating a robot called Daisy. Daisy is a robotic innovation recycling machine that takes apart iPhones with its five arms, but, with the help of human assistance.
The goal of the major tech company, Apple, is to manufacture all of their products from recycled materials. The process of Daisy involves separating the iPhone’s screen and body to remove all the screws and battery. The robot then pulls apart all of the other components, such as speakers, cameras, haptics, and more.
After all the significant components and screws of an iPhone have been taken and sorted out, Daisy is left with an aluminum shell that can be recycled for future uses. The capabilities of Daisy allow Apple’s factories to disassemble 200 iPhones every hour and at least 1.2 million iPhones yearly.
Recycling Food and Beverage Containers
Humans aren’t proving their efforts to help the environment. Governments are influencing their people to follow the three R’s, which is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, one company that’s pioneering in artificial intelligence and robotics introduced a new and innovative R that’ll help save the environment, which is robots.
AMP Robotics uses breakthrough robotics named Clarke significantly changes the economics of recycling that effectively reduces waste. Clarke incorporates automated identification to sort out and process food and beverage wastes from complex waste streams.
The visible-light camera of Clarke enhanced the trash-sorting system of municipal waste facilities by identifying recyclable cartons of foods, juices, and milk. Clarke will then use its robotic arms equipped with suction cups to take the recyclable boxes out of the landfill and sending them to their designated recycling facility.
The efforts of AMP Robotics with utilizing the advancements in artificial intelligence allowed Clarke to have a 90-percent accuracy of picking up recyclable waste. Further, Clarke is also effective, efficient, and reliable due to its ability to perform 50-percent faster than a human’s capabilities. The other 50-percent goes towards the sorting out process.
Another unique feature of Clarke is that it’ll become smarter and more effective the more it works and picks up trash. Given that Clarke is an AI-based system, it’ll evolve from picking up food, juice, and milk cartons to eventually sorting and picking out other recyclable wastes.
Takeaway
The innovation and advancements in technology and artificial intelligence made it possible for companies to take action and help save the environment. People aren’t fully aware of the dangers of generating more wastes for our environment. Thus, the use of robots to help companies reuse all recyclable materials is vital.
If you want to know more about the latest news and trends about recycling-capable robots, you can visit robots.net. Keep in mind that these robots are only here to assist us. We also have to take immediate action to help clean and save the environment.