Robot dogs can clean beaches with vacuum feet

The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is preparing to use robot dogs to clean trash, mainly cigarette butt, from a beach in Genoa, Italy. The robot was developed in Claudio Semini’s lab at IIT called VERO (Vacuum Cleaner Equipped Robot).

First, an operator designates an area for VERO to clean, and then the robot works autonomously. After calculating a scouting path to explore the entire area, the robot uses its onboard cameras and a neural network to detect trash. Initial tests showed that it could successfully pick up around 90% of cigarette butts.

An AlienGo from Unitree serves as the base, with a commercial vacuum mounted on its back. The vacuum is connected to each foot via hoses running down the legs, featuring a custom 3D-printed nozzle. This could possibly mark the first instance of a legged robot utilizing its legs for both movement and a secondary task simultaneously. This sets it apart from other robots that use their feet to open doors, as these robots temporarily repurpose their feet as vacuums.

Researchers are exploring various potential applications, such as using robots to spray weeds in agricultural fields, inspect infrastructure cracks, and assist in installing nails and rivets during construction.