Every year, approximately six million cigarettes are smoked worldwide, resulting in an estimated 4 trillion cigarette butts being discarded in places other than designated bins. These discarded butts, filled with over 700 toxic chemicals, pose a significant environmental hazard.
Despite a decline in the global number of smokers, the issue of cigarette butt pollution persists, prompting researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) to develop a solution. Meet VERO, the Vacuum-cleaner Equipped Robot designed to tackle the challenge of cleaning up cigarette butts.
VERO, equipped with a backpack vacuum and custom 3D-printed nozzles on each foot, utilizes a neural network to identify and suction cigarette butts effectively. Its unique design allows it to navigate various terrains and obstacles, ensuring efficient cleaning operations.
While VERO excels at collecting cigarette butts with nearly 90 percent accuracy, its versatility extends beyond litter gathering. Researchers envision its potential applications in agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and construction tasks.
With its innovative design and capabilities, VERO represents a promising solution to the persistent problem of cigarette butt pollution, showcasing how robotics can contribute to environmental sustainability.
