The ZenRobotics Recycler is a trash sorting robot that would reduce waste going to the landfill by 50%. In the past the recycling of waste was based on the active participation of people throwing away their waste into the appropriate trash bin, but things are different now that robots are involved.
The ZenRobotics Recycler has multiple sensor inputs to identify items and raw materials. The sensors can analyze the waste unlike any other sorting method. The sensor include Visible spectrum cameras, NIR, 3D laser scanners, haptic sensors, and transillumination to name some.
ZenRobotics Old Company Trailer (2010)
Using the sensors the robot can sort multiple kinds of trash and remove them from the main stream. The unnamed robot consists basically of an arm with a gripper connected to a computer. It may not sound fancy but it has big potential.
It uses various proven technologies to perform its waste sorting task. Some of these are metal detection, weight measurement, 3-D scanning, tactile feedback and spectrometer analysis to measure light waves bounced back off of different materials. The mechanism is simple enough to add new measuring devices as technology improves.
The ZenRobotics Recycler
The robot is also smaller than the large machine that was used in the Osaka University’s technology for recycling robots. This makes it easier to integrate into existing waste management facilities. The robot can currently identify metals, concrete, wood and certain types of plastics.