A University of Cincinnati Venture Lab-backed startup has developed a robot that can clean garbage, an oil spill or fish kill from waterways in a way that's safer and more effective than doing it manually, Spectrum News 1 reported.
Clean Earth Rovers has created a rover that can operate autonomously or via a remote control to clean coastal waterways, skimming across the surface of the water.
"The water Roomba is what it's often called," said Rob Charvat, the chief technical officer of Clean Earth Rovers. "Our vehicle is designed to be able to take missions which might require five or six or seven people and do it on its own."
Clean Earth Rovers demonstrated how valuable its rover can be after Hurricane Ian hit Florida. The startup was able to send its rovers into flooded areas where it was too dangerous for a person.
"Being able to take these dull, dangerous, and dirty tasks and being able to give it to a robot - but not only doesn't mind doing it, it's also more effective than doing it," Charvat said.
Featured image at top: Clean Earth Rovers' rover in a marina. Photo/Clean Earth Rovers
