Recently, I read up on the Dustbot project which is “a project aimed at designing, developing, testing and demonstrating a system for improving the management of urban hygiene based on a network of autonomous and cooperating robots.”   More simply, the Dustbot is a robot that collects trash, classifies it into organic, recyclable or waste and then whisks it away to a waste management site.  Now how cool is that? If only some men could be trained this effectively.

In fact, although still in prototype stages, the robot will bring recycling and garbage to a waste management site by maneuvering itself along the streets and through narrow pathways, utilizing a laser scanner and ultrasound sensors for obstacle avoidance.  Reportedly, it also has the ability to measure atmospheric pollutants like sulphur oxide, benzene, ozone, and nitrogen oxide with its on-board sensors.  Also, if a registered user wishes to have the robot bring recycling and garbage to a waste management site, the Dustbot can be called by a cell phone.  Perhaps it could walk the dog and collect his waste too?

Now as astonishing as all this sounds, I have to say that I am not personally ready to witness Robots roaming the streets without human guidance, even if it does bring recycling and garbage to waste management sites for you. If we can program robots to be green we must be capable of living in a more eco-friendly way  ourselves, are you doing your part? Planet Forward aims to take us all a step or a short circuit nearer.