Street-cleaning robots

Mobile autonomous robots that collaborate and perform a range of work from street cleaning and rubbish collection to accompanying elderly people are being developed in Europe.

The new generation of robots are part of the European DUSTBOT research project under the remit of the VI European Framework Programme.

The robots were recently introduced by the Spanish TECNALIA Technological Corporation at the Euskotren’s rail station in Atxuri, Bilbao.

At the station it was demonstrated how two robots models known as DustCart and the DustClean could be used to clean surfaces in open and closed areas. The DustCart robot, measuring 1.45m high and 70kg in weight, has a humanoid form and is designed to interact with the user and for the collection of low-demand waste. The DustClean robot, in the form of a small vehicle and measuring 96cm high and weighing 250kg, cleans streets of dirt and dust.

Iñaki Inzunza, director of the business unit at the TECNALIA Technological Corporation, said: ‘These robots are the solution for cleaning areas of difficult access and for the collection of rubbish at the very front door of, above all, persons who have mobility problems when moving the rubbish to the communal waste containers.'