The port of Cassis in southern France has found an innovative solution to keep the marine clean from plastic bags, packaging, discarded drinks bottles, and even used surgical masks floating in the water among the boats in the marina. That solution comes in the form of a small electric robot called Jellyfishbot.
Designed by the French company IADYS, it is a remote-controlled electric-powered boat capable of collecting floating waste and oil from the surface of the water into a net that it trails behind its twin hulls. The suitcase-sized vehicle can get into the corners and narrow spaces where rubbish tends to accumulate but which are difficult for cleaners with nets to reach.
The trash-collecting robot collects everything in its path, from plastic waste, glass to natural waste and floating algae. It can also collect all types of hydrocarbons such as oils, diesel, kerosene and gasoline.
Jellyfishbot is powered by three electric thrusters, walks at a speed of 2 knots (3.7 km/h), and can work for 6-8 hours on a single charge — depending on the use. It can be remote-controlled from up to 400 meters (1300 ft) away. The 18 kg machine can clean 1,000 square-meter area per hour at 1 knot (1.8 km/h) and trap up to 80 liters of micro-waste in its net. The nets can contain up to 30 liters of hydrocarbons.
The user has remote access to video on a smartphone using an onboard camera throughout the mission. When the net fills up, the operator can then command the robot to return to its starting point where the waste can be removed and the net emptied. The vehicle will also be able to detect obstacles and collect waste autonomously.
Beyond marines, Jellyfishbot can also be used for the decontamination of other difficult to access aquatic areas such as ports, lakes, canals, as well as leisure centers, hotel residences, and industrial facilities.
The handy trash-eating robot is in operation in around 15 French ports and has been exported to several countries worldwide, including Norway, Switzerland and Japan.
Takeaway
Jellyfishbot is powered by three electric thrusters, walks at a speed of 2 knots (3.7 km/h), and can work for 6-8 hours on a single charge — depending on the use. It can be remote-controlled from up to 400 meters (1300 ft) away. The 18 kg machine can clean 1,000 square-meter area per hour at 1 knot (1.8 km/h) and trap up to 80 liters of micro-waste in its net. The nets can contain up to 30 liters of hydrocarbons.
The small robot is in operation in around 15 French ports, and has been exported to other countries — including Singapore, Japan and Norway.
Action point
If your municipality is located next to the waterfront which quickly gets dirty, you could consider procuring Jellyfishbot to help the efforts of keeping the marine and other facilities in the water clean. The price of such a device tends to be lower than what you would pay for a single person for a year, yet it can work under all kinds of conditions and perform tasks that are at least uncomfortable for human beings. At the same time, a device like Jellyfishbot will show your municipality in good light as the one willing to embrace new technologies to keep the city going.
If your business serves or hopes to serve municipalities close to the water, consider contacting IADYS and ask them for a distribution deal. They are already exporting their robots to countries around the world and chances are, they are willing to talk. You can profit from a transaction as a middleman and perhaps even explore maintenance contracts — all while helping keep the waterfronts clean for your municipal clients. It's a win-win, from what we can tell.