Wall-E Style Robots Are Collecting Litter From The Ocean Floor

A team of autonomous and remotely operated robots, known as the SeaClear fleet, is working to clean up litter from the ocean floor. This futuristic fleet includes drones, a smart grapple system, and a compact Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that can distinguish litter from rocks, plants, and sea life. The robots are able to map, collect, and transport marine litter in a cost-effective and safe manner, operating as a well-coordinated clean-up crew.

The goal of the SeaClear initiative is to reduce marine litter by approximately 50 percent by the end of the decade. Tests of SeaClear 2.0, funded by the EU, are currently underway in several locations. With a focus on removing litter from the sea floor to prevent contamination and the degradation of plastics into harmful microplastics, the SeaClear robots are playing a crucial role in restoring ocean health.