Dustbot
Encyclopedia
Dustbot is a robot
that can collect garbage from homes. It can be summoned by phone call or SMS
, and uses GPS
to automatically make its way to the customer, collect the rubbish, and take it to a dustbin. In addition, the Dustbots carry environmental sensors to monitor the pollution levels over, for example, a pedestrian area. Prototypes have been tested in Italy
and Sweden
and Ireland
, and it is due for launch in 2009. The Dustbot project is funded by the European Commission
.
Dustbot is allegedly the world's first robot that comes to take away rubbish from a residence upon request. It can be summoned to an address by phone or SMS
at any time of the day. The caller’s position is calculated and the Dustbot is dispatched. When the robot arrives "you use the robots display board to enter what sort of trash it is and then the robot carries it to a dust bin", said Matteo Reggente, one of the DustBot scientists. The DustBot then opens its bin, collects the trash and takes it to a designated area.
The Dustbot system, consisting of the DustCart and the DustClean robots, is designed to work in tight urban areas where large trucks find it difficult to operate, such as old European cities. It can work in narrow streets which are difficult for large refuse trucks to negotiate. The DustClean robot can also sweep, vacuum-clean and measure pollution.
Dustbot uses different localisation systems and uses GPS
navigation combined with pre-loaded maps. It uses a gyroscope
to keep it upright, and has sensors to avoid collisions with static and dynamic obstacles.
It is able to monitor pollution
through a number of air quality sensors., and can warn if the levels are too high. The key idea is to exploit robots that are primarily used for something else for pollution monitoring and/or detection of poisonous gases. This is especially important in the case of gases that humans cannot sense or when long-term exposure to slightly increased concentrations needs to be verified.
The distribution of gases is modelled using statistical methods.
The Dustbot system communicates via a wireless network connected to both GPS and internet.
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
that can collect garbage from homes. It can be summoned by phone call or SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
, and uses GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
to automatically make its way to the customer, collect the rubbish, and take it to a dustbin. In addition, the Dustbots carry environmental sensors to monitor the pollution levels over, for example, a pedestrian area. Prototypes have been tested in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and it is due for launch in 2009. The Dustbot project is funded by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
Testing and operation
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
at any time of the day. The caller’s position is calculated and the Dustbot is dispatched. When the robot arrives "you use the robots display board to enter what sort of trash it is and then the robot carries it to a dust bin", said Matteo Reggente, one of the DustBot scientists. The DustBot then opens its bin, collects the trash and takes it to a designated area.
The Dustbot system, consisting of the DustCart and the DustClean robots, is designed to work in tight urban areas where large trucks find it difficult to operate, such as old European cities. It can work in narrow streets which are difficult for large refuse trucks to negotiate. The DustClean robot can also sweep, vacuum-clean and measure pollution.
Technical
The garbage bin of the Dustcart robot has a capacity of 40 kg.Dustbot uses different localisation systems and uses GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
navigation combined with pre-loaded maps. It uses a gyroscope
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. In essence, a mechanical gyroscope is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation...
to keep it upright, and has sensors to avoid collisions with static and dynamic obstacles.
It is able to monitor pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
through a number of air quality sensors., and can warn if the levels are too high. The key idea is to exploit robots that are primarily used for something else for pollution monitoring and/or detection of poisonous gases. This is especially important in the case of gases that humans cannot sense or when long-term exposure to slightly increased concentrations needs to be verified.
The distribution of gases is modelled using statistical methods.
The Dustbot system communicates via a wireless network connected to both GPS and internet.
See also
- Comparison of domestic robotsComparison of domestic robotsDomestic robots can vary widely in their capabilities and tasks. Sensors include: cliff or stair sensors, motion sensors, ultrasonic object sensors, dirt sensors, IR sensors, and more. Intelligence varies also. Some have none while others can map out their environment and maneuver using complex...
- Domestic robotDomestic robotA domestic robot is a robot used for household chores. Thus far, there are only a few limited models, though science fiction writers and other speculators have suggested that they could become more common in the future...
- Robotic mappingRobotic mappingRobotic mapping is related to cartography. The goal for an autonomous robot to be able to construct a map or floor plan and to localize itself in it...
- Robotics suiteRobotics suiteA robotics suite is a visual environment for robot control and simulation. They are typically an end-to-end platform for robotics development and include tools for visual programming and creating and debugging robot applications...
