Solution Scope: Litter collection systems from the sea / rivers (Robotic)

Target Contaminant: Plastics & Other Litter 

Solution Provider or Contact Point: Consortium of partners including CNR-ISMAR, CNRS, TECNALIA and Servizi Tecnici  

Project: MAELSTROM – Smart technology for MArinE Litter SusTainable RemOval and Management

ITS Description: The innovative Robotic Seabed Cleaning Platform developed by the partners of MAELSTROM is employed to remove marine litter, including macro-plastics, from the seabed of lagoons and coastal areas. The platform is designed to operate up to 20 meters deep without damaging aquatic ecosystems. It can work autonomously or be remotely guided by an operator. The key components of the Robotic Seabed Cleaning Platform include: 1. A floating platform to support the cable robot structure, winches, and industrial equipment; 2. A cable robot consisting of eight cables wound onto eight winches, connecting the floating platform to an underwater mobile end-effector. The position and orientation of the robot are controlled by adjusting the length and tension of each cable; 3. A set of sensors for underwater perception to control the robot and detect and identify the marine litter to be removed; 4. A dredge to suck up smaller litter and a gripper to grasp larger items like tires, boat parts, and fishing nets. The platform selectively picks up each item of marine litter to minimize the impact on ecosystems while effectively cleaning the seabed. In June 2023, the MAELSTROM project organized a live demonstration event in Venice to showcase the Robotic Seabed Cleaning Platform’s waste removal operations in the Venice Lagoon. 

Correspondence with BMM OIR (sectoral priorities, R&I activities, gaps, needs): Much like the previous ITS, this solution responds to a R&I focus area of activity in elimination & remediation of plastics pollution, namely by addressing the development of new technologies for solid litter retention systems. It also responds to the challenge listed in the BMM OIR for the wastewater and solid waste management sectors in responding to the need for new collection technologies for litter, with particular emphasis on sea and riverbeds.