ARC
About ARC
The Autonomous River Cleanup (ARC) is a student-initiated project to develop customizable and scalable systems for analyzing and extracting river waste. The ARC is based at ETH Zürich and is led and supported by the Robotics System Lab (RSL). As its mission, ARC uses technologies ranging from robotics and computer vision to automation to improve and maximize the impact of plastic removal from rivers. ARC's work focuses on waste accumulation, waste extraction, and AI-based waste analysis and sorting. For example, the waste accumulation team researches how to deflect surface particles, experiments with bubble barriers to push underwater particles to the surface, and concentrates them at a collection point. In the past, the waste extraction team focused on designing a robotic sorting vessel called LIVIA. The team has tested a prototype as proof of concept in the Limmat. The current focus is on developing a robotic sorting container (MARC) that autonomously sorts trash at any location. The waste analysis team uses artificial intelligence (AI) in several areas. One area is developing a waste analysis scanning stage to collect data to improve vision algorithms. Another area is AI-based waste identification. This identification provides relevant information for waste handling and disposal. Furthermore, team members have developed a bridge-mounted camera system (ARCAM) to track riverine waste in real-time.
ARC website: https://arc.ethz.ch/
Envisioned Impact
Application of High-tech in Environmental Protection
The project aims to transfer and apply high-tech, such as robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence, into the field of environmental protection. As part of our project, we are developing and testing systems to demonstrate how these technologies can be used effectively to address river waste.
Training the Next Generation of Engineers
At the same time, this project focuses on the training of future engineers. We deliberately present the project as a learning environment where they can realize and test their own ideas. Students can apply the knowledge they have learned in lectures in practice and learn how to organize projects and work efficiently as a team.
Raising Public Awareness
In addition, we use our project as a platform to raise public awareness of the global problem of river waste. We regularly organize public events to highlight the challenges posed by river waste and how to solve them.
Start-up Launch Platform
In addition, we use our project as a platform to raise public awareness of the global problem of river waste. We regularly organize public events to highlight the challenges posed by river waste and how to solve them.
UpCircle website: external page https://www.upcircle.ai/
Fields of Activity
River Waste Sorting
Mobile Autonomous Sorting Container - MARC
MARC is a fully equipped, autonomous waste-sorting station installed within a shipping container. This installation means that the station can be transported wherever it is needed. The container contains all the necessary hardware and software to enable the system to function completely autonomously. Inside the container, there is a conveyor belt, cameras that detect waste on the conveyor belt, and two robotic arms that sort the waste into different materials (e.g., PET, HDPE, aluminum, etc.). The project aims to develop an autonomous, robust sorting unit and test it “in situ” with river waste.
River Waste Monitoring
Autonomous River Camera - ARCAM
The ARCAM is a prototype developed in the ARC project, an autonomous, intelligent camera system designed for detecting river pollution. The camera system looks at the river and uses artificial intelligence to identify objects on the water surface. These data allow for a time-resolved determination of river pollution object types and, in turn, the quantities of these objects. Following the motto "You cannot change what you don't know," this data serves as a basis for identifying major polluters and seasonal changes. Together, this enables a better understanding of the causes of pollution and the possibility of holding the manufacturers of waste objects accountable for cleaning up the waters through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) methods.
Smartphone Assisted River Analysis - SARA
Project SARA is the next iteration of our bridge-mounted camera system for detecting waste in rivers and measuring pollution. While some data exists, it is sparse, inconclusive, and often only regional. Therefore, we want to build a large-scale, unified monitoring system. The system aims to be deployable worldwide and provide valuable river pollution data for researchers, NGOs, and government institutions. Our novelty is that we will use a smartphone as the core component of the monitoring system. Today's smartphones are compact, relatively inexpensive, and equipped with a good camera and high computing power. The project's main tasks are the development of an app for river waste detection and the design of system hardware for scalable, long-term environmental monitoring across multiple bridge locations. The app also allows field workers in developing countries to quantify waste using their phones.
SARA website: https://sara-system.ethz.ch/
Public Relations Work
Exchange with the Public
We occasionally organize events for the general public. These events aim to raise public awareness about the issue of river waste and to present our solutions. Among other things, we have already given guided tours for schoolchildren to get them interested in the technology behind it.
Plastic Recycling
In addition to technical work, we at ARC have also produced products from plastic waste in collaboration with Precious Plastic Zurich. Plastic is pressed into a mold using injection molding to create more durable products, such as shoehorns or bottle openers.
