Clearbot, a zero-emission AI-powered autonomous robotic service vessel developed by entrepreneurial graduates from Hong Kong University, is gaining significant attention for its multifunctional capabilities.
According to Lloyd’s Register (LR), the battery-powered workboat is designed for tasks such as floating garbage collection, oil spill response, and foam recovery in congested inland and coastal waters. It also shows potential for addressing water hyacinth infestations, conducting bathymetric surveys, and even cargo deliveries.
The initiative started in 2019 when co-founders Sidhant Gupta and Utkarsh Goel undertook a project to clean up garbage along the beaches in Bali, where manual operations were inadequate.
The resulting Clearbot prototype was designed, built, and tested in Bali. The AI-driven bots use lidar and sensors for navigation, and AI for post-processing and analysis of collected garbage.
The Clearbot team envisions a wide range of applications for their technology globally, emphasizing its adaptability and potential impact on marine pollution and related services. LR has been carefully tracking the progress of Clearbot
