Researchers have developed robotic garbage cans that move around in public areas asking people to pick up the trash for them.
Engineers at the Interaction and Communications Design Lab at Japan's Toyohashi University of Technology developed the social trash box robots (STBs) that are equipped with a microprocessor, a video camera and a speaker, plus a pyroelectric infrared sensor, an infrared ray sensor, and a distance sensor.
The little wheeled bin identifies public areas where people are present, by detecting their body heat with its pyroelectric sensors.
Upon safely moving into that area with some help from its distance sensor, it then uses its camera in conjunction with an object recognition algorithm, to identify both pieces of trash and other STBs, 'Gizmag' reported.
When it finds litter, it uses body movements and vocalisations to get the attention of nearby people, asking them to pick up the trash and drop it in its integrated bin.
Also, the robot can't be fooled. The infrared sensors at the top of that bin let the STB know if the litter has indeed been deposited.
The robot is able to tip its flexible bin forward or backward, or twist it to either side.
