Cigarette butts are a huge problem, with over 4 trillion tossed onto the ground each year. A team of roboticists from the Italian Institute of Technology has designed a quadrupedal robot named VERO to tackle this issue. VERO autonomously locates and collects cigarette butts using its feet, prioritizing stability on uneven surfaces. Initial testing shows it can collect nearly 90% of the litter. This innovative approach represents the first time a legged robot has been used concurrently for locomotion and a separate task. The researchers suggest VERO could be utilized for various other applications, showcasing the potential for multitasking in robotic technology.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/robot-dog-vacuum