Robot Uses AI, 3-D Scanning to Sort Recyclable Waste

In celebration of Earth Day 2011, meet the ZenRobotics Recycler, a revolutionary new autonomous robot that sorts waste for recycling.

The Recycler system targets objects from a waste stream, such as valuable raw materials, contaminants and other items, using multiple sensors. The robot's artificial intelligence technology employs a combination of full-spectrum cameras, NIR, 3-D scanning and more to ID each item. It then grabs and lifts object from the stream, sorting them into appropriate bins.

According to EcoGeek, an environmental technology blog, nearly 100 percent of waste from construction winds up in landfills. Much of this could be reused or recycled. Now, thanks to AI, that has become possible.