BeachBot Is a Robot That Picks Up Cigarette Butts From the Beach

The Star (Malaysia) ^ | Friday, 30 Jul 2021

[nickcarraway]

Were you aware that cigarette butts are the category of waste that is least disposed of? Every year, no fewer than 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are found in the wilds, even they can take up to 14 years to decompose... It’s enough to make you see red.

To fight against this plague, Dutch engineers working with Delft University of Technology have invented the BeachBot, an autonomous robot capable of picking up cigarette butts from the ground.

Tired of seeing their children find cigarette butts on beaches, Edwin Bos and Martijn Lukaart, Dutch engineers from TechTics, set out to create the BeachBot, an autonomous robot whose sensors have the ability to identify cigarette butts on beaches.

[Ken H]

Guess that’s better than calling it ButtBot.

[ClearCase_guy]

Every year, no fewer than 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are found in the wilds

Someone has too much time on their hands.

[Retrofitted]

If they called it that, it would be working extra shifts in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

[Secret Agent Man]

Can i get one to deploy on my neighbors adjoining yard?

[Bobalu]

[Olog-hai]

The cigarette filter truly is the world’s stupidest invention.

[Secret Agent Man]

San Francisco would probably buy a few of those if they named them that.

[Secret Agent Man]

There used to be a job for rich/royalty folks called the “groomer of the stool”

And its not about cleaning a barstool

[wally_bert]

The electronic beach baby.

[NetAddicted]

Rd later.

[Radix]

I knew almost immediately that I would never re-enlist after the Sarge put me on Police Detail in the Motor Pool about every day for a year.

I will never in my life again pick up a cigarette butt, and I made that personal vow to myself well over 40 years ago.

It was especially infuriating to me because I have never smoked a cigarette in my entire life.

[Bobalu]

Imagine the karma.. to wind up as “groomer of the stool”

[CJ Wolf]

The ocean destroys beaches and people put sand there to rebuild.

[castlebrew]

Now if it would only dump them back in the owners’ pockets...

[monkeyshine]

What are cigarette filters made of anyway? I thought they were cotton and paper. Maybe they use some kind of Styrofoam or something these days.

[a fool in paradise]

A robot that goes to the beach and grabs butts all day?

[a fool in paradise]

They are banned in Houston. The mayor made it clear he would not tolerate a robot brothel. Strictly old school I guess.

[algore]

Ban filtered Cigarettes,
so simple even I can think of it.

Maybe California can lead the way by requiring that the length of filters be cut down each year with them being totally eliminated by the year 2030

[Singermom]

Would be better if they picked up used needles from the beach.