A DAY IN THE LIFE

These Googly-Eyed Robots Can Efficiently Clean Water Bodies From Trash

By Wonderful Engineering

Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel, the latter of which was installed in December, are solar- and hydro-powered trash interceptors based in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, clearing debris before it enters the Chesapeake Bay. Over a million pounds of trash has been pulled out of the water by Mr. Trash Wheel since it was installed in May 2014.

This large trash-collecting wheel, considered a “semi-autonomous” trash interceptor, was designed to be efficient at removing trash from bodies of water while also being able to withstand powerful storms.

The trash wheel’s creator, John Kellett, worked on the harbor for years and saw garbage floating on the water every day. Walking across a footbridge, he saw first-hand how plastic cups, bags, cigarette butts, bottles and other man-made detritus floated into Baltimore Harbor en route to Chesapeake Bay. A sailor and engineer, he approached the city and offered to take a stab at cleaning up the harbor. He built a pilot trash wheel and installed it in 2008.

“Every day I was constantly FINISH READING HERE

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