New Delhi, 06 March (H.S.): Under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation has deployed an AI-powered G-Spider robot for cleaning canals, marking a significant advancement in urban sanitation.The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development stated that the section of the Amayizhanchan Canal near Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station has long posed cleaning challenges due to low height, continuous water flow, and lack of safe entry points, making traditional methods extremely difficult.
To overcome these, Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh inaugurated the G-Spider robot. This initiative is a collaboration between the municipal corporation and Genrobotic Innovations at Technopark, developers of the earlier 'Bandicoot' robotic scavenger.
Officials explained that the robot eliminates the need for sanitation workers to enter dangerous and unhygienic environments. Equipped with AI-enabled vision and sensor technology, it identifies various types of accumulated waste in the canal and removes it safely. Featuring a biomimetic claw grabber, it grasps mixed and irregular debris and deposits it directly into collection vehicles.
The G-Spider robot operates effectively even in high water levels and continuous flow conditions. It safely extracts plastics, sharp objects, and other hazardous waste, ensuring thorough canal cleaning. Regular, systematic maintenance will strengthen urban drainage and help prevent flooding.
Officials hailed this as a revolutionary technology-driven step in urban cleanliness, boosting efficiency while safeguarding sanitation workers' safety.
The model can be replicated in other high-risk canals and drainage networks across the state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
