‘Bandicoot’ Robot to launch next week, itemized to clean manholes in Kerala

NewsBharati    19-Feb-2018
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Thiruvananthapuram, February 19: In a first of its kind, the State Government has decided to utilize the services of Robots to clean the manholes in Kerala. The State has always encouraged new developments and techniques for improvements and promotes the Startup India initiative. 

Furthering the initiative and making the utmost use of it, the Kerala Water Authority Department has joined hands with a new Start Up company, Genrobotics which has generated this robot called Bandicoot to clean the sewer holes. The robot is equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and control panels and also has four limbs and a bucket system attached to a spider web looking extension to scoop out the waste from sewers.

The Kerala Water Authority has collaborated with the startup companies to enhance the projects and ideas by new generation. The idea is to transform new ideas into practical technologies which can be used to address issues related to leakage and sanitation.

Initially, the services of the robot, launched 'Bandicoot' will be utilized in Thiruvananthapuram, which has over 5,000 manholes. 

Before beginning the actual process, the department sought a trial which was held near the Medical College and it was perceived that about 30 kg of garbage was pulled out by the robot and they were shocked to find sanitary napkins, clothes, surgical blades among other stuff in the clogged manholes.

Within an hour, the robot could clean four manholes on the first day itself with ease and it did not face any problem to manoeuvre its way to different types of manholes. However, there was no cause for any worry as the department planned to train existing workers to operate the robot which was as easy to handle as a remote controlled toy car. The company has eased the manual process of the workers with this noble invention.

The Robot has also been functionalized in local language so that the workers would easily operation the system. Apart from this, An MOU has already been signed between the Kerala Water Innovation Zone under the KWA and Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) for transfer of technology.

The litmus test of this Robot will be done on 2nd March where the sewer holes will be cleaned.

Bandicoot Robot Kerala Start Up India