ARC — Autonomous River Cleanup

As the new semester begins, so does a new chapter for ARC’s Robotics Sorting Project (MARC) 🤖🦾 MARC is transitioning out of the Autonomous River Cleanup and is being repositioned under the ETH Robotics Club @ethrobotics , (ETHRC), where it will continue its development within a broader robotics ecosystem. As part of this transition, the MARC team will work closely with the ETHRC Robot Learning and Humanoid teams. Within this student-led club, diverse technical and domain expertise is brought together to further develop the capabilities of the robotic sorting system. A big thank you to Peter Transport AG for sponsoring and carrying out the transport of the robotic sorting system to its new home. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to working with the new team. To follow MARC’s progress and future developments, check out the ETH Robotics Club.

This ARC thesis is diving into it—literally! Teaming up with @theseacleaners , this project boosts Mobula 10’s plastic tracking with AI that learns over time 🧠✨ From field testing in Zürich to Southeast Asia, it’s all about making waste detection smarter and faster 💪 Want a closer look? 🔗 /app/6912b879-09fc-4ae6-bcd0-768271b1b9a6 #PlasticPollution #AIForGood #ARCProject #TheSeaCleaners #ETHZurich #OceanCleanup #MachineLearning #ComputerVision #FieldTesting #Mobula10

SIC was sick! 💥 We had a blast at the Sustainability Innovation Challenge at @epflcampus ! From inspiring talks by sustainability experts to meeting incredible teams with bold ideas—this event had it all. 🌍💡 We showcased ARC at our booth and pitched SARA (smartphone autonomous river analysis) during the pitching session. 🚀 The insights and feedback we received will help shape the future of ARC. Big thanks to the organizers and all the passionate changemakers we met! 🙌 #rivercleanup #EPFL #SIC2025 #sustainability #ethzurich

⏰ 10 days left until the event, 12 student teams at the EPFL Sustainable Innovation Challenge ⏰ (3/12) It's time to discover them 1 by 1. Let's continue with the presentation of Autonomous River Cleanup - SARA: 🤖 SARA, developed by a team of students and researchers from ETH Zürich and Robotic Systems Lab, pioneers an AI-driven approach to real-time monitoring of river pollution. While existing waste management efforts focus on large-scale ocean cleanup, SARA tackles the issue at its source—rivers—where up to 80% of marine pollution originates. 👀 By leveraging computer vision and lightweight AI models, SARA enables real-time waste detection and tracking using smartphone-based technology. The project employs a custom-optimized version of the YOLO (You Only Look Once) neural network, designed to function efficiently on resource-constrained devices. This ensures affordable, scalable, and widely accessible environmental monitoring, particularly in under-resourced areas where traditional solutions are impractical. ☀️ SARA's system integrates IoT-based monitoring, with future plans to expand to autonomous, solar-powered installations for continuous data collection. By providing precise, localized pollution insights, SARA empowers communities, NGOs, and policymakers to optimize cleanup efforts, target pollution hotspots, and develop data-driven interventions. 🌊 By combining AI, low-cost hardware, and cloud-based analytics, SARA bridges the gap between local action and global environmental strategies, advancing clean water initiatives, marine ecosystem protection, and sustainable waste management. Come meet the team, hear them pitch & see their prototype at our event on the 13th & 14th of March at the Rolex Learning Center at EPFL #epfl #sustainability #innovation #epfl #wastecollection #etthz #studentchallenge

ARC is heading to the Sustainable Innovation Challenge (SIC) at EPFL! 🚀 From March 13-14, we will present our “Smartphone Assisted River Analysis - SARA” project amongst other talented student teams across Europe. This event is all about sharing innovative ideas that tackle global challenges, and we are thrilled to showcase how the application of high-tech in environmental protection can transform river cleanup efforts. 🌱💧 It is also a chance to connect with other changemakers, exchange insights, and sharpen our vision for both SARA and ARC. Follow along as we dive into this exciting experience—updates coming soon! 🌎✨ #rivercleanup #sustainability #ethzurich #epfl

The team of Project SARA recently completed one of many hardware tests for the upcoming semester. During this test, the team assessed the interaction of all system components and measured the power consumption to determine the battery lifetime. 📷🔋Discussions following the test sparked new ideas for further improvements and our next steps. Every test moves us closer to smarter, data-driven river monitoring solutions! 🌊💡 #rivercleanup #AIforgood #sustainability #ethzurich

🌍💙 At ARC, we’re not just cleaning rivers—we’re aiming to shape a sustainable future! 🚀✨ Our autonomous cleanup technology actively supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals by tackling pollution at its source. By combining innovation, robotics, and AI, we’re working towards cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and more sustainable cities. 🌱🌊 Every step we take brings us closer to a world free from plastic waste! #sdgs #cleanwater #rivercleanup #sustainability

Microplastics come from various sources: larger plastic pieces breaking down, as well as cosmetics, textiles, and industrial processes. With 14,000 tonnes of plastic polluting Swiss soils and waters annually, the impact on our rivers is undeniable. 🌊 Rivers like the Rhine and Limmat are among the hardest hit. At ARC, we’re tackling this issue by developing advanced solutions to monitor and analyze macroplastics. By gathering critical data, we aim to better understand and address plastic pollution at its root. Together, we can protect our rivers and ecosystems. #MicroplasticPollution #RiverCleanup #EnvironmentalSolutions #SustainableFuture #ARC #ethzurich

Kicking off the new year by celebrating our team’s resilience! ❄️🎉 During a snowstorm late last year, the ARC team tested SARA right outside the LEE building. While things didn’t go perfectly, we gained invaluable insights to improve the system. 💪 This kind of perseverance is what fuels our mission for cleaner rivers. A big shoutout to the team for their resilience and adaptability in tough conditions! 🛠️💧 As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to tackle new challenges and make even more progress. Here’s to a year of innovation and impact! 🌍 #NewYearNewGoals #SARA #RiverCleanup #Innovation #SustainableTech #Teamwork #ETHZurich

Making waves with progress! 🌊⚙️ Our suction cup gripper is now integrated into the system, bringing us one step closer to an even more effective river cleanup solution. While it’s currently running separately from the two-finger gripper, we’re hard at work to make them a dream team—stay tuned for what’s next! 🚀💧 Together, we’re innovating for cleaner rivers and a healthier planet. 💻 Follow @autonomousrivercleanup for updates! 🌐 Explore more at riverclean.ethz.ch #RiverCleanup #TechForNature #CleanRivers #InnovationForGood #Sustainability #ETHZurich #ecotech

Swipe for labeling fun! We gathered at ETH Zurich to label river trash images and train our detection algorithm. 🌊 Thanks to everyone who joined and put in the work toward cleaner rivers! #RiverCleanup #DataLabeling #MachineLearning #CleanRivers #ETHZurich #ARCProject #Sustainability #WasteManagement

Ever wondered how our software works? 🛠️ Check out the architecture in the image attached! Our new software architecture is designed to make the river-cleaning robot more efficient and easier to manage. By separating components, this approach enhances clarity and improves performance, helping us tackle waste in waterways even better. 🌊🌍 A big thank you to @stlljonas and everyone contributing to innovations that keep us moving forward! 💡 #RiverCleanup #EnvironmentalInnovation #CleanWaterways #TechForGood #ETHZurich #SustainableFuture #MaxonMotors #YOLO #MMDetection #Neura #Robotiq