Robot Jellyfish Swarms Could Help Clean Plastic Out of Oceans

Ocean plastic pollution is a major environmental concern, and many solutions have been proposed, from underwater vacuuming to surface skimmers. However, these methods often face criticism for their potential harm to marine ecosystems and wildlife. Enter the Jellyfish-Bot, a small, energy-efficient, and nearly noiseless robotic trash collector designed by scientists at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS).

Source: Max Planck/Youtube

Published in the research journal Scientific Advances, the Jellyfish-Bot is inspired by the graceful movements of jellyfish. Equipped with six limbs using artificial muscles called hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators (HASELs), this hand-sized device can move without physically interacting with the trash it collects. HASELs are essentially electrode-covered sacs filled with oils. When charged with a small current, they create momentum by flapping their actuators, moving trash particles upward for collection by humans or other tools.

As explained by study author and postdoc Tianlu Wang, jellyfish create currents around their bodies as they swim, trapping objects in their path, such as nutrients. The Jellyfish-Bot does the same, circulating water around itself to collect waste particles and transport them to the surface for recycling.

The robot’s actuators can also be divided into separate responsibilities. In demonstrations, the Jellyfish-Bot could use all six limbs for propulsion or use two as claws to lightly grasp targets like an N95 face mask.

Currently, the Jellyfish-Bot requires a wired connection for power, limiting its scope. Researchers have incorporated battery and wireless communications modules, but untethered versions cannot yet be directed in a desired path. However, once this challenge is overcome, swarms of these adorable cleanup machines could be deployed as a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to tackle ocean plastic Pollution.

So, what can you do to Support these innovative solutions? Stay informed, spread the word about projects like the Jellyfish-Bot, and consider supporting organizations that work on cutting-edge technologies for ocean cleanup. By raising awareness and contributing to the development of sustainable solutions, we can play a part in preserving our oceans and protecting marine life for future generations.

Plastic waste is killing marine life all around the globe at an alarming rate, dead whales washed ashore with plastic in their stomachs have been found in the Philippines, Thailand, Spain, and in more places than we can count! Not to mention, half of the baby sea turtle population dies from consuming plastic! Sea Shepherd created an eye-opening campaign to draw attention to how plastic pollution impacts whales and dolphins. Plastic is also found in various land animals as well, like deer and cows.

There are products you may be using or habits you may have that contribute to plastic Pollution. Learn more about how the use of Teabags, Cotton Swabs, Laundry, Contact Lenses, Glitter, and Sheet Masks pollute our oceans so you can make more informed decisions going forward. There are also numerous simple actions and switches that can help cut plastic out of our lives including, making your own cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, household cleaners, using mason jars, reusable bags/bottles/straws, and avoiding microbeads! 

To learn more about the impact of plastic waste, please read the articles below: 

• Marine Animals that are Dying because of our Plastic Habit
• Where Plastic Really Goes When You Throw it Out
• 5 Documentaries to make you Rethink Single-Use Plastics
• 6 Million Tons of Single-Use Plastics Get Thrown Out Every Year! 

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Related Content:

• Man Builds Tiny Bali Home from 35,000 Recycled Plastic Bags
• Microplastics are Disrupting the Ocean’s Biological Carbon Pump
• Māori Artist Raises Awareness for Plastic Pollution By Showing What Oceans Will Look Like in 100 Years
• Ocean Plastic Could Be Used to Create New Antibiotics
• 10 Simple Actions That Just Might Save Our World’s Oceans From Plastic

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

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• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!