Sewers Are Clogged Everywhere. Can Robots Help Clean Them? | World Wide Waste | Insider Business

The Rise of Sewer Cleaning Robots

Every day, tens of thousands of people in South Asia engage in one of the deadliest jobs in the world – diving into underground sewers to keep them clear. However, a revolutionary solution in the form of sewer cleaning robots, exemplified by the Bandicoot robot, is poised to transform this dirty and dangerous business. These robots are part of a wave of technological advancements aimed at maintaining cities' critical infrastructure, particularly their sewer systems.

Sewer systems, relying on gravity, have remained largely unchanged for centuries, while cities continue to grow rapidly, outpacing the capacity of existing sewer infrastructure. As a result, sewer networks worldwide are deteriorating, necessitating the construction of larger tunnels with substantial financial implications.

The history of sewers traces back to early civilizations that had open sewage systems on their streets. It was during the Industrial Revolution, as urban populations soared and waterborne diseases like cholera became widespread, that the importance of proper sewer systems was recognized. Consequently, major cities undertook massive sewer building projects in the late 1800s to combat the deadly spread of cholera. Today, a significant portion of the global population relies on these hidden networks of pipes and tunnels to efficiently dispose of waste.

However, cities now face the challenge of inadequate sewer systems due to their burgeoning populations. The need to accommodate increased waste production has led to the construction of ever-larger tunnels. Unfortunately, shifting climate patterns, including heavier rainfall and rising sea levels, exacerbate the problem, causing sewers to overflow onto streets. This issue extends beyond South Asia and affects even some of the wealthiest cities in the developed world, where pipes frequently become clogged.

To address these challenges, the Bandicoot robot has emerged as a groundbreaking solution. Equipped with four expandable legs, four cameras, and a robust carbon fiber body capable of lifting heavy loads, the Bandicoot robot can access previously inaccessible areas that only human hands could reach. It features a retractable hose and an articulating shovel, allowing it to collect waste effectively. Operated by a person using a control panel, the spider-like robot is lowered into a manhole, guided by its operator using the arms and cameras for close-up views. Collected waste is deposited into a bucket, which is then lifted to the surface. The Bandicoot robot represents the vanguard of robotic technology dedicated to maintaining critical urban infrastructure and has the potential to eliminate the hazards and filth associated with sewer cleaning.

    

 

(not a real picture of robot)

Gen Robotics, the company behind the Bandicoot robot, has already deployed nearly 300 robots across 18 of India's 28 states. According to the company, these robots will ultimately prove more cost-effective and eliminate the danger faced by human workers. In India, where outdated sewer systems struggle to cope with rapid population growth, Gen Robotics has taken the initiative to educate thousands of manual scavengers about the risks associated with their work and has employed some of them to operate the Bandicoot robots. Each Bandicoot robot is customized to meet the specific requirements of the sewer systems in each city, highlighting the company's commitment to adapting its designs to varying conditions.

One of the significant problems affecting sewers globally is the increasing range of items that people flush, including wet wipes, food waste, and cooking oil. These materials combine underground to form fatbergs, massive conglomerations of inorganic matter that can obstruct entire tunnels. The prevalence of fatbergs has prompted governments worldwide to discourage or even ban the use of non-flushable wipes.

The necessary infrastructure repairs and upgrades are becoming increasingly costly. For instance, the London sewer system, originally constructed for a population of 2.6 million, cost nearly 400 million pounds (adjusted for inflation) to build. With the current population exceeding nine million, the city is

 now investing in a 15-mile underground tunnel to transport overflow to treatment plants instead of discharging it into the Thames. This single project alone has incurred substantial costs.

Managing sewage in cities has become an expensive endeavor, with New York City alone spending five billion pounds to upgrade its sewage system – ten times the cost of constructing the entire sewer system in the 19th century. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change, such as more frequent and intense storms, place additional strain on sewer capacity, resulting in sewage spills and lethal flooding incidents. In 2022, for example, severe rains overwhelmed the sewer system, leading to the tragic drowning of 11 people in their homes.

Despite these challenges, innovative alternatives to traditional sewage management methods are emerging. Historically, farmers paid for human waste to use as fertilizer. Startups are now exploring the recycling of urine to return nutrients to the soil, while dry composting toilets offer a waterless approach to waste decomposition.

As cities continue to grapple with the costly and complex problem of sewage management, the rise of sewer cleaning robots offers hope for a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future. These advanced machines, such as the Bandicoot robot, demonstrate the potential to revolutionize the maintenance of critical infrastructure while reducing risks to human workers and improving the overall cleanliness and functionality of sewer systems.