Chicago-based non-profit organization Urban Rivers is developing a high-tech floating robot, dubbed Trash Robot, that is designed to channel your inner gamer for the greater good by enabling you to control the robot and help remove garbage from rivers.
Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the Trash Robot looks to turn river restoration into a video game. Players would be able to control the robot via an Internet browser and earn points for collecting garbage. The first target of the venture is set to be the Chicago River.
This brilliant project is still in the development stages, but is a fantastic example of gamification and robotic technology coming together in splendid fashion, with the ultimate beneficiary being the health of the world's rivers.
What's Driving This Trend
- Gamification of Environmental Conservation
- The Trash Robot turning river restoration into a video game through remote control can be applied to other environmental conservation efforts.
- Remote-controlled Robots in Environmental Conservation
- The Trash Robot sets a precedent for remote-controlled robots in future initiatives to reduce waste in waterways and other environments.
- Crowdsourcing Environmental Conservation Efforts
- The Trash Robot's online control system can incentivize a wider audience to participate in environmental conservation efforts.
Who This Affects Most
- Environmental Conservation Non-profits
- Incorporating remote-controlled robots like the Trash Robot can increase efficiency and engagement in environmental conservation efforts for non-profit organizations.
- Robotics and Automation
- The development and implementation of remote-controlled robots for environmental conservation offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for robotics and automation companies.
- Video Game Development
- The gamification of environmental conservation with remote-controlled robots presents a potential market for video game developers looking to create games with social impact.
