Home-grown robot to keep our beaches clean

PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) last Friday unveiled the robot as part of the company's collaboration with Prince of Songkla University’s Faculty of Engineering under the “PTTEP Love Sea Love Beach” project.

According a demonstration at Songkhla’s Samila Beach, the key advantages of the beach cleaning robot, which has been under development since last year, are:
+ Its ability to effectively scoop up and quickly separate rubbish from sand through a vibrating sieve;
+ Its small size, which enables collection of garbage around trees, wich is usually for tractor-pulled beach cleaners; and
+ Its use of a rechargeable battery.
Importantly, the robot can be built locally, saving import costs from having to import.

PTTEP also announced it would continue to support improvements to the robot’s capabilities before it enters full operation.
Vinit Hansamuit, senior vice president, technology and knowledge management division, PTTEP, said “The beach-cleaning robot is one of many green innovations that reflect PTTEP’s commitment to environmental sustainability through research and development collaborations with education institutions, supporting the education sector to create new technologies for practical application.”

Prince of Songkla University mechanical engineering lecterer Pruittikorn Smithmaitrie said: “Collaboration with PTTEP gives us the opportunity to develop innovation that address local problems and to augment the skills and practical experience of our students.”