Gaming Platform Razer Tackles Ocean Waste With AI Robot Tech

Gaming lifestyle company Razer joined forces with ocean waste cleaning enterprise ClearBot to tackle marine plastic pollution. Clearbot’s new redesigned AI robot will be able to identify the different kinds of plastic and collect them for proper disposal.

The billion-dollar global gaming lifestyle brand’s new partnership with startup ClearBot is in line with its 10-year #GoGreenWithRazer sustainability roadmap. Through this, the company aims to back sustainability-focused startups by facilitating and scaling their innovations with its tools and capabilities.

Robots tackle marine plastic waste

According to a 2020 report, around 11 million tons of plastics enter the oceans every year. The oceans could have more plastic than fish by 2050. To combat this, most of the ocean cleaning enterprises aren’t exactly equipped with advanced technology and budgets to bear the same.

Clearbot is one such enterprise that designs robots to use artificial intelligence vision allowing them to identify and collect information on the different types of marine plastic waste. The information helps to understand how these pollutants are affecting the life of marine animals. Subsequently, the robots are deployed to clean up this waste and responsibly dispose them off.

Redesign for large scale use

Through its partnership with Razer, ClearBot received technical assistance from the company’s leading engineers and designers to turn the prototype into a scalable and mass-marketable product. Leveraging Razer’s manufacturing knowledge, the startup was able to redesign the robot making it smarter and more efficient.

Chief of staff at Razer, Patricia Liu said that the team is extremely glad to have worked with a startup that is dedicated to saving the environment. “ClearBot’s unique AI and advanced machine learning technology will enable and empower governments and organizations around the world to broaden their sustainability efforts. We urge other innovative startups to reach out to Razer for collaboration opportunities as we strive to make the world a safer place for future generations.”

The fully automated robot can now use its machine learning capabilities to identify marine plastics within two meters in rough waters. Running on solar energy, the robot can collect up to 250 kg of plastics in one cycle alone.

Chief executive officer at ClearBot, Sidhant Gupta said: “The Razer team’s action-oriented approach to solving marine waste issues was extremely eye-opening. We are grateful to the team who volunteered their time for this project. With the new model, we’re confident in extending our reach globally to protect marine waters, starting with partners which include marine harbor operators in Asia and NGOs who have already expressed interest. Together with Razer, we look forward to effecting positive change for the world.”

ClearBot’s unique AI and advanced machine learning technology will enable and empower governments and organizations around the world to broaden their sustainability efforts

Patricia Liu, chief of staff at Razer

Furthermore, ClearBot has asked people to help its program collect data on marine plastic waste. By uploading photos of waste lying in open waters on its website, the database will improve the robot’s waste detection AI algorithm.

Read: ‘Manta Boat’: Giant Plastic-Eating Renewable-Powered Vessel Inspired By Ray Set To Clean Up Ocean Debris

Protect 1 million trees

Apart from this initiative, Razer partnered with Conservation International to protect 100,000 trees. After saving over 300,000 trees, it has now extended that target to protect 1 million trees.

To celebrate its achievement, new merchandise under its sustainability mascot, Sneki Snek will be launched featuring an eye mask and floor rugs made out of 100% recycled materials. A part of the profits of each product will go towards saving 10 trees.

In the past, Razer made its first green investment in Singapore-based zero waste home goods brand Bambooloo. Razer is also working towards running all its operations on renewable energy by 2025 and achieving 100% carbon neutrality by 2030.

Read: Can Robot Dolphins Make Cruelty-Free Aquariums A Reality?

Lead image courtesy of Razer.