Helsinki is testing a quiet robot – called Trombia – in an effort to find new ways to keep streets clean without disturbing residents.
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The Trombia Free vehicle will operate from today and every evening (except weekends) on a busy street (Välimerenkatu) and bike path (Baana) in the Jätkäsaari of Helsinki.
“The autonomous and electric street sweeper is so quiet that it makes it possible to clean streets at night, disrupting traffic as little as possible,” said Antti Nikkanen, CEO of Trombia Technologies. “For us, Jätkäsaari is an ideal smart city, as Jätkäsaari at night will show what can really be achieved with automation in an urban environment.”
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In particular, the noise level and effectiveness of the road sweeper will be monitored, as well as its broader benefits and limitations. The machine can detect obstacles and pedestrians on the path and has the ability to stop, but for now it will be accompanied by an operator during its operation.
Janne Rinne, Project Manager at Forum Virium Helsinki, the city's innovation unit, said: "Our goal is to export the best solutions from the Jätkäsaari Mobility Lab to other cities in Finland and abroad. At the same time, we are advancing Helsinki's climate goals and creating a more pleasant urban environment for residents."
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The Trombia Free is described as “the world’s first fully powered, electric and autonomous street sweeper.” Trombia says the device consumes only 15% of the energy and a fraction of the water of conventional sweepers and produces no emissions.
Information source: thenextweb.com
