A solar-powered, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled vessel designed to collect floating waste has made its way to the Pasig River, aiming for a smarter and more efficient water cleanup.
Meet ClearBot, a 6-meter-long vessel that has been helping in the cleanup of the 27-kilometer Pasig River. It can pick up 500 kilograms of waste, can go into water at least half a meter deep, and can run for up to eight hours long.
ClearBot can be operated through a radio controller, where the operator can view the waste being collected, or through autonomous mode, where the vessel can automatically go to areas littered with floating waste.
It was also developed to gather data, monitor water quality, identify waste hotspots, and improve flood resilience.
Two ClearBot vessels have been deployed in the Pasig River for a pilot spearheaded by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the LGUs of Pasig, Makati, and San Juan; one to collect waste and another to collect water hyacinths.
The pilot deployment launched in Pasig last October, and at a demonstration in Makati on Tuesday, Norio Saito, Senior Director of ADB’s Water and Urban Development Sector Office proudly highlighted ClearBot's initial impact: "In 27 days, it moved over 20 tons of water hyacinth covering 5800 square meters, improving flow through the creek pumping station, mitigating public health passes for nearby communities."
"These vessels are designed to work alongside the river warriors and estero rangers, making the cleanup faster, safer and more efficient, while generating data that strengthens planning and operations," he added.
In an interview with GMA News Online, ClearBot co-founder Sidhant Gupta said that with AI, the boat can detect the type of waste being collected, as well as identify animals and even other vessels to avoid them.
But it is not without challenges. Said Gupta, among the challenges that ClearBot has encountered is the unique waterscape of the Pasig River.
"The first time, this machine could not run in the Pasig River, because its current was too strong," Gupta said, adding they've had to upgrade its engine to withstand the river's current and modify its other parts to operate in shallow waters and collect water hyacinths, which are larger than those they had previously encountered.
"We need to make sure that we are inclusive of local communities, like our local operators had to learn how to use the machines and be comfortable with them," Gupta said.
The ClearBot is part of ADB's support to the Philippine government. Under its Rejuvenating Pasig River for a Livable Manila initiative, it aims to go beyond simply cleaning the river.
According to Gupta, "As the boat goes around around, it is able topost data and pictures of all the garbage along the river with GPS location."
"So it can actually tell you how many bottles were retrieved, how much plastic, all kinds of different materials have been collected at various points along the river. This helps us map and create a digital twin, where we can actually figure out where the hot spots are and how can we focus our energy to create maximum impact," he continued.
After Pasig and Makati, ClearBot will make its way to San Juan for a demonstration in December.
The pilot phase will last until January 2026, during which ClearBot's efficiency will be assessed.
"The idea for us to learn whatever we have to learn to make sure that this technology can really work at scale in the Philippines," Gupta said.
This includes identifying whether the vessel can reduce costs for the MMDA and collect even more waste along the Pasig River.
The MMDA leads and coordinates the inter-agency river cleanup operations in the Pasig River. Among its implementing partners is the Ayala Foundation.
"A cleaner and healthier river uplifts surrounding communities and creates spaces where people can gather, learn, commute, and enjoy the output," Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation, said at the Makati demonstration last Tuesday.
"Efforts like today's demonstration help us imagine what a more vibrant and welcoming riverfront could look like for the communities to live and spend time in this district," he said. — LA, GMA Integrated News