Guilford College students will receive a North Carolina Sea Grant to fund the construction of a robot to detect, collect and sort plastic on the state’s beaches.
The $10,000 concept grant is led by Chafic Bou Saba, Associate Professor of Computer Technology and Information Systems. Chafic’s team includes two CTIS students and two students from Early College at Guilford who will collaborate and build the device over the next year. Each of the students will receive a stipend from the one-year fellowship.
“I’m excited to get started and I know the students will be too,” says Chafic. “For a liberal arts college like Guilford, this is a great opportunity to showcase student research and work.”
Beach cleaning technologies are nothing new, but Chafic wants to build on existing platforms and develop a device that uses artificial intelligence, cameras and solar power to detect, collect and sort plastic.
“We want a beach cleaning robot that uses artificial intelligence, is environmentally friendly, can be charged with clean energy, is easy to maintain and is intelligent enough to be left alone without requiring man-hours from workers or volunteers,” he says. “In my research, I have not yet found that the technology for this is already available.”
Using AI and cameras, Chafic says the students will explore developing a robot that can be programmed to pick up plastic waste one day and cigarette butts the next. The device will also be able to detect and avoid marine life, such as turtle nests, and birds and plants on the beach. “We want something that is advanced, intelligent and versatile,” he says.
Research initiatives like this also help improve the student experience at Guilford, an important part of Introducing Guilford College in 2027the college’s strategic plan.
