From a school trip to a smart invention: How a teen built an AI trash robot

During a school trip to Delhi’s Sundar Nursery in 2023, Mahi Malhani, a 12th-grade student at Amity International School, was struck by the sight of litter strewn across the ground. Despite the presence of dustbins nearby, plastic wrappers, bottles, and food remnants littered the area, a scene that left a lasting impact on her. Fast forward two years, and Mahi has turned her concern into action by developing TRASHbot, an innovative robot designed to collect and sort waste with over 90% accuracy. Currently undergoing trials in various settings, including homes and schools, TRASHbot is a testament to Mahi's dedication to addressing environmental issues. "I noticed litter everywhere, even close to dustbins," she shared with The Better India. "People often take the easy route and throw waste wherever they can. I wanted to bridge that gap with technology that helps, rather than just tells people to clean up." What started as simple sketches in a notebook has evolved into a functional prototype. Mahi dedicated months to studying robotics, artificial intelligence, and waste management systems, ultimately creating a robot that can autonomously navigate to users, collect waste, and sort it into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. Equipped with a Raspberry Pi-powered camera and the YOLOv3 object detection model, TRASHbot can identify various types of waste. Once it recognizes an item, the robot directs it into the appropriate compartment. A companion mobile app enhances user interaction, encouraging responsible waste disposal through gamification. Unlike conventional dustbins that rely solely on human behavior, TRASHbot actively engages users. It can autonomously maneuver using built-in sensors and can also be controlled via Bluetooth during demonstrations. Its lightweight and modular design allows easy component replacements, making it user-friendly for everyday environments. For Mahi, this project transcends technology; it's about addressing a significant environmental crisis. India produces over 1.7 lakh tonnes of solid waste daily, with a large portion going untreated, as reported by The Better India and the Central Pollution Control Board. By integrating artificial intelligence with eco-friendly practices, Mahi aims to simplify the waste segregation process, contributing to a global movement towards smarter waste management solutions that utilize AI to enhance sorting accuracy and minimize landfill waste.