Robots for Sustainability: Real-Time AI-Based Robotic Waste Sorting from a Moving Conveyor

This paper presents an AI-based robotic system designed to efficiently sort waste from a moving conveyor belt. Leveraging advanced computer vision techniques and robotic manipulation, the system accurately identifies and categorizes waste items. A deep learning model, trained on a dataset of common waste items, is integrated into a centralized PLC controller. The PLC also directly controls the robot’s joints, ensuring precise synchronization with the conveyor belt. Experimental results demonstrate the system’s ability to achieve high accuracy in waste classification and sorting, proving the feasibility of integrating AI-based models into industrial environments. By automating the waste sorting process, this system contributes to a more sustainable future by reducing waste and promoting recycling.