IIT Madras incubator develops India’s 1st septic tank cleaning robot, can save lives | India News

NEW DELHI: A startup founded at IIT Madras' Technology Business Incubator (TBI) and backed by the Union Science Ministry is offering an end-to-end solution that has the potential to eliminate manual cleaning in the country to eliminate. It developed India's first septic tank. Manhole cleaning robot.

Using the robotic solution to clean septic tanks and manholes will also save lives as it will help sanitation workers to do the cleaning work from outside instead of going into the toxic environment that has claimed many lives across the country over the years.

Official records show that over 1,000 people have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the country since 1993, with nearly a third (308) of them losing their lives in five years between 2018-2022.

The robotic solution, called Homosep Atom, has already been deployed by authorities in 16 cities including Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore, where it replaces manual cleaning methods with robotic cleaning methods and utilizes comprehensive blade cleaning, solid waste desludging, suction and storage in a single device. It was developed by a deep tech and climate technology startup called Solinas.

“The support of such start-ups by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is an important source of encouragement for young people who are inspired by the government start-up movement to develop their knowledge-based companies to solve social challenges and contribute to the growth and development of businesses in the country,” said Abhay Karandikar, secretary of the DST.

The startup that developed the affordable robotic solution integrated artificial intelligence (AI) to inspect, clean and manage confined spaces for hygiene purposes.

“It has helped in clearing manhole blockages and reducing sewage overflows in Madurai. The application of Homosep Atom has also been extended to the narrow lanes of densely populated areas of Chennai,” the science ministry said in a statement.

Expand

The use of the robot solution enabled municipalities to clean, dispose of and transport waste to processing plants quickly and efficiently.