Abstract: A method of detecting a fault in a waste sorting robot is provided. The waste sorting robot has a manipulator moveable within a working area and a suction gripper connected to the manipulator and arranged to selectively grip a waste object in the working area. The method comprises determining a gripping rate of suction gripper operations over a plurality of suction gripper operations in dependence of a signal received from a suction gripper sensor. The method further comprises determining one or more other operational parameters of the suction gripper over a plurality of suction gripper operations. The method also comprises detecting one or more faults with the suction gripper and/or the waste sorting robot based on the determined one or more other operational parameters and the determined gripping rate of suction gripper operations.

Abstract: It A waste sorting robot (100) comprises a manipulator (101) moveable within a working area (102). A gripper (103) is connected to the manipulator (101) and arranged to selectively grip a waste object (104, 104a, 104b, 104c) in the working area (102). A controller (108) is in communication with a sensor (107) and is configured to receive detected object parameters, and determine a throw trajectory (109) of the gripped waste object (104) towards a target position (106) based on the detected object parameters of the gripped waste object (104). The controller (108) is configured to send control instructions to the gripper (103) and/or manipulator (101) so that the gripper (103) and/or manipulator (101) accelerates the gripped waste object (104) and releases the waste object (104) at a throw position with a throw velocity and throw angle towards the target position (106) so that the waste object (104) is thrown along the determined throw trajectory (109).

Abstract: A waste sorting robot comprises a manipulator moveable within a working area. A suction gripper is connected to the manipulator and arranged to selectively grip a waste object in the working area. An air supply is in fluid communication with the suction gripper and configured to generate an airflow along an airflow path in the suction gripper. A solvent outlet in fluid communication with a solvent supply wherein the solvent outlet configured to dose the airflow with the solvent.

Abstract: A waste sorting robot can include a manipulator comprising a suction gripper for interacting with one or more waste objects to be sorted within a working area, and wherein the manipulator is moveable within the working area. There is a controller configured to send control instructions to the manipulator. At least one pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the suction gripper and configured to generate a pressure signal in dependence on a fluid pressure in the suction gripper. The controller is configured to receive the pressure signal and to determine manipulator instructions in dependence on the pressure signal.

Abstract: A waste sorting robot comprises: a frame and a manipulator moveably mounted to the frame and comprising a gripper for interacting with one or more waste objects to be sorted within a working area. The waste sorting robot comprises a conveyor for moving the one or more waste objects towards the working area. At least a portion of the manipulator is rotatable with respect to the frame such that the gripper is moveable lengthways along the conveyor within the working area.

Abstract: A waste sorting robot can include a manipulator comprising a suction gripper for interacting with one or more waste objects to be sorted within a working area, and wherein the manipulator is moveable within the working area. There is a controller configured to send control instructions to the manipulator. At least one pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the suction gripper and configured to generate a pressure signal in dependence on a fluid pressure in the suction gripper. The controller is configured to receive the pressure signal and to determine manipulator instructions in dependence on the pressure signal.

Abstract: A waste sorting manipulator can include a gripper assembly for interacting with one or more waste objects to be sorted within a working area. There is at least one servo for moving the gripper assembly between the manipulator and the working area. There is also at least one slidable coupling mounted between the at least one servo and the gripper assembly for allowing relative movement between the at least one servo and the gripper assembly.