Smithtown Students Design Garbage-Cleaning Robot

SMITHTOWN, NY — Smithtown Central School District’s robotics team — the Mechanical Bulls Team 810 — recently participated in a global design competition virtually, the district said in a news release. The first robotics teams from around the world were invited to a virtual design competition where they were challenged to solve a current world problem with their robotics skills.

Students used Onshape, a web-based CAD system, to design a robot that helps to solve a current world problem. The Smithtown Robotics Team 810 decided to take on litter and pollution on urban streets. Through a series of Google Meets, messages, e-mails and shared design files, the team completed their design along with a three-page essay highlighting the process and concept of the robot.

The team’s robot is designed to pick up garbage through two inwardly rotating brushes, angled in a way to create a vortex that maximizes trash pickup. The Mechanical Bulls placed #87 out of 150 teams in 10 countries at the May 29 virtual awards ceremony.