Marine litter poses serious environmental risks, from harming wildlife to introducing microplastics into the food chain.

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich developed the Smart Grapple, an autonomous diving robot that can identify, grasp, and lift underwater trash up to 250 kilograms, depositing it onto an autonomous boat for recycling.

The robot uses AI and 3D imaging to distinguish litter from natural objects, navigating with onboard cameras or sonar, and has been successfully demonstrated in ports in France and Germany, CNN has reported.

Smart Grapple is part of the EU-funded SeaClear 2.0 project, which aims to map and collect marine litter using robotic systems, potentially expanding cleanup capabilities beyond what human divers can achieve.

While not a complete solution to ocean pollution, the technology could help protect ecologically sensitive areas and supplement broader waste management efforts.