The robot, called Smart Grapple, uses AI, cameras, and sonar to identify waste and retrieve objects weighing up to 250 kilograms. Smart Grapple is part of SeaClear 2.0, an EU-funded marine litter cleanup project.

Developers say the technology could reduce reliance on human divers and operate continuously in polluted areas. The team expects the robotic system to be ready for wider deployment between 2030 and 2033.