IIT Madras Robot to clean septic tanks ready for launch

IIT Madras robots will be cleaning septic tanks without human intervention. A set of 10 robots has been deployed in Tamil Nadu.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ ‘HomoSEP,’ a robot developed by the institute’s researchers to eliminate manual scavenging in India, is all set for field deployment. A total of ten units are planned to be deployed across Tamil Nadu with the researchers already in touch with sanitation workers to identify locations. Locations in Gujarat and Maharashtra are also being considered.

This robot has been developed over the last several years by a team led by Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, IIT Madras, and Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras together with IIT Madras-incubated start-up Solinas Integrity Private Limited. The team has been in close touch with sanitation workers and is supported by the NGO, Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA) dedicated to the elimination of manual scavenging in India.

At present, the first two HomoSEP units have been distributed to self-help groups led by Ms. Nagamma and Ms. Ruth Mary whose husbands died tragically during sanitation work, through the support of the NGO, SKA.In the unique model being pioneered, IIT Madras is empowering enterprises established by such self-help groups, whose key stakeholders will be women impacted by the tragic consequences of manual scavenging.

The task of further distribution of 9 more units, several of which have already been fabricated as per the project plans, is ongoing.

Highlighting his motivations behind developing HomoSEP, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Principal Investigator of the Project and Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “The septic tank is a poisonous environment, filled with semi-solid and semi-fluid human faecal material that make up about two-thirds of the tank. Hundreds of deaths are reported every year across India, due to manual scavenging in septic tanks despite bans and prohibitory orders.”

Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal added, “The HomoSEP project is unique for the way it has brought together the key stakeholders, including university (our team), NGO, Industry CSR and start-up to develop a solution to an urgent and pressing social problem. No doubt the problem is large and complex, and we hope that our effort serves as an inspiration for others to join in the push.”