In the heart of Silicon Valley, a team of engineers is teaching robots to think like expert recyclers. Meet the AMP Cortex, an AI-powered robotic system that’s changing the game in recycling plants across the United States.
Developed by AMP Robotics, this high-tech sorter uses computer vision and machine learning to identify and sort recyclables at superhuman speeds. It can distinguish between different types of plastics, metals, and paper products, even when they’re crushed, dirty, or mixed together.
The AMP Cortex can make up to 80 picks per minute – that’s twice as fast as human sorters – and it can work 24/7 without getting tired. This speed and accuracy are helping recycling facilities process more materials with less contamination, significantly improving recycling rates.
But the benefits go beyond just efficiency. By reducing the need for human sorters to handle potentially hazardous materials, these robots are making recycling plants safer workplaces. And as the AI learns and improves over time, it’s continuously getting better at identifying and sorting new types of packaging and materials.
This technology is not just sorting trash – it’s sorting out one of our biggest environmental challenges. As it spreads to more recycling facilities across the USA, it’s helping to close the loop on our circular economy, turning more of our waste back into valuable resources.
