Post #63: Clearbot: Robotics in Ocean Conservation - Venture Highlight

This week I am sticking with the SEA focus and have highlighted a case study which I find super cool. Enjoy!

Southeast Asia is a critical region for global marine health, with its waters supporting some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. However, the region also faces significant plastic pollution challenges. According to a 2021 report by the Ocean Conservancy, six of the world’s top 20 plastic-polluting countries are in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The high volume of plastic waste in these waters is driven by rapid urbanisation, increasing consumer demand for single-use plastics, and underdeveloped waste management systems. According to the World Bank, the Philippines alone generates around 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with an estimated 20% ending up in the ocean.

Traditional cleanup efforts have proven costly and labour-intensive, often relying on manual collection and local community initiatives. This creates a clear need for scalable, technology-driven solutions — which is where ventures like Clearbot come in.

I. What is Clearbot and How Does It Work?

Clearbot is an AI-powered, electric autonomous vessel designed to efficiently collect floating marine debris in coastal waters, harbours, rivers, and marinas. The company was founded in 2019 in Hong Kong by Sidhant Gupta, Ahmed Abbas Alvi, and Utkarsh Goel. The three co-founders met while studying at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where they initially developed the

Clearbot concept as a student project aimed at addressing Hong Kong’s growing marine plastic problem.

The idea quickly gained traction, leading the founders to formally establish Clearbot as a startup. They initially tested their prototypes in the waters around Hong Kong, a major global shipping hub known for its busy harbours and high levels of maritime traffic. These early trials demonstrated the potential for an autonomous, solar-powered solution to significantly reduce plastic pollution in urban coastal environments.

Founding Vision: The founders’ goal was to develop a system that could not only collect waste but also provide data insights to support broader marine conservation efforts. They envisioned a fleet of robots that could autonomously patrol coastal waters, collecting debris and providing real-time environmental data to governments, businesses, and NGOs.

Core Technologies

Clearbot’s approach relies on several advanced technologies to autonomously identify, collect, and analyse marine debris:

• AI-Powered Waste Detection

  • The heart of the Clearbot system is its computer vision platform, which uses AI to identify and classify floating debris in real-time.

  • The system is trained on thousands of images of common marine waste, including plastic bottles, nets, seaweed, and organic matter.

  • This AI-driven approach allows the vessel to distinguish between different types of debris based on shape, colour, and texture, improving both collection efficiency and data accuracy.

    
    

• Autonomous Navigation

  • Clearbot vessels use a combination of GPS, LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors, and RTK (Real-Time Kinematics) for precise positioning and collision avoidance.

  • The onboard navigation system continuously maps the environment, creating a 3D model of the surrounding waterway to avoid obstacles and optimise collection routes.

  • This autonomy reduces the need for human intervention, making the system more scalable and cost-effective.

    
    

• Electric and Solar-Powered Propulsion

  • Each Clearbot unit is fully electric, powered by high-capacity lithium-ion batteries with integrated solar panels for extended range.

  • The hull design minimises hydrodynamic drag, improving energy efficiency and allowing for longer deployment times without the need for frequent charging.

    
    

• Real-Time Data Collection and Cloud Integration

  • Clearbot units are equipped with a suite of environmental sensors that collect data on water quality, temperature, pH, and debris types.

  • This data is transmitted to a central cloud platform, where it is processed and analysed to generate real-time insights for clients.

  • The data can be used to track the efficiency of cleanup efforts, identify pollution hotspots, and support regulatory compliance for businesses and governments.

Products and Services

Clearbot offers a range of autonomous marine robotics and data services, categorised into three main vessel classes:

• Class 1 – Clearbot Lite

  • Small, modular units for confined waterways, marinas, and nearshore environments.

  • Ideal for smaller-scale debris collection and water quality monitoring.

• Class 2 – Clearbot Pro

  • Mid-sized, electric, AI-powered vessels designed for coastal and inland waterway debris collection.

  • Equipped with advanced navigation, real-time data analytics, and multi-sensor arrays.

• Class 3 – Clearbot Ultra (see image below)

  • Larger, industrial-grade units for offshore and large-scale cleanup operations.

  • Designed for rougher waters and high-volume waste collection.

Additional Services:

• Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) – Real-time environmental monitoring, impact reporting, and pollution hotspot mapping.

• Draft Surveys

• Hyacinth Removal

• Bathymetric Survey

• Fleet Management Platform – Centralised control and data integration for multi-unit operations.

• Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) – Flexible leasing and subscription plans for short-term or permanent deployments.

• Custom Solutions – Bespoke vessel configurations for specialised tasks like oil spill response or coral restoration.

Clearbot Class 3 - https://www.clearbot.org/class-3

II. Real-World Impact and Market Reach

Clearbot’s technology has proven effective in diverse real-world environments, offering a scalable, data-driven solution for marine debris collection. Unlike traditional manual methods, Clearbot’s autonomous vessels can operate continuously, reducing labour costs and improving operational efficiency.

1. Key Pilot Projects

• Hong Kong Harbour

  • Early deployments focused on refining core systems like AI waste detection, autonomous navigation, and collision avoidance in one of the world’s busiest maritime environments.

  • This provided critical data on debris types and vessel performance in high-traffic, polluted waters.

• India – Shillong and Bengaluru

  • In Shillong, units removed 600-700 kg of waste in just three days, validating the system’s efficiency in confined, freshwater environments.

  • The Bengaluru pilot provided additional insights into the composition of inland waterway debris, including single-use plastics and organic waste.

2. Client Use Cases

Clearbot’s technology supports a range of clients, including:

• Marinas and Ports – Automated waste collection and water quality monitoring.

• Government Agencies – Real-time data for regulatory compliance and policy development.

• Tourism and Hospitality – Sustainable branding for resorts, beach clubs, and waterfront businesses.

• Conservation NGOs – Scalable, data-rich platforms for marine conservation projects.

3. Data-Driven Environmental Insights

Clearbot’s real-time data capabilities set it apart from traditional cleanup methods:

• Waste Volume and Composition – Precise data on the types and volume of debris collected.

• Geo-Tagged Pollution Mapping – GPS-tagged waste data for identifying pollution hotspots.

• Water Quality Monitoring – Sensors for temperature, pH, salinity, and turbidity.

• Impact Reporting – Custom dashboards for ESG compliance and investor transparency.

4. Early Market Validation

Clearbot has validated its technology through early deployments in Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia, achieving key milestones:

• Technology Refinement – Improved AI algorithms and hull designs through real-world testing.

• Business Model Validation – Proven demand for Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS).

• Client Acquisition – Built a diverse client base across marinas, ports, and government agencies.

• Operational Data Collection – Critical environmental data for ongoing R&D.

III. Funding, Growth Strategy, and Challenges

Clearbot has made significant progress in scaling its technology, supported by a combination of early-stage funding, strategic partnerships, and a focused growth strategy.

1. Funding History

Clearbot’s seed funding round in September 2022 included investment from:

• Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund

• Gobi Partners GBA

• Earth Venture Capital

• Asia Sustainability Angels

• CarbonX Global

This funding supports:

• Product Development – AI upgrades, hull optimisation, and power efficiency.

• Market Expansion – Growth into high-pollution regions like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand.

• Manufacturing Scale-Up – Increased production capacity to meet rising demand.

• Data Analytics – Improved cloud infrastructure for real-time processing.

2. Growth Strategy

Clearbot’s growth is focused on three main pillars:

• Geographic Expansion – Scaling operations across Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.

• Technology Diversification – Developing specialised bots for tasks like water quality monitoring and oil spill response.

• Data-Driven Services – Monetising environmental data through analytics platforms and ESG reporting tools.

3. Key Challenges

Despite its early success, Clearbot faces several scaling challenges:

• Manufacturing and Supply Chain – Scaling production without compromising quality.

• Regulatory Compliance – Navigating complex maritime laws across multiple regions.

• Data Security – Protecting sensitive environmental data.

• Market Education – Convincing clients to adopt autonomous solutions.

• Long-Term R&D Funding – Sustaining AI and hardware innovation over time.

Final Thoughts

Clearbot represents a promising step forward in the fight against ocean plastic pollution. By combining AI, robotics, and data analytics, the company has created a scalable, cost-effective solution for marine debris collection that can operate in diverse environments, from congested urban harbours to remote coastal waters.

As it continues to expand its reach and refine its technology, Clearbot has the potential to become a global leader in autonomous ocean cleanup, supporting the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable marine environment.

For those interested in the intersection of technology and ocean conservation, Clearbot offers a compelling example of how innovative engineering can be leveraged to address one of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks post.

H