From a teenage robotics whiz to a custodian of the oceans, Sidhant Gupta is going global with his fleet of smart, waste-clearing boats
Anyone who has ever swum or paddled in Hong Kong waters will be familiar with the sight of floating rubbish. Robotics startup ClearBot was created to address the mounting issue of filthy shorelines, and its co-founder Sidhant Gupta has plans to take the marine services company global, inspired by Tesla and the way the electric car manufacturer creates excitement around sustainable technology.
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Gupta was one of three Gen.T honourees to appear on the cover of Tatler’s October issue, which celebrated the Hong Kong entrepreneurs who are using technology for sustainable purposes.
ClearBot boats, measuring 3.5m by 1.5m, are already being used in Hong Kong waters, and the team has made inroads in India and Panama too. A camera on the bow identifies rubbish before the boat scoops it up into a storage compartment to be taken back to shore. A partnership with Singaporean gaming company Razer last year resulted in a sleek redesign of the boats that Gupta says opens doors when promoting ClearBot’s services to governments and businesses. The boats have also been modified to soak up oil slicks and use jets of water to clean walls at the request of clients, which include Sino Group’s Gold Coast marina.
Read more: Sino Group Deputy Chairman Daryl Ng's Journey Towards Going Green