On Novaya Zemlya, a garbage collector robot underwent testing

The participants of the Arctic Floating University tested a garbage collector robot on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago’s Severny Island, goarctic.ru reports. The Atlas robot engineered by the students of the Northern Arctic Federal University, is a four-kilogramme wheeled platform equipped with a video camera and manipulators. The task of the Atlas robot is to collect garbage or research samples in hard-to-reach areas in the Arctic (near turbulent rivers, under cliffs, on steep slopes), where the work is fraught with risks to humans or local ecosystems. 
First of all, the Atlas robot’s ability to move on different types of soil in polar latitudes was tested. The garbage collector robot performed well, it successfully moved on lichen forest types, pebbles, sand, and clay soils. Testing the signal transmission from a video camera is on the agenda now, as a stable signal should be transmitted at a distance of up to 5 kilometres, according to the declared characteristics.
The Atlas robot is a very interesting invention. Besides, self-driving vehicles and remote-controlled solutions are becoming increasingly important for carrying out various operations in the Arctic. And the very interest of young researchers to participate in innovative developments is also important. The involvement of an increasing number of young professionals in developing new technologies is necessary to promote the intellectual component of the development of the Arctic, as well as to increase the “added value” created by national science and industry for the Arctic.