Clean Earth Rovers

Clean Earth Rovers develops autonomous vessels to clean waterways and collect environmental data. The company's main product offering is an electric, autonomous robot called the Rover that skims the surface of coastal waters, marinas, and harbors to collect trash and debris. The Rover can collect up to 100 pounds of waste per trip (18 tons per year) and can operate for up to 20 hours on a single charge. It uses obstacle avoidance software to navigate safely around boats and marine life. 

In addition to debris collection, the company offers the Data Pod, a floating buoy that monitors water quality metrics such as temperature, pH level, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity in real time. The company's technology aims to address the problem of plastic pollution in oceans and coastal areas, where an estimated 11 million tons of plastic debris enter annually. As of November 2024, Clean Earth Rovers had expanded its operations beyond its initial base in Cincinnati to serve markets in Florida, California, and other coastal regions.

Key customers and partnerships

The company has also worked with Point San Pablo Harbor near San Francisco, where it launched its first autonomous rover in 2022. In March 2023, Clean Earth Rovers signed a contract with Florida-based technical support provider, B&B Services, guaranteeing a minimum order of 20 rovers to be delivered within a year. The company has also partnered with Australian electronics manufacturer Advanced Navigation, whose Cloud Ground Control system enables fleet operations management and real-time monitoring of the rovers. In February 2024, the company expanded its presence in California, working with the Orange County Public Works Department on a pilot project in Huntington Harbour.