CarDust - We capture toxic microplastic from tire wear

AI Quick Summary

CarDust's goal is to tackle the massive, yet often overlooked problem of microplastic produced by tire abrasion on highways. These toxic microplastic particles pollute the air, soils and waterways, and end up in our food chain. CarDust's envisioned solution, a "vacuum cleaner" for the highway, is engineered to fit on a trailer pulled by a common vehicle driving at standard traffic speeds. It uses mostly readily available industrial parts, making it cheap, quick to produce and globally scalable. Problem to be solved:Microplastics pollution from tire abrasion is a silent but severe environmental problem. These particles contaminate the air, soil, and waterways, leading to widespread ecological damage and infiltrating the human and wildlife food chain, posing significant health and environmental risks. In Switzerland, pollution from tire wear represent 90% of the total microplastics pollution [EMPA2024]. This problem is global and in certain areas of the world so severe that direct impacts on ecosystems and wildlife have been observed (mass-dying of Coho salmon in Washington state's Puget Sound). The important topic of tire wear pollution closely aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution by 2030.Innovative solution:Currently, the mitigation of tire wear pollution in Switzerland is done by collecting particles flowing through the "road runoff treatment plants" (SABA) and other wastewater treatment installations, which together collect around 25% of the tire wear emissions [EMPA2024]. CarDust's solution aims at increasing the collection ratio to at least 50%. The idea is to regularly collect tire wear dust directly from the dry road surfaces, using a mechanism (to be patented) which first blasts air to the ground, and then sucks the airborne particles using a powerful cyclone-type vacuum system. The machine is meant to be pulled, like a trailer, by a standard vehicle traveling at normal traffic speeds. Since it would need to operate as close to the road surface as possible, to maximize efficiency, sophisticated techniques (AI vision, robotics) would be required to precisely position it, and move it back up to avoid collisions with hazardous objects lying on the road.Potential clients and markets:Potential clients include governments, environmental agencies, and road maintenance companies focused on safety, public health and ecosystem preservation. Using our solution, these entities will be able to collect microplastics pollution on the roads before it contaminates the environment, and dispose of it safely. CarDust's innovative road cleaning solution is set to launch first in Switzerland, but thanks to it's scalability, would be perfectly suited for quickly expanding to the EU and US, and then further to the Middle East and Asia.Transfer of results:CarDust's mission, in addition to bringing a solution to market, is to raise awareness about this important environmental problem, by engaging audiences via social media campaigns, as well as by working closely on developing the technology with universities, environmental agencies and the industry.Team:The CarDust team is led by two experienced co-founders and supported by academic researchers (currently from the ETH Zurich and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences). The blend of practical experience and theoretical insight lays a solid foundation for innovation. Diversity and inclusiveness will stay a strong priority as we develop the team further.How can the New Mobility Lab help?Currently, in partnership with the ETH fluid dynamics lab, we are conducting simulations of the airflow beneath the vehicle and trailer, to validate the efficiency assumptions in the capture of airborne particles while traveling at highway speeds. The outcome of this research will be key in developing a proof-of-concept and prototype.Participating in the Mobility Lab innovation booster will help us to:Gain access to industry players in the mobility and road cleaning servicesGain access to policy experts and decision makers on environmental questionsGain financing for developing a proof-of-concept, then a prototype, ahead of a pre-seed funding roundIncrease awareness to the microplastics from tire-wear problemFind a pilot client

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: CarDust - We capture toxic microplastic from tire wear
• Date: 3/18/2024 10:05:50 AM
• Administrators:
  • Daniela Brauckhoff

Project Idea Description

Problem to be solved:

Microplastics pollution from tire abrasion is a silent but severe environmental problem. These particles contaminate the air, soil, and waterways, leading to widespread ecological damage and infiltrating the human and wildlife food chain, posing significant health and environmental risks. In Switzerland, pollution from tire wear represent 90% of the total microplastics pollution [EMPA2024]. This problem is global and in certain areas of the world so severe that direct impacts on ecosystems and wildlife have been observed (mass-dying of Coho salmon in Washington state's Puget Sound). The important topic of tire wear pollution closely aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution by 2030.

Innovative solution:

Currently, the mitigation of tire wear pollution in Switzerland is done by collecting particles flowing through the "road runoff treatment plants" (SABA) and other wastewater treatment installations, which together collect around 25% of the tire wear emissions [EMPA2024]. CarDust's solution aims at increasing the collection ratio to at least 50%. The idea is to regularly collect tire wear dust directly from the dry road surfaces, using a mechanism (to be patented) which first blasts air to the ground, and then sucks the airborne particles using a powerful cyclone-type vacuum system. The machine is meant to be pulled, like a trailer, by a standard vehicle traveling at normal traffic speeds. Since it would need to operate as close to the road surface as possible, to maximize efficiency, sophisticated techniques (AI vision, robotics) would be required to precisely position it, and move it back up to avoid collisions with hazardous objects lying on the road.

Potential clients and markets:

Potential clients include governments, environmental agencies, and road maintenance companies focused on safety, public health and ecosystem preservation. Using our solution, these entities will be able to collect microplastics pollution on the roads before it contaminates the environment, and dispose of it safely. CarDust's innovative road cleaning solution is set to launch first in Switzerland, but thanks to it's scalability, would be perfectly suited for quickly expanding to the EU and US, and then further to the Middle East and Asia.

Transfer of results:

CarDust's mission, in addition to bringing a solution to market, is to raise awareness about this important environmental problem, by engaging audiences via social media campaigns, as well as by working closely on developing the technology with universities, environmental agencies and the industry.

Team:

The CarDust team is led by two experienced co-founders and supported by academic researchers (currently from the ETH Zurich and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences). The blend of practical experience and theoretical insight lays a solid foundation for innovation. Diversity and inclusiveness will stay a strong priority as we develop the team further.

How can the New Mobility Lab help?

Currently, in partnership with the ETH fluid dynamics lab, we are conducting simulations of the airflow beneath the vehicle and trailer, to validate the efficiency assumptions in the capture of airborne particles while traveling at highway speeds. The outcome of this research will be key in developing a proof-of-concept and prototype.

Participating in the Mobility Lab innovation booster will help us to:

• Gain access to industry players in the mobility and road cleaning services
• Gain access to policy experts and decision makers on environmental questions
• Gain financing for developing a proof-of-concept, then a prototype, ahead of a pre-seed funding round
• Increase awareness to the microplastics from tire-wear problem
• Find a pilot client

CarDust's goal is to tackle the massive, yet often overlooked problem of microplastic produced by tire abrasion on highways. These toxic microplastic particles pollute the air, soils and waterways, and end up in our food chain. CarDust's envisioned solution, a "vacuum cleaner" for the highway, is engineered to fit on a trailer pulled by a common vehicle driving at standard traffic speeds. It uses mostly readily available industrial parts, making it cheap, quick to produce and globally scalable.