Researchers from North Carolina State University have designed a 3D-printed robot capable of absorbing oil from oil spills.

The Soilios is designed to autonomously navigate the world’s oceans in search of oil spills, using its onboard oil sensors. Once those oil sensors detect oil spills, an onboard pump is activated that forces oil and water inside the robot, exposing the mixture to a nanomaterial derived from leaves. This nanomaterial, which repels water and attracts oil, will absorb and recover the oil while releasing clean water.

To navigate the surface of the ocean in search of oil spills, the 3D-printed Soilios is solar powered. Additionally, the nanomaterial within the robot is reusable up to 180 times, according to its developers.

The research team from North Carolina State University intends to bring the device to market in a bid to better detect and treat oil spills. Currently, the device is an entrant in the 2020 James Dyson Award competition.

To see how the Soilios operates, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of North Carolina State University.