Dominican engineer develops AI-powered machine to automate sargassum collection

Santo Domingo.- Dominican mechatronics engineer Rómulo Pérez presented Sargazoom, an innovative prototype designed to automate sargassum collection along the country’s beaches using artificial intelligence and renewable energy.

Pérez showcased the project at the X Entrepreneurs Fair of the Dominican Republic, held at Downtown Center. The machine uses a catamaran-style structure equipped with cameras that detect sargassum and establish automated routes for collection and transportation to designated unloading areas.

The system is designed to operate autonomously, returning to shore when its storage capacity is reached before resuming collection. Pérez said the technology could work both day and night and eventually allow multiple units to operate simultaneously along different sections of coastline.

The final version is expected to hold up to eight cubic meters of sargassum, while the prototype is smaller and intended for testing.

Pérez said the project requires approximately US$1.5 million to reach full development and is seeking support to continue its implementation. He emphasized that Sargazoom aims not only to address the country’s sargassum problem but also to reduce the health and safety risks faced by workers involved in manual collection.