Litter management has a new champion in Calcasieu Parish. The new TrashFormer robot, designed and built by McNeese students, was unveiled Thursday at McNeese.

The robot, which began as an ordinary trash can, is able to transform itself into a litter-fighting machine whose arms are able to grip and dispose of litter such as water bottles, paper towels and empty soda cans.

The TrashFormer is designed to not only pick up trash but also to educate children about the importance of keeping their environment clean. The robot will soon be making classroom visits to area schools. The TrashFormer is even the star of a children’s coloring book that promotes his anti-litter agenda.

A number of Calcasieu Parish students were on hand Thursday to see a demonstration of what the Trashformer can do.

The young students watched as the robot popped his head up and looked around with his eyes. He then picked up wadded-up paper and empty water bottles off the floor and deposited these things into his body.

The students also listened as Calcasieu Parish litter manager Wyvette Pryor-Cousin read them a book about
disposing of trash and litter.

The TrashFormer is a partnership between the Police Jury, McNeese engineering  and computer science students and the O’Carroll Group marketing firm.

McNeese students who worked on the robot were Chiamaka Onwude, computer engineering major; Alfred Okorocha, computer science major; Josemaría Ezejelue and Hafsah Khan, who have graduated with degrees in computer science, and David Okpo, who has graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.

The students were guided by Dr. Catherine Anderson and Mitch Morgan of the McNeese faculty.

The TrashFormer is built mostly from components of the GoBilda system. The team also designed and 3D-printed custom parts at McNeese using polylactic acid filament. The robot is able to be controlled both manually and automatically.

At the unveiling, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Anthony Bartie touted the Litter Champs award program, encouraging those in attendance to nominate anyone they know who always goes the extra mile to keep the parish clean. Litter champs can be nominated at PickItUpCalcasieu.com.