After first being trialed along cycle lanes, the Trombia Free is now cleaning several streets in the Finnish cities of Helsinki and Espoo each night.

In terms of design, this cleaning machine looks like a kind of giant robot vacuum cleaner. To find its way, the machine is equipped with laser sensors (LiDAR), which help it avoid obstacles. It can travel at speeds of up to 10km/h.

However, for sweeping and dust-removal jobs, it is limited to 6km/h. Each hour, this autonomous street sweeper is capable of cleaning surfaces of 5,000 to 15,000 sqm in size.

Beyond its technological prowess, Trombia states that its autonomous machine uses less than 15% of the power required by current street sweeping machines — or an average 16 kW compared to just over 100 kW. In addition, the Trombia Free promises water savings of over 95% compared to current suction sweepers.

More ecological and more economical than classic street sweepers, the Trombia Free could prove a promising means for cities to reduce their carbon footprints.

Trials are expected to be expanded before its official launch, with the Trombia Free expected to go on sale from 2022.