KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 30, 2026

It is estimated that up to 23 million metric tons of plastic enter waterways each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. While harmful materials continue to plague governments around the world, a Kennesaw State University student is developing an artificial intelligence-powered system to detect litter before it reaches the ocean.

Mechatronics engineering student Saam Grami is creating a system that detects, classifies, and tracks floating litter in rivers. The research could help autonomous robots identify and intercept debris before it reaches larger bodies of water.

"I've always loved robotics," Grami said. "I'd like to do something that helps clean up trash and helps the planet. I want to build robotics that help the world."

Grami’s fascination with the world of robotics stems from his upbringing in Roswell, Ga., where he enjoyed building with LEGO sets. Originally unsure about his potential career path, he enrolled at Kennesaw State, where he discovered mechatronics engineering, a field that combines mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science.

"I realized mechatronics let me combine everything I was interested in," Grami said. "I enjoy designing systems, solving problems, and seeing something I built actually work. That's what made me realize I was in the right field."

Through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), Grami is working with a camera system installed along Cobb County’s Rottenwood Creek that continuously monitors the water. Using machine learning, the system can identify different types of litter, track debris as it moves downstream, and catalog trash flowing through the creek in real time.

The technology analyzes live video from cameras positioned along the creek. Using artificial intelligence, the system recognizes different types of litter, places a digital marker around each object, and follows it as it moves downstream. Grami uses information about the water's current and debris movement to train the system to predict where the litter will travel next, helping future robots know where to intercept it.

Another focus of the project is ensuring the technology performs reliably in real-world conditions. While clear weather makes litter easier to detect, rain and flooding often carry the greatest amount of debris into rivers and streams.

"When it's raining, that's when trash is coming down," Grami said. "If we can't detect it in the rain, our robot is kind of useless because that's when most of the trash is in the water."

Professor of Mechatronics Engineering Matt Marshall said Grami's research shows how robotics and artificial intelligence can address environmental challenges while preparing students for future careers.

“Saam has performed extensive design of hardware and software, as well as collecting and analyzing copious field data,” Marshall said.  “He has done a great job identifying and dealing with the real-world hurdles that invariably show up between a concept and its implementation.”

Conducting undergraduate research has also prepared Grami for a rapidly evolving engineering field where artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming increasingly common across industries.

"It's been really helpful because all engineers need to know how to use it now," he said. "It's not just computer science anymore. We all can make some really awesome things because of machine learning."

Grami, who graduates this fall, plans to continue his education in Kennesaw State's Master of Science in Intelligent Robotic Systems degree program. He hopes to expand the research by developing technology that can detect objects beneath the water's surface, improving how autonomous systems monitor and remove pollution from waterways.

"Every piece of litter we can keep out of the ocean is a step in the right direction," Grami said. "If robotics can help us do that, then that's exactly the kind of work I want to be part of."

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photo provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.