Edinburgh-based Danu Robotics is preparing to scale its intelligent recycling technology with H.E.R.O., a robotic sorting system designed to improve the speed, precision and economics of material recovery.
A smarter approach to material sorting
Founded by former software developer Amy Ma, the company focuses on a practical challenge across the recycling sector: separating valuable materials efficiently at scale. H.E.R.O. combines robotic handling with artificial intelligence that can continuously refine its recognition and sorting capabilities.
Unlike many robotic systems that rely on suction, H.E.R.O. uses a pincer-style claw to pick up items from sorting lines. This approach is intended to give the machine greater flexibility when handling varied shapes, sizes and packaging materials.
Danu Robotics says its software-led model enables the robot to improve over time, helping facilities identify more recoverable materials and potentially increase the value of their output. The company estimates that a site using the technology could generate around $485,000 in additional annual revenue, compared with an initial investment of approximately $160,000 and yearly maintenance costs of $24,000.
Commercial momentum and wider applications
The company has secured $500,000 in signed contracts, received interest from major customers and built a sales pipeline of more than 200 potential clients across Europe and North America. Danu Robotics has also raised $5 million in late-seed funding to support commercial deployment.
Its next focus is making H.E.R.O. more compact, durable and adaptable. A smaller standalone version could support recycling directly at locations such as airports, hospitals, shopping centres and large events, helping organisations sort materials closer to where they are used.
As AI-powered robotics becomes more accessible, systems such as H.E.R.O. could help make recycling infrastructure more responsive, decentralised and economically sustainable.
