Bengaluru: A city-based startup has developed an AI-powered robot that converts household wet waste into an odour-free, soil-like mix in less than four days. The innovation, called Chewie, has gone viral after Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shared a video of it on social media.

Chewie goes viral

Developed by Mankomb Technologies, the robot not only processes kitchen waste but also flags dry or unwanted items like plastics or cutlery in the mix. Its first home model, Chewie Max, opened for bookings in May 2024, and all 1,000 units were reserved in under a week. The appliance is priced at ₹34,999.

The founding team — Mrudul Mudotholy, Dinesh Babu Sukumar, and Jawahar Arumugam — began research and development in 2022. They said they were motivated by Bengaluru’s persistent challenges with waste segregation and collection delays.

“There is sometimes a risk of missing the garbage collection,” Mudotholy explained, adding that the product was designed to eliminate dependence on municipal waste pickup.

How the system works

Chewie is built on the VECA system (vision, environment orchestration, cloud, and over-the-air updates) and is equipped with automatic dosing and self-care functions.

  • The on-device vision helps identify organic matter like vegetable peels, greens, and proteins, while flagging plastics or metal cutlery.
  • It balances the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in waste to ensure proper decomposition — addressing the key reason public composting units emit strong odours.
  • Sensors regulate temperature, oxygen, and moisture in real time to keep the process odour-free.
  • Automatic dosing predicts heavy loads, clears jams, and self-cleans, requiring no user maintenance.

The robot generates a soil-like mix called regen soil, which varies in nutrient profile depending on the waste used. The output can be ready in as little as eight hours or up to three days, making it suitable for household gardening.

Features and capacity

Chewie Max can handle up to 120 kg of waste per month, fitting easily under a sink or kitchen counter. It requires only a 6-amp power supply and minimal water.

“By eliminating wet waste at source, households cut mixed-waste violations, reduce landfill pressure and methane emissions, and keep garbage trucks off congested roads,” Mudotholy said.

Future models in pipeline

The success of Chewie Max has prompted plans for new models:

  • Chewie Z, a larger unit designed for high-rise apartments, set for a 2027 launch.
  • Chewie Pro, a high-capacity version for restaurants and cafeterias, scheduled for rollout in 2028.

The next batch of Chewie Max for home users will open for pre-booking in January 2026.

Conclusion

By addressing Bengaluru’s long-standing waste segregation crisis, Chewie represents a step towards sustainable living. With its combination of AI, automation, and user-friendly design, the innovation could play a crucial role in reducing landfill loads and promoting a circular economy for urban households.