Mechanical, or broom sweepers, utilize a main broom for picking up debris, which is then sent to a conveyor and ultimately lands in a debris body, or hopper.
Regenerative air sweepers use both pressurized air and vacuum air to move material off the surface and into the debris body or hopper.
Vacuum sweepers suck the material off the ground through a large nozzle and into the hopper much like a standard home vacuum.