Robots for recycling e-waste presented

Researchers at the University of Australia, New South Wales, have demonstrated techniques for using robots to handle piles of electronic waste. In accordance with the objectives of the project of Professor Sami Kara, robots can be programmed to recognize the designs of various electronic devices, which will allow them to be dismantled at a faster pace.

The research was carried out in collaboration with representatives from the Manufacturing and Engineering Research Group (SMLCE) and the Department of Computer Science. According to Professor Kara, there are a large number of different products stored in e-recycling centers due to the difficulty of dismantling. The workers in these centers do not know how to dismantle all of these devices. Dismantling can be quite a busy process and requires intense effort. By dividing products into separate parts, first of all, workers are exposed to the risk of exposure to hazardous toxic materials that could even endanger the lives of employees.

As a result of the research, a robot that disassembles LCD screens was successfully tested. Initially, the robot took a while to dismantle the screens, a type of which was new to him. But, the next time they were taken apart in the blink of an eye, when the robot received enough information about the product. The robot can successfully remove the display and board without damaging them, so that the rest of the parts can be successfully recycled.

The purpose of the study is to show in practice the use of additional industrial robots that can automate the entire process of dismantling electronic waste. The researchers also intend to use similar methods to recycle lithium batteries.