WS#45 Remanufacturing and recycling: are robots the way to a sustainable future?
Dr. Tero Kaarlela (Centria University of Applied Sciences), Dr. Tomi Pitkäaho (Centria University of Applied Sciences), Dr. Alireza Rastegarpanah (The University of Birmingham), Dr. Enrico Villagrossi (Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy), Dr. Esmaeil Najafi (Saxion University of Applied Sciences), , Dr. Iñaki Díaz (CEIT), , Agata Suwala (MTC), Sharath Chandra Akkaladevi (Profactor Gmbh), Franziska Kirstein (Blue Ocean Robotics), Berkhan Bayraktar (Boğaziçi University, Research Assistant), Dr. Evren Samur (HKTM), Dr. Fotis Konstantinidis (ICCS), Konstantinos Kokkalis PhDc. (ICCS)Room 11-13
Questions to be answered
- Is the current direction of robotic research the right way to improve the autonomy and flexibility required by the evaluation, disassembly, and sorting for recycling and remanufacturing?
- Open issues and current technological limits of robotized disassembly. What are the current challenges of robotics and automation hindering more effective and reliable robotic disassembly?
- Preview the latest innovations in the robotized disassembly/recycling of electric vehicle batteries, consumer electronics, metal industry, and ship recycling
Description
The growing emphasis on sustainability, and the increasing demand for recycling and remanufacturing, presents a critical opportunity for robotics to contribute to a more sustainable future. As automotive, electronics, and shipbuilding industries face rising pressures to reduce waste and conserve rare raw materials, robotized disassembly offers a promising solution. This workshop explores whether robots can pave the way to a sustainable future by improving the efficiency, precision, and safety of recycling processes.
Supported by insights from EU and national projects, such as REBELION, RECIRCULATE, BATTEREVERSE, REINFORCE, SHEREC (Ship Recycling), REEPRODUCE, and DemoDataPRO, THESEUS, OPTIMINER this workshop aims to showcase the latest advancements in robotic disassembly, sorting and recycling. It delves into the open issues hindering wider adoption of robotic disassembly, evaluates whether current research is moving in the right direction, and discusses the latest developments relevant to the circular economy. Key questions addressed in this session will include the technological limits of current robotic systems and how AI and machine vision can overcome these barriers. We will showcase the latest advancements in robotic technologies, including innovations in the disassembly of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, electronics, and ship components, and discuss how AI tools, automation, and machine vision are driving these innovations. Despite these advancements, several technological challenges remain, particularly in ensuring the autonomy and flexibility of robots in disassembly tasks and adapting to the wide variability in end-of-life (EoL) products in the entire lifecycle.
By attending this workshop, participants will gain valuable insights into how robotic solutions can address the sustainability challenges in various sectors, focusing on rare earth elements (REEs), EV battery recycling, and ship disassembly. Participants will also be able to engage with experts from the aforementioned projects, gaining valuable insights into real-world case studies and innovative solutions.
Additionally, the workshop will provide a platform for networking with leading researchers and industrial partners and for discussing strategies to strengthen Europe's recycling and remanufacturing industry.
Topics are:
- AI tools are available for the robotized recycling process.
- Methods applied for the robotized recycling process. Applying the methods developed for battery disassembly to other recycled products. (Tero added these, feel free to modify)
Organisation of the WS
- Introduction: general advantages, the lookout on topic, opening and setting the scene (5 min)
- Impulse talks on applications:
- Electronics and electrical recycling (e-devices) (8 min)
- Electric vehicle battery recycling (8 min)
- Ship recycling (8 min)
- Application of machine vision for recycling (5 min)
- Sum up the challenges and provide points of discussion for the interactive session (8 min)
- Group discussions: To do: Identify key research questions. Focus on: what are the key aspects in each sector? (40 min) - speakers above one per group at least
- Wrap-up (8 min)
Intended outcome
Key Research Priorities Identified: Participants will collectively define the top research challenges and technological gaps in robotic disassembly for recycling, particularly in the areas of EV batteries, electronics, and ship recycling. This will shape the future research agenda and collaborations in sustainable robotics.
Speakers, Panelists, etc
Introduction: Agata Suwala, MTC, Agata Suwała CEng | LinkedIn
Speaker: Dr. Alireza Rastegarpanah, The University of Birmingham, Senior Robotic Scientist
Speaker: Dr. Iñaki Díaz, CEIT, Head of Robotics and Artificial Vision Research Group | LinkedIn
Speaker: Dr. Esmaeil Najafi, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, Associate Professor
Speaker: Berkhan Bayraktar, Boğaziçi University, Türkiye, Research Assistant (PhD Candidate)
Topic Groups and/or Innovation networks involved
TG Sustainability
Projects involved
REBELION (https://rebelion-project.eu/),
RECIRCULATE(https://recirculate.eu/),
BATTEREVERSE (https://www.battereverse.eu/),
REINFORCE (https://reinforceproject.eu/)
THESEUS(http://theseus-h4c.eu/)
OPTIMINER(https://www.optiminer-project.eu)
REEPRODUCE (https://www.reeproduce.eu/ ),
SHEREC ( HORIZON-IA, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101136056 )
Demo Data PRO (national project)
AI PRISM (https://aiprism.eu/)
SOPRANO (https://www.soprano-project.org/)
Further information
Organisers
- Dr. Tero Kaarlela (Centria University of Applied Sciences),
- Dr. Tomi Pitkäaho (Centria University of Applied Sciences),
- Dr. Alireza Rastegarpanah (The University of Birmingham),
- Dr. Enrico Villagrossi (Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy),
- Dr. Esmaeil Najafi (Saxion University of Applied Sciences), e.najafi@saxion.nl,
- Dr. Iñaki Díaz (CEIT), idiaz@ceit.es,
- Agata Suwala (MTC), agata.suwala@the-mtc.org
- Sharath Chandra Akkaladevi (Profactor Gmbh), sharath.akkaladevi@profactor.at
- Franziska Kirstein (Blue Ocean Robotics), fk@blue-ocean-robotics.com
- Berkhan Bayraktar (Boğaziçi University, Research Assistant), berkhan.bayraktar@bogazici.edu.tr
- Dr. Evren Samur (HKTM), evren.samur@hktm.com.tr
- Dr. Fotis Konstantinidis (ICCS), fotios.konstantinidis@iccs.gr
- Konstantinos Kokkalis PhDc. (ICCS) konstantinos.kokkalis@iccs.gr