Industrial robots were programmed to know how electronic products are built, allowing them to disassemble electronic waste quicker than humans. Researchers at UNSW Australia are working to automate the e-waste recycling process with cognitive robots.
In a laboratory demonstration, the researchers showed how they were able to teach a robot to break down LCD screens by removing the display and printed circuit board without damaging them. The next phase in the project is to prove the concept in industrial trials. The use of robots could also be implemented in recycling lithium batteries that can be unstable when being taken apart.
