Robotic Disassembly of Smart Devices with a Focus on Functional Components

Abstract
Current recycling processes for smart devices recover materials with marginal value compared to that of the functional components in these (e.g., sensors, cases, screens). The need to shift from recycling to reparation and remanufacturing to retain/reuse value and reduce the accumulation of e-waste is then apparent. There exist some solutions to recover functional components, but they are labour-intensive with reduced efficiency and throughput. The aim of this project is to close this gap by developing a robotic de-manufacturing process for the automated disassembly of smart devices, particularly smartphones, to produce design guidelines for disassembly with limited human intervention.

How to Apply 
Please contact Dr Nicolas Rojas if you are interested in applying for this project. 

For more information on submitting a PhD application, please consult our application pages here. When you submit your application, please cite this project title in the 'how you are planning to fund your PhD' section.