How is the application of robots changing the recycling industry? Image source: Shutterstock (#560473348)
In an age where robots exist, recycling can not only be dramatically sped up, it can also be optimized to gather valuable materials in the process. ZenRobotics from Helsinki is building robots that can do just that, and companies like the Sunshine Groupe from Australia or China’s Jiangsu LVHE Environmental Technology are already using them. The robots can be reconfigured when market prices change or new parts are added to a product. Liam, a robot constructed by Apple, takes apart iPhones and headsets to preserve materials instead of shredding the devices.
Robots can do the dirty, dangerous and difficult work linked to recycling that nobody should want to do. The biggest challenge is still domestic waste as robots are often considered to be too expensive to be efficient still.
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