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iBot4CRMs

iBot4CRMs

The NORCE-lead EU Horizon Europe project iBot4CRMs focuses on AI-powered self-learning robots to improve the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) from waste, aligning with Europe's green and digital transitions.

It addresses challenges in waste management, particularly in electronic and automotive recycling, where traditional manual methods are insufficient due to increasing waste and complexity.

The project's goal is to develop robotic systems with advanced AI, data analytics, and perception capabilities to automate sorting, dismantling, and recovery of valuable materials like neodymium magnets, copper, gold, silver, and other materials from waste streams.

Desired Results and Impact:

  1. Efficient CRM Recovery: Enabling robots to identify, dismantle, and recover CRMs more effectively than current manual methods.
  2. Enhanced Recycling Efficiency: Automated systems will boost productivity and reduce human intervention, leading to better material recovery rates and improved environmental sustainability.
  3. Contribution to the Circular Economy: By recovering critical materials from waste, the project supports the EU's circular economy and green deal objectives.
  4. Business Sustainability: The project aims to reduce dependency on imported raw materials by recovering and recycling them within the EU.

Pilots/Use Cases

Pilot at Ferimet (ES) - Metal Scrap CRM Recovery:

A pilot where metal scrap from end-of-life vehicles (ELV) and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will be processed.

The goal is to automate the sorting of materials such as copper cables, aluminum, and PCBs from scrap, reducing manual effort and improving recovery rates by 40%.

Pilot at EKAN (EL) - Dismantling of Flat Panel Displays (FPDs)

Validation of robotic systems to dismantle Flat Panel Displays (FPDs), which are currently dismantled manually.

The project will demonstrate robots' ability to improve productivity and recover materials like gold, silver, copper, and hazardous components like mercury.

Pilot at Valorsul (PT)

Automatic robot-based removing of hazardous materials and recovery of CRMs from a stream of slag originated after waste incineration.

Pilot at VOLT (TR) - Electric Motor Recycling

The recycling of neodymium magnets from electric motors used in electric vehicles, a critical resource for sustainable transport technologies


iBot4CRMs has received funding by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme HORIZON-CL4-2024-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-04 under 101189783

Contact

Nabil Belbachir

Research Director DARWIN - Grimstad

nabe@norceresearch.no
+47 401 08 137

Project facts

Name

iBot4CRMs

Status

Active

Duration

02.12.24 - 30.11.28

Location

Grimstad

Research areas

Research group

Research Topics

Prosjekteier

NORCE

Project members

I-Hao Chen
Robert Michael Clarke
Erik Hauge

Samarbeidspartnere

Norce, Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón, INSEC TEC – Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciênciade, Volt Electronic Motors, Hellenic Recycling Centre – Ekangreen S.A., Ferimet SL, Barna Steel S.A., Valorsul S.A., EGF Empresa Geral do Fomento S.A., Uni Systems Systimata Pliroforikis Monoporosopi Anonymi Emporiki Etairia, PICVISA, Cyclefi Private Company, HyProMag, THEKER, Tofaş Türk Otomobil Fabrikası A.Ş., International Solid Waste Association, VICESSE Research GmbH, Institouto Anaptixis Epicheirimatikotitas Astiki Etaireia
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