Battery pack recycling challenges for the year 2030: Recommended solutions based on intelligent robotics for safe and efficient disassembly, residual energy detection, and secondary utilization

Abstract

AbstractWith the increasing use of batteries, battery recycling would become a considerable problem in the next decade. However, the current recycling technologies are still on the stage of research and development. A significant challenge in the traditional recycling method is that the recovery procedure relies heavily on manual work. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an intelligent, automatic or semi‐automatic framework for rapid disassembly and efficient recovery of retired batteries. In this study, the key research problems during the battery recycling process were identified first. The main recycling process was divided into three parts: automatic disassemble process, residual energy detection, and second utilization as well as chemical recycling. Based on the above research gaps, a qualitative framework of UR5 robots for safe and fast battery recycling, residual energy detection, and secondary utilization of retired batteries was proposed. The framework includes a battery position and shape measurement system based on machine vision, an automatic battery removal system based on UR5 industrial robot, a battery residual energy detection, and classification system. Furthermore, a real case study of battery pack recycling was carried out based on manual work and automatic robot work. The results show that the proposed recycling framework can work efficiently compared with the traditional recycling method. Moreover, the future perspectives of battery recycling are summarized.