iBot4CRMs

AI-powered self-learning robots for high-performance waste valorization and Critical Raw Materials recovery

The project iBot4CRMs addresses the urgent need to improve Europe's resilience and sustainability by advancing the automated recovery and recycling of critical raw materials from waste. Current waste sorting systems depend significantly on human oversight and manual adjustments, limiting their efficiency in handling growing waste volumes and the complexity of modern materials as well as exposing humans to hazardous working conditions. iBot4CRMs leverages advanced AI, robotics, and data science to develop intelligent, adaptable systems to help meet EU goals for sustainable management of critical raw materials (CRMs) in line with Europe’s green and digital transition. 

iBot4CRMs unites 18 partners from eight European countries, integrating diverse expertise and perspectives to drive transformative change. This unique alliance includes end-users, technology developers, recycling experts, manufacturers, and researchers, each contributing to cutting-edge solutions in waste management. Together, iBot4CRMs will deliver impactful innovations such as smart waste sorting machinery, an advanced waste perception suite, a collaborative dismantling robot, and a comprehensive database for CRMs in waste streams—all advancing Europe’s sustainability and circular economy goals. 

VICESSE is specifically tasked with navigating the consortium through ethical or societal issues arising in connection with technologies developed and used in iBot4CRMs. iBot4CRMs fosters a human-centric approach aligned with the EU AI Act and Ethics Guidelines, actively investigating user needs and enhancing human-robot collaboration through a variety of methodological approaches, while protecting workers’ welfare and privacy.

iBot4CRMs is structured around seven work packages, each designed to address specific challenges and objectives, which collectively contribute to the overarching goal of enhancing the automated recovery and recycling of critical raw materials.

 

WP1 focuses on defining specifications for four pilots encompassing seven scenarios of retrieving CRMs from waste material, executing pilot trials to validate the hardware and software contributions of iBot4CRMs, and analyzing the results to create feedback loops for ongoing refinement.

 

WP2 creates an integrated architectural framework simulation, a robust data warehouse and platform middleware for iBot4CRMs components. The technological approach will be validated through virtual environments and simulations.

 

WP3 develops and assesses sensor suites for the pilots, integrating them with lifelong machine learning for robust material perception, and implementing self-configuration algorithms for process optimization.

 

WP4 implements modular, user-centric robotic solutions and a human robot collaboration toolbox for safe deployment in waste management, which will be integrated into the pilots.

 

WP5 establishes an Ethics board and provides guidance on the ethical, legal, organizational, and societal (ELOS) aspects of the technologies developed by iBot4CRMs. It also assesses use cases and user needs and conducts an impact assessment of iBot4CRMs solutions.

 

WP6 maximizes the impact of iBot4CRMs’ innovations through targeted communication and dissemination strategies, alongside an exploitation action plan tailored to the business landscape.

 

WP7 provides project management, including administrative and technical coordination to ensure the timely delivery of project outcomes.

  • Norce Norwegian Research Centre AS (Norway)

  • Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón (Spain)

  • INSEC TEC – Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciênciade (Portugal)

  • Volt Electronic Motors (Turkey)

  • Hellenic Recycling Centre – Ekangreen S.A. (Greece)

  • Ferimet SL (Spain)

  • Barna Steel S.A. (Spain)

  • Valorsul S.A. (Portugal)

  • EGF, Empresa Geral do Fomento, SA (Portugal)

  • Uni Systems Systimata Pliroforikis Monoporosopi Anonymi Emporiki Etairia (Greece)

  • PICVISA (Spain)

  • Cyclefi Private Company (Greece)

  • HyProMag (UK)

  • THEKER (Spain)

  • Tofaş Türk Otomobil Fabrikası A.Ş.(Turkey)

  • International Solid Waste Association (Netherlands)

  • VICESSE Research GmbH (Austria)

  • Institouto Anaptixis Epicheirimatikotitas Astiki Etaireia (Greece)

 

12/2024-11/2028

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

 
 

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