Automated Vehicle Disassembly Using In-Situ Measurement and Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current end-of-life vehicle recycling methods are inefficient and wasteful, with manual dismantling processes requiring high effort, leading to incomplete material recovery and reduced quality of recyclable fractions due to adhesion issues during shredding, and lack of comprehensive information for independent dismantling companies to handle diverse vehicle configurations and materials.
Innovation Solution
A system combining in-situ measurement technology, robotics, and information management to automate the dismantling process, using measuring devices for geometric and chemical properties to guide handling devices and store data for systematic database development, enabling efficient and quality-assured extraction of high-quality sorting fractions regardless of manufacturer information or vehicle changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual dismantling is used with conventional tools, then flexibility in handling diverse vehicle configurations is maintained, but productivity is low and time consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical dismantling operations with an automated system comprising robotic manipulators, laser scanners, and control units. The system automatically identifies components, determines dismantling sequences, and executes removal operations, substituting human labor and simple manual tools with complex automated machinery that operates based on digital vehicle models and sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The dismantling system performs self-assessment through laser scanning and component recognition, automatically generating dismantling plans without human intervention. The system identifies its own tasks by scanning the vehicle, comparing scanned data with digital models, and autonomously determining the sequence and methods for component removal, enabling the system to service itself in terms of planning and execution.
2Loss of time
If complete manual assessment and selection of dismantling methods is performed, then adaptability to different vehicle types is achieved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes pre-existing digital vehicle models and databases containing manufacturer-specific assembly information, component locations, and dismantling procedures. Before the actual dismantling begins, the system retrieves and prepares relevant vehicle configuration data, assembly sequences, and component identification information from these databases, enabling rapid processing during the dismantling operation without time-consuming on-site assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously compares laser scan data of the actual vehicle with the digital vehicle model, automatically detecting deviations, modifications, or missing components. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt the dismantling plan in real-time based on the actual vehicle state, ensuring accurate component identification and appropriate dismantling method selection without manual intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If vehicles are shredded without prior dismantling, then processing speed is high, but material quality deteriorates due to adhesion and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by systematically separating the vehicle into distinct components, assemblies, and material fractions before shredding. The automated dismantling system removes components in a predetermined sequence, grouping them by material type, reusability, and recycling category. This pre-segmentation prevents mixing of different materials and avoids adhesion problems during shredding, enabling high-quality material fraction recovery while maintaining efficient processing throughput.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system and a method for the semi- or fully automated dismantling of devices, in particular motor vehicles, for the recovery of components and material fractions. The system comprises a dismantling station (3) with first handling devices (4) for handling the device; second handling devices (5) for handling the components of the device; measuring devices (6) for in-situ measurement of geometric, chemical and/or physical properties of the device, its components and materials, as well as the interrelationships of the components; a robot (7) for guiding an instrument head; and various receiving devices (13, 14, 15); and a control system (12) with a database for storing information about the device.and a control unit for processing data obtained from the measurements as well as data from the database and for controlling the first and second handling devices (4, 5), the measuring devices (6) and the robot (7), wherein the control unit is configured to control the second handling devices (5) in such a way that disassembled components and material fractions are fed to the various receiving devices (13, 14, 15) depending on their properties determined by the measurements, to determine process parameters for the procedure and the tools (8, 9) to be used for disassembly from the data obtained from the measurements and to initiate the storage of the data obtained from the measurements in the database for the systematic creation of a database for the disassembly of further devices.