Rickli, Jeremy
(Ed.)
This paper aims to introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) guided computational framework for the automatic identification, inspection, assessment, and remanufacturing of end-of-use products. The proposed framework consists of three main steps: (1) developing computer vision and image processing algorithms for analyzing product teardown images, (2) quantifying the economic and environmental value of remanufacturing from product images, and (3) developing recommender algorithms to identify the best recovery decision for each device. The paper discusses the importance of advancing object detection, image segmentation, and machine learning algorithms to automatically compute the value embedded in discarded items and developing recommendation systems to determine remanufacturing operations from product configurations. The main focus of the paper is on the value assessment and remanufacturing of electronic waste (e-waste). The paper emphasizes the need for developing object detection for identifying small objects (e.g., screws, bolts, snaps) and overlapped components (e.g., cables, printed circuit boards) standard in the design of consumer electronics by incorporating product shapes and features. The proposed value assessment framework has applications beyond remanufacturing and can be used in take-back programs and other business models that benefit from product serialization and assessment of individual devices.
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