Robots in recycling and disassembly

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
Research Effort ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Electronic Waste Recycling ◽  
Product Disassembly ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate the growing role robots are playing in recycling and product disassembly and provide an insight into recent research activities. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this first considers robotic waste sorting systems and then describes two systems for the disassembly of electronic products. It then provides details of some recent research activities. Finally, brief conclusions are drawn. Findings Robotic systems exploiting artificial intelligence combined with various sensing and machine vision technologies are playing a growing role in the sorting of municipal and industrial waste, prior to recycling. These are mostly based on delta robots and can achieve pick rates of 60-70 items/min and be configured to recognise and select a wide range of different materials and items from moving conveyors. Electronic waste recycling is yet to benefit significantly from robotics although a limited number of systems have been developed for product disassembly. Disassembly techniques are the topic of a concerted research effort which often involves robots and humans collaborating and sharing disassembly tasks. Originality/value This provides an insight into the present-day uses and potential future role of robots in recycling which has traditionally been a highly labour-intensive industry.

The role of augmented reality in robotics

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 789-794
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virtual Fixtures ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Positional Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into how augmented reality (AR) technologies are being applied to robotics. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction and a brief historical background to AR, this first provides examples of AR applications in robot programming. It then gives examples of recent research into AR-based robot teleoperation. Research activities involving the virtual fixtures (VF) technique are then discussed and finally, brief conclusions are drawn. Findings Because AR concepts were first investigated in the 1990s, applications involving robotics have been widely studied. Programming with the aid of AR devices, such as the HoloLens headset, can be simplified and AR methods, including the VF technique, can improve the accuracy and speed of teleoperation, manipulation and positional control tasks. They can also provide visual or haptic feedback which leads to more intuitive operation and significantly reduces the cognitive load on the operator. Originality/value This provides an insight into the growing role of AR in robotics by providing examples of recent research in a range of applications.

Qualitative perspectives: through a methodological lens

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Parker
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Qualitative Methodologies ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Management Scholarship

Purpose – This paper aims to offer an insight into the emergent qualitative methodological profile and its distinctive contribution to accounting and management scholarship, particularly reflecting upon the contribution of Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management (QRAM). Design/methodology/approach – It examines the range of qualitative methodologies employed in the research published across the ten years of QRAM and analyses the methodological discourse and its contribution to the armoury available to qualitative researchers. In association with these methodological developments, the paper offers a critique of the articulated role of theory in contemporary accounting and management qualitative research. Findings – A wide range of qualitative methodologies are found to be in evidence, with considerable scope for further adoption and development of some. Methodological exposition papers are found to be a significant contribution in the past decade and include methodological framework building, methodological applications, methodological critiques, and methodological development exemplars. Alongside methodology, the dual role of theory as either informing or reflecting methodology is presented. Originality/value – The paper provides a critical analysis and consideration of qualitative methodological literature development in the last ten years of accounting and management research literature, particularly reflected in QRAM. It identifies dominant methodologies in use, as well as opportunities for expanding the methodological menu in accounting and management research. Furthermore, it classifies groups of methodological papers and their contributing perspectives, as well as addressing the often-vexed relationship between theory and methodology.

Nanophotonic technologies driving innovations in molecular sensing

Sensor Review ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-175
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Molecular Sensors ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Reduced Costs ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Higher Sensitivity

Purpose This paper aims to provide a technical insight into recent molecular sensor developments involving nanophotonic materials and phenomena. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction, this highlights a selection of recent research activities involving molecular sensors based on nanophotonic technologies. It discusses chemical sensors, gas sensors and finally the role of nanophotonics in Raman spectroscopy. Brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings This shows that nanophotonic technologies are being applied to a diversity of molecular sensors and have the potential to yield devices with enhanced features such as higher sensitivity and reduced size. As several of these sensors can be fabricated with CMOS technology, potential exists for mass-production and significantly reduced costs. Originality/value This article illustrates how emerging nanophotonic technologies are set to enhance the capabilities of a diverse range of molecular sensors.

scholarly journals Microbially Influenced Corrosion of Stainless Steel by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Supplemented with Pyrite: Importance of Thiosulfate

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuta Inaba ◽  
Shirley Xu ◽  
Jonathan T. Vardner ◽  
Alan C. West ◽  
Scott Banta
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans ◽  
Flow Reactor ◽  
Metal Tolerance ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Iron Chloride ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Microbially Influenced Corrosion ◽  
Electronic Waste Recycling

ABSTRACT Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) results in significant damage to metallic materials in many industries. Anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) have been well studied for their involvement in these processes. Highly corrosive environments are also found in pulp and paper processing, where chloride and thiosulfate lead to the corrosion of stainless steels. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a critically important chemolithotrophic acidophile exploited in metal biomining operations, and there is interest in using A. ferrooxidans cells for emerging processes such as electronic waste recycling. We explored conditions under which A. ferrooxidans could enable the corrosion of stainless steel. Acidic medium with iron, chloride, low sulfate, and pyrite supplementation created an environment where unstable thiosulfate was continuously generated. When combined with the chloride, acid, and iron, the thiosulfate enabled substantial corrosion of stainless steel (SS304) coupons (mass loss, 5.4 ± 1.1 mg/cm2 over 13 days), which is an order of magnitude higher than what has been reported for SRB. There results were verified in an abiotic flow reactor, and the importance of mixing was also demonstrated. Overall, these results indicate that A. ferrooxidans and related pyrite-oxidizing bacteria could produce aggressive MIC conditions in certain environmental milieus. IMPORTANCE MIC of industrial equipment, gas pipelines, and military material leads to billions of dollars in damage annually. Thus, there is a clear need to better understand MIC processes and chemistries as efforts are made to ameliorate these effects. Additionally, A. ferrooxidans is a valuable acidophile with high metal tolerance which can continuously generate ferric iron, making it critical to copper and other biomining operations as well as a potential biocatalyst for electronic waste recycling. New MIC mechanisms may expand the utility of these cells in future metal resource recovery operations.

Factors Influencing Household Electronic Waste Recycling Intention

2012 ◽  
Vol 622-623 ◽  
pp. 1686-1690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sew Tiep Ho ◽  
David Yoon Kin Tong ◽  
Elsadig Musa Ahmed ◽  
Chee Teck Lee
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Waste Management Practices ◽  
Electronic Waste Recycling ◽  
Insight Into

In Malaysia, it is prevalent among many householders on accumulation of end-of-life electronics items at home and many are unclear of its disposal directive, which are likely to be disposed as household wastes. An insight into understanding their e-waste management practices and key predictors in relation to e-waste recycling intention are essential as they will lay the foundation for future effective e-waste management. This paper reports a preliminary exploration of the construct of e-waste recycling intention among householders. The data was collected from 150 respondents in Malacca, Malaysia. The results from this study showed that all the six dimensions generated are reliable with high intercorrelation among the dimensions. This implies that the measures can be used for further data collection to validate the study.

Recent innovations in adhesive technology

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-205
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Dry Adhesives ◽  
Gecko Adhesion ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an insight into recent innovations in adhesive technology by considering a selection of commercial developments and academic research activities. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this paper first discusses a selection of commercially developed adhesives used in the healthcare, photovoltaics and aerospace industries. It then considers biomimetic adhesive research, specifically dry adhesives which mimic the principles of gecko adhesion and wet adhesives based on the chemistry which underpins mussel adhesion. Finally, brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings – This shows that new adhesives continue to be developed to meet a growing range of industrial requirements, and a major research effort into biologically inspired adhesion mechanisms is poised to yield new families of high-performance adhesives. Originality/value – This provides details of recent commercial and academic developments in adhesive technology.

Remote chemical sensing: a review of techniques and recent developments

Sensor Review ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Sensing ◽  
Gas Sensing ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agent ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sensing Applications ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Military Applications ◽  
Practical Reality

Purpose This paper aims to provide technical details of the techniques used for the remote detection of chemical compounds in a number of applications and also to highlight key research themes. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this first considers remote gas detection using the DIAL technique. Remote gas cloud imaging is then discussed, and this is followed by a review of chemical warfare agent detection technologies. A selection of research activities and product developments aimed at remotely detecting explosives are considered and, finally, brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings Remote gas sensing is now a practical reality, and products are available which can remotely detect, identify, quantify and in some cases visualise a wide range of toxic and environmentally threatening gases. These satisfy numerous industrial, environmental and military applications. Remotely detecting explosives poses a significant technological challenge, and despite some commercialisation, it remains the topic of an extensive research effort, much involving LIBS and Raman techniques. Importantly, much of this work also has potential in non-military applications, with several developments being shown to detect various industrially important compounds. Originality/value This provides a technical insight into the techniques and products used in a range of remote chemical sensing applications.

scholarly journals Transfer of Plasmid DNA to Clinical Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Pathogens by Using a Unique Bacteriophage

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 2481-2488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Winstel ◽  
Petra Kühner ◽  
Bernhard Krismer ◽  
Andreas Peschel ◽  
Holger Rohde
Keyword(s):  
Plasmid Dna ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Reliable Technique ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Genetic Barriers

ABSTRACTGenetic manipulation of emerging bacterial pathogens, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), is a major hurdle in clinical and basic microbiological research. Strong genetic barriers, such as restriction modification systems or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), usually interfere with available techniques for DNA transformation and therefore complicate manipulation of CoNS or render it impossible. Thus, current knowledge of pathogenicity and virulence determinants of CoNS is very limited. Here, a rapid, efficient, and highly reliable technique is presented to transfer plasmid DNA essential for genetic engineering to important CoNS pathogens from a uniqueStaphylococcus aureusstrain via a specificS. aureusbacteriophage, Φ187. Even strains refractory to electroporation can be transduced by this technique once donor and recipient strains share similar Φ187 receptor properties. As a proof of principle, this technique was used to delete the alternative transcription factor sigma B (SigB) via allelic replacement in nasal and clinicalStaphylococcus epidermidisisolates at high efficiencies. The described approach will allow the genetic manipulation of a wide range of CoNS pathogens and might inspire research activities to manipulate other important pathogens in a similar fashion.

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