ReconCycle · Project

Self-Reconfiguring Robots That Automate Electronic Waste Disassembly and Recycling

manufacturingTestedTRL 6

Imagine a robot on a factory floor that can teach itself how to take apart old phones, laptops, and other electronics — even when the models keep changing. Right now, recycling e-waste is mostly done by hand because every device is slightly different, and traditional robots can't handle that variety. ReconCycle built a robotic workcell with soft, flexible grippers and AI that lets the system figure out how to disassemble a new device model on its own, without an engineer reprogramming everything from scratch. Think of it like a robot that learns new recipes just by looking at the ingredients.

By the numbers

Demo deliverables completed

Total project deliverables

Consortium partners

Countries involved (DE, IT, SI)

33%

Industry ratio in consortium

Demonstrated use cases

The business problem

What needed solving

Electronic waste recycling is still dominated by manual labor because every device model is slightly different — and traditional industrial robots can only handle rigidly programmed, identical tasks. Any change in product requires expensive reprogramming of both hardware and software, making automation economically impractical for the constantly changing mix of devices that recyclers face.

The solution

What was built

The project built a self-reconfiguring robotic workcell with soft end-effectors specifically designed for e-waste disassembly, demonstrated across 3 use cases. Deliverables include first prototypes and fully integrated demonstrators of reconfigurable soft grippers, plus complete system demonstrators showing adaptation and self-reconfiguration capabilities.

Audience

Who needs this

E-waste recycling companies processing WEEE under EU regulationsElectronics manufacturers running product take-back and refurbishment programsRobotic systems integrators building automation for recycling plantsPrecious metals recovery companies extracting materials from circuit boardsMunicipal waste management authorities upgrading recycling infrastructure

Business applications

Who can put this to work

E-waste recycling

mid-size

Target: Electronic waste recycling operators and WEEE processors

If you are an e-waste recycler still relying on manual labor to disassemble devices — this project developed a self-reconfiguring robotic workcell with 6 demonstrated use cases that adapts automatically when switching between device models. The soft end-effectors handle fragile components without damage, and the AI-driven reconfiguration means you don't need to stop the line and reprogram when a new batch of devices arrives.

Electronics manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Consumer electronics OEMs with end-of-life product programs

If you are an electronics manufacturer running take-back or refurbishment programs — this project built robotic disassembly cells that learn to handle different product models within the same device type automatically. With 2 industrial partners in the consortium validating the approach, the system can recover valuable components for reuse while reducing your dependency on expensive manual sorting labor.

Robotic systems integration

SME

Target: Industrial automation integrators serving recycling and remanufacturing sectors

If you are a systems integrator looking for next-generation flexible automation — this project produced reconfigurable soft end-effectors and AI-based skill learning that lets a single robotic cell handle multiple product types. The technology was demonstrated across 3 separate use cases with full system integration, giving you a proven platform to build commercial recycling automation solutions on.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this robotic recycling system?

The project's EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset, so specific development costs cannot be estimated. As a research project targeting up to TRL 6, commercial pricing would depend on the scale of deployment and customization needed. Contact the consortium for indicative pricing on pilot installations.

Can this scale to handle industrial volumes of e-waste?

The system was designed for processing large batches of the same device type, which is the standard scenario in industrial e-waste recycling. The self-reconfiguration capability means the cell adapts automatically between device models within a type, reducing downtime. With 6 demonstrated use cases and TRL 6 as the target, the technology is positioned for industrial pilot testing.

What is the IP situation and can I license this technology?

ReconCycle was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020, meaning IP typically stays with the consortium partners. The consortium includes Institut Jozef Stefan as coordinator along with 2 industrial and 2 university partners across 3 countries. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium.

How does this handle the huge variety of electronic devices out there?

The system uses a two-step approach: when switching between completely different device types, an engineer provides input in an interactive mode. When switching between models within the same type, the cell reconfigures itself using AI and sensorimotor learning. This means it handles variety without full reprogramming for each model.

Is this ready for my production floor today?

The project targeted up to TRL 6, which means a technology demonstrated in a relevant environment. With 6 demo deliverables completed including full system integration and multiple use case demonstrators, the technology has been validated but would still need engineering work for a specific production deployment.

Does it work safely alongside human workers?

Yes — the system uses highly compliant soft robots and end-effectors specifically designed to allow humans to work alongside the machines. Workers can complete any steps the robot cannot handle, which reduces automation complexity and makes phased adoption practical.

What regulations does this help me comply with?

The WEEE Directive requires proper recycling of electronic waste in the EU, and automated disassembly improves traceability and consistency of material recovery. While the project does not specifically address regulatory compliance, better automation of e-waste processing directly supports meeting recycling targets and documentation requirements.

Consortium

Who built it

The ReconCycle consortium brings together 6 partners from 3 countries (Germany, Italy, Slovenia), with a balanced mix of 2 industrial partners, 2 universities, and 2 research organizations. The 33% industry ratio and presence of 1 SME indicate real commercial grounding alongside strong research capability. Institut Jozef Stefan, a leading Slovenian research institute, coordinates the project. The inclusion of German and Italian partners — both major e-waste generating countries with established recycling industries — strengthens the commercial relevance and potential for market adoption in key European markets.

INSTITUT JOZEF STEFANCoordinator · SI
QBROBOTICS SRLparticipant · IT
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAT GOTTINGEN STIFTUNG OFFENTLICHEN RECHTSparticipant · DE
FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIAparticipant · IT
ELECTROCYCLING GMBHparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

Institut Jozef Stefan (Slovenia) — contact via project website or university directory

Order a report on this consortium See INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how self-reconfiguring robotic disassembly can transform your e-waste processing? SciTransfer connects you directly with the ReconCycle research team.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0