As the global market for Humanoid Robot is expected to expand, some say proactive preparations are needed for robot waste disposal. Because robots contain a vast range of parts and materials, disposal or recycling plans tailored to each component's characteristics must be established.
According to the robotics industry on the 3rd, the robot market research firm Humanoid Guide issued a report on the 22nd titled "The humanoid graveyard: What happens after the switch is turned off."
The report said, "Humanoid Robot consists of 10,000 to 15,000 individual parts, including rare-earth magnets, battery packs, and memory containing sensitive data," adding, "Disposing of robots will be technically very challenging and as risky as surgery."
◇ More than 10,000 parts per robot
According to the report "Humanoid Robot industry trends and outlook" published last year by The Export-Import Bank of Korea, a humanoid generally weighs 50 to 70 kg and consists largely of four components: drivetrain, intelligence, sensors, and battery.
The main component of the drivetrain, which generates a robot's force and motion, is the actuator, which is mounted at the robot's joints such as the shoulders and elbows. A Humanoid Robot typically has 25 to 35 actuators, while high-end models have more than 50. Tesla's "Optimus gen 2" has 40 actuators in total: 28 in the body and 12 in the robot hand.
Actuators are also composed of several parts, including motors, reducers (energy conversion devices that reduce motor rotational speed and increase torque), and gearboxes (power transmission devices).
In addition, about 10,000 parts are installed in each humanoid, including GPU and memory semiconductors for robot intelligence and cameras, lidar, and tactile sensors.
Humanoid Guide said, "The reason it is difficult to dispose of Humanoid Robot that have reached the end of their lifespan is that their interiors are assembled very densely," adding, "Each system is intertwined, creating major difficulties in disassembly and recycling."
◇ Risks abound, including data leaks and battery thermal runaway
Citing materials from the electronics recycling company Li-Cycle, Humanoid Guide explained that when disposing of or recycling Humanoid Robot there are difficulties such as ▲ leakage of sensitive data ▲ risk factors in disposing of lithium-ion batteries ▲ risk of damage when recycling parts.
Memory installed in Humanoid Robot stores corporations' asset such as navigation maps, biometric records, and various behavior patterns. Therefore, if robots are resold or parts are recycled, there is a high possibility that sensitive data will be leaked externally.
In addition, when disposing of Humanoid Robot, thermal runaway may occur in the internal battery cells, or toxic gases may be released.
A disposal strategy that considers recycling is also necessary. Humanoid Robot contain about 3.5 kg to 4 kg of neodymium magnets (NdFeB), a rare earth element with high recycling value.
◇ Academia also notes the importance of robot disposal… "We must observe the life cycle"
In academia, there is a growing argument that safe and efficient disposal measures for Humanoid Robot must be established.
A research team at Concordia University in Canada said in February in the international journal Environmental Science & Technology, "Humanoid Robot fall under complex physical systems composed of high-energy batteries and intricate electromechanical devices," adding, "The waste classification system is lacking, and end-of-life (EoL) processing differs from that of home appliances, so detailed guidelines are needed."
The researchers also said, "When Humanoid Robot are dismantled, many risks can arise, such as residual power or pinch accidents," adding, "From the collection stage, the model's battery characteristics and damage status should be recorded, and in the pretreatment stage, safe shutdown should be prioritized, including locking joint movements and early battery removal."
Lee Sang-don, a professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Ewha Womans University, said, "From the time a product is first made to when it is finally disposed of, close monitoring of the robot's life cycle is necessary."