Verification of algorithm for automatic detection of electronic devices mounted on waste printed circuit boards.

In this study, an algorithm for sorting waste products that is capable of automatically determining the value of raw materials during the sorting process is proposed. The algorithm automatically measures the sum of the top surface areas of integrated circuits (ICs), memory assemblies, and connectors (which account for over 80% of the resource value) from two-dimensional (2D) digital images of waste printed circuit boards. The sum of top surface areas is directly correlated with the total resource value.

Constructing an automatic object-recognition algorithm using labeling information for efficient recycling of WEEE.

In an attempt to select an efficient recycling process for waste electrical and electronic equipment based on the value of individual products, we are engaged in the development of an automatic object-recognition system for discarded equipment. As part of this initiative, we developed a new object-recognition algorithm that uses the information from the labels on the bottoms of digital cameras discarded in Japan, which have a relatively high value. In addition, we created a program that can continuously process multiple two-dimensional digital images of the bottoms of the discarded cameras.