Towards an AI-Enhanced Circular Economy. AI-enhanced identification, inspection and sorting for reverse logistics

In terms of circular economy, remanufacturing ensures a high level of value recovery. After each life-cycle used products are returned to a remanufacturer for identification, inspection, sorting and reprocessing, ensuring the required quality for a next life cycle. This talk presents the project EIBA, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, in which concepts to improve identification, inspection and sorting are developed and implemented by enhancing the sorting stations with sensor technology and AI on image and business data. First results show promising progress for AI-based visual recognition of used automotive components, also referred to as "cores".