Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a research project in UiA’s robotics lab focused on robotic disassembly of EV batteries. The goal has been to automate parts of the disassembly process so components can be removed in a controlled, repeatable way. Alongside the lab work, I’ve also contributed to the academic side of the project by helping write parts of a research article, especially sections related to the methodology and results.
A big part of the work has been programming two ABB robots to carry out an automated disassembly sequence. Using two six-axis robots mounted on linear tracks, we built routines for picking and placing tools, unscrewing bolts, and lifting and moving the battery modules that contain the cells. The system also used camera-based detection to find bolt positions, and the robot program used those positions to move through the sequence step by step: attach the unscrewing tool, remove bolts, switch tools, lift the module, and place it at a drop-off point. We also collected force data from a sensor on the robot so we could improve how the robot picks up and places modules safely and consistently.
Compared to earlier work where most control happened inside the robot’s own software setup, this spring semester added a clearer focus on communication with an external computer. My task was to work on interfacing the ABB robot controller with a PC that provides motion instructions, so the overall system could be run in a more flexible way. By the end of the semester, we had a more complete automated setup that could recognize different EV battery components and remove modules, nuts, and bolts automatically.