Artificial intelligence-based process for metal scrap sorting

TL;DR

This paper presents a machine learning-based method utilizing optical emission spectrometry for automated alloy identification in metal scrap sorting, achieving accuracy comparable to skilled human workers.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of machine learning with optical emission spectra for fast, reliable alloy identification in recycling, following a standardized development process.

Findings

Maximum F1 score of 96.9% achieved

Validated method matches skilled worker performance

Developed with 7,200 spectra from industry device

Abstract

Machine learning offers remarkable benefits for improving workplaces and working conditions amongst others in the recycling industry. Here e.g. hand-sorting of medium value scrap is labor intensive and requires experienced and skilled workers. On the one hand, they have to be highly concentrated for making proper readings and analyses of the material, but on the other hand, this work is monotonous. Therefore, a machine learning approach is proposed for a quick and reliable automated identification of alloys in the recycling industry, while the mere scrap handling is regarded to be left in the hands of the workers. To this end, a set of twelve tool and high-speed steels from the field were selected to be identified by their spectrum induced by electric arcs. For data acquisition, the optical emission spectrometer Thorlabs CCS 100 was used. Spectra have been post-processed to be fed into the supervised machine learning algorithm. The development of the machine learning software is conducted according to the steps of the VDI 2221 standard method. For programming Python 3 as well as the python-library sklearn were used. By systematic parameter variation, the appropriate machine learning algorithm was selected and validated. Subsequent validation steps showed that the automated identification process using a machine learning approach and the optical emission spectrometry is applicable, reaching a maximum F1 score of 96.9 %. This performance is as good as the performance of a highly trained worker using visual grinding spark identification. The tests were based on a self-generated set of 600 spectra per single alloy (7,200 spectra in total) which were produced using an industry workshop device.