Sustainability – Component and overhead costing
The full cost breakdown of components used in the Micro Mouse project amounts to £198.56. This includes all the components and materials such as Veroboard that we needed for prototyping. The most expensive item we used was the Raspberry pi Pico and the adjoining board as this cost £55.65 with delivery in 10 days, which made up a quarter of the overall expense for the project.
Another cost that wasn’t included in the above total was the overhead cost for the lab use and the academics that we had help from. Basing the costing on minimum wage we expected the lab technicians and academics to be paid £1372.80. I came to this cost as the project took roughly 20 weeks to complete, with 120 hours of labour equating to 6 hours per week. Of course this is the base minimum they would be paid and for their hard work I would hope it is higher.
Sustainability: Design aspects and components lifecycle
Our team, Foxtrot, integrated sustainability into the design and construction of our micro-mouse robot, focusing on both the physical build and the overarching design principles. Central to our approach was the use of a printed circuit board (PCB) which was designed with environmental considerations in mind. During the assembly of the micro-mouse robot, we implemented practices aimed at minimizing waste. This includes precise calculation and efficient usage of materials to avoid excess, and recycling scrap materials wherever possible. Any unutilized components were correctly recycled so they could be reutilized in the future. The micromouse will be methodically disassembled to ensure that all materials, especially those that are hazardous, are handled safely and according to environmental regulations. This step minimizes the risk of contamination and facilitates more efficient recycling processes.
The robot was designed to be easily disassembled as most of the components besides the Raspberry Pi Pico, are screwed instead of soldered, being practical to remove certain components that are not functioning for example. This allows for better recycling practices and the possibility of part reuse in other projects or repairs, thereby extending the materials’ life cycle and reducing electronic waste.
Our team as well is also dedicated to implementing a comprehensive recycling plan for our micro-mouse project’s electronic components at their end of life. This plan is designed to ensure environmental responsibility and align with sustainable best practices, following these key strategies:
At the project’s conclusion, each component of the micromouse will be carefully evaluated to determine its potential for reuse, repurposing, or recycling. Functional parts such as sensors and motors will be earmarked for use in future projects, reducing the need for new resources. Components will be sorted into categories—metals, plastics, and electronics. We will partner with certified e-waste recyclers to process these materials, focusing on facilities that comply with local and international standards to ensure high recovery rates and minimal environmental impact.Items like batteries and certain capacitors will be processed separately under strict guidelines to prevent environmental harm. Throughout the recycling process, we will maintain detailed records of how materials are handled and disposed of. This documentation will help us comply with regulatory requirements and enhance our project’s transparency.