Application of circularity principles to the hardware design of wearable technologies

This project focuses on wearable technologies, such as smartwatches (Garmin, FitBit, Apple Watch, etc.), for collecting and analysing our data. These products are the result of development combining contributions from mechanical, electrical, electronic and software engineering and, more broadly, information and communications technologies. For reasons of comfort, design and footprint, these products tend to maximise their level of integration at the hardware level. The search for a higher level of integration therefore appears to be opposed to a circular approach. In particular, this higher level of integration results in a much greater density of components, which means that they cannot be repaired simply and cheaply, and makes them much more difficult to disassemble, recycle or reuse. Yet in the engineering of these products, this has become the ‘’standard‘’. There is therefore a strong dichotomy between, on the one hand, engineering practices that encourage a high level of integration and, on the other, the principles of the circular economy. This is the engineering issue to which the proposed project relates.

This project is the second phase of a broader project on the circular economy and eco-design of wearable technologies. As part of this project, you will be required to apply the research work from the first phase through the reengineering of a wearable technology. In terms of sequence, this project will begin with a familiarisation with the work of the first phase, and in particular the methods and tools identified. The project will then focus on disassembling a wearable technology with a specific view to analysing its current design. Once this starting point has been established, part of the electronic design will be redesigned using the methods and tools identified in the first phase. This redesign will lead to the proposal of revised electronics. In other words, the project will lead to the redesign of certain electronic parts, first using virtual engineering and then potentially physical prototyping, thanks to the electronic printing resources available at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS).