Life cycle data acquisition unit-design, implementation, economics and environmental benefits

This paper reports on the progress of the UK "Whitebox" project in developing data acquisition units of two types: one based on a microcontroller and EEPROM memory and another based on a low-cost networking system with power line transmission. The units are fitted to domestic appliances and record patterns of use as well as individual appliance program, cycles. The data has applications in design, marketing and servicing as well as end-of-life, as long as the technology is part of an overall life cycle information system. Results from life cycle modelling suggest that maintenance is more important than end-of-life for providing reusable parts and data which has value for marketing and design. These results compare with the work of others who developed devices for power tools but concentrated only on end-of-life economics. The work indicates that only cost prevents wider application of similar units for both appliances and consumer electronics. In the future, extensive LCDA systems will deliver both economic and environmental benefits.