Automatic Storage and Retrieval System

An automatic storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) is a system designed to handle and move material goods from one place to another automatically with high through-put, accuracy and minimum error. The automatic system disclosed here consists of an automatic vehicle (prototype) which will be used to s

Project Title

Automatic Storage and Retrieval System

Project Area of Specialization

Robotics

Project Summary

An automatic storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) is a system designed to handle and move material goods from one place to another automatically with high through-put, accuracy and minimum error. The automatic system disclosed here consists of an automatic vehicle (prototype) which will be used to store and retrieve material goods, starting from an origin point to the destination and then back to the origin. This project comprises of a mechanical structure consisting of teethed belts, stepper motors, threaded rods, wooden slabs and a rack, and an electronic structure consisting of microcontrollers and motor driver IC’s.

Project Objectives

• To develop a small size prototype for storing and retrieving goods.
• To integrate microcontrollers with the vehicle.
• To incorporate motors with the motion of the machine.
• To develop a cost effective and productive prototype for resolving material handling problems.
• To accomplish the testing of fabricated assembly.
• A rack for holding the material.

Project Implementation Method

This project is designed to pick and place the objects automatically to their defined location, solving the storage and retrieval problems in storage houses and centers. Here, it deals with the prototype and its design and development for AR/RS. It will focus on the small weighted loads and also has limited capacity. Rack is used for holding loads and for storage and retrieval if it. For this project, there will be a fixed track on which the vehicle will move. On one side of track, there will be a rack consisting of three rows and three columns, each compartment is hallowed from inside for easiness. The movement of the vehicle is done using motors interfaced with microcontroller.

The microcontroller is programmed respectively for the x, y, z motions of vehicle, middle level and the slab on it. For the exact movement and accuracy, stepper motors will be used. The vertical movement of the middle level will be done using threaded rods. The whole mechanism is like, the SRV will move to the given location perform the required task and get back to the origin i.e. starting point. As it is an automatically driven vehicle, it will be using a computer or keypad as its input of commands, which will be controlled by an operator.

Benefits of the Project

This type of automation has a number of applications in production industries and distribution centers as well, some of which are listed below:

• This system is used in libraries for the retrieval of books to ease the readers coming there.
• It is widely used in distribution centers from where the material is to be sorted and to be sent outside.
• It is used in manufacturing industries where parts of the products are kept in the storage houses and are retrieved when needed for the usage within the industry.
• It is also used in car parking systems where cars are parked in a manner to increase the capacity.
• In warehouses, to lessen the number of workers hired for the transportation of goods.

The project presented here deals with the automatic storage and retrieval system’s design and development for handling the parts of the product of the industry of which the work is going on.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The project will comprise of:

• A wooden rack
• An strorage and retrieval vehicle which will move in three directions, i.e. x,y and z directions

The SRV(storage and retrieval vehicle) will move in each direction in the following mechanisms:

1. X-axis: This movement(column selection) will be generated through the motion of a teethed belt attached to the bottom of the SRV, which will move along the track in a similar motion to a conveyor belt with the help of a motor, gears and pulleys.
2. Y-axis: The middle level of the vehicle will move in the y-axis(row selection) with the help of threaded rods in a fashion similar to the one employed in 3D printers. The threaded rods will be attached to the motors shafts, and nuts fit into the middle slab will slide along the rods as the motor rotates. Two plain rods will also be placed diagonally to provide support and easy movement to the structure.
3. Z-axis: The slider in the middle level of the structure(rack selection) will move outwards and inwards in the same way as the middle level moved in the y-axis. It will comprise of a threaded rod placed horizontally in such a way that the slider will be joined to a nut on the bottom which will slide over the threaded rod in accordance to the motor shaft attached to it. Small steel balls will be embedded in grooves beneath the slider on the middle level to assist in the slider's motion. 

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Type of Industry

Others

Technologies

Robotics

Sustainable Development Goals

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com