Autonomous Luggage Carrier

Project Title

Autonomous Luggage Carrier

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

An Autonomous Luggage Carrier (ALC) is a user following robot that carries anything the user requires and follows him wherever he desires. This technology will help all sorts of people especially the elderly and the disabled who are unable to transport their luggage without some external help. We plan to deploy our carrier in airports, but this technology can be implemented in other public transport locations like railways and bus stations. It can also be used in the luggage loaders in airports that transport the luggage to airplanes.

Our ALC will connect to a band that will be worn by a user. With the help of this connection of band and luggage carrier, the luggage carrier will follow the user closely and accurately. Our luggage carrier will have the ability to detect walls or other similar obstacles and avoid them on the way. It will not require any external help from anyone to move or navigate the carrier. This carrier will be running on motors that will be connected to each wheel, providing enough torque to move a loaded trolley. These motors will be running on a battery that can be recharged.

We wish to provide these luggage carriers to airports initially, where it can be used as a service for a simple cost. This product will be made user-friendly as no complications will be introduced in connecting the band with the luggage carrier and this ease means old/aged people can use it easily. This product can also be introduced in Cash & Carries and other transport hubs e.g Railway stations. 

Project Objectives

Introduce a product that is aimed to bring ease for the elderly and disabled ones in the form of a User-following Luggage Carrier by:

• Creating a smart tracking system that can accurately track the user wherever they go.

• Creating a smart obstacle avoiding system that can let the Luggage Carrier avoid all obstacles in its path.

• Creating a Luggage Carrier that is able to carry the users’ luggage and use the above-mentioned technologies to follow the user around.

• Creating a smart band (or similar device) that the user can wear so that the Luggage Carrier can follow the user.

Project Implementation Method

• Tracking Method:

For the user tracking method, we will be using the sensor fusion of the Gyro sensor, accelerometer, and magnetometer. With the help of these three sensors, we will be able to get the acceleration of the user through which we will be able to calculate the total distance traveled by a user from the initial position. We will also get the user’s direction/ orientation using a gyro sensor and magnetometer. We will use the same method on the Luggage carrier and through relative positioning, we will be able to track the user and follow them closely. For precise values, we have planned to introduce computer vision and GPS later on depending upon the requirement.

The luggage carrier and band will communicate using Bluetooth modules.

• Obstacle avoidance Method:

For obstacle avoidance, we will be mounting ultrasonic sensors on all 4 sides of the luggage carrier, so the luggage carrier can avoid colliding with a wall or some other solid objects. For increased precision, we are planning to use computer vision also for precise obstacle avoidance as computer vision can detect moving objects e.g other people more precisely than ultrasonic sensors.

• Movement/ User following method:

After calculating the relative position the luggage carrier will try to maintain a distance of 1 meter from the user. It will move using a continuous track mechanism /chain mechanism (the way tanks move). 

For braking, it will use reverse current to stop the motors. We will cater for the back emf and stop the motors from burning.

Benefits of the Project

In our modern society, everything is being automated and shifted to electrical means. In this era, the old and disabled people still struggle to move around in their daily lives with their luggage in tow. Some issues faced are,

• The elderly and disabled have to depend upon other human beings to move around with their belongings. This is especially the case when traveling in airports and malls.

• According to research carried out, about 41% of our 25+ aged people face backache problems. Our solution can come as a facility for the whole population as it can significantly reduce the strain on people’s backs when pushing a loaded trolley of almost 50-70 kg.

• They either have to have a helper or hire someone to carry their belongings which becomes bothersome and makes one dependent upon others. 

• The other solution available is the smart baggage that follows the user around. This may be a practical solution but it comes with its downsides, therefore, it is an expensive solution that ranges anywhere between 700 dollars to 1000 dollars per bag. This means it is only available to the rich. It is not an easy solution for the masses. 

That is what our solution aims towards affordability. The Autonomous Luggage Carrier will allow people to move about independently, without the hassle of carrying and navigating their luggage through crowded areas. This will act as a service that can be easily used by the masses while decreasing human effort.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Luggage Carrier:

Components:

• 12 V 9Ah battery

• 2 motors

• Relays

• Trolley ( the frame for luggage carrier)

• Microcontroller

• Bluetooth module

• Mpu 9250 ( Gyrosensor + accelerometer + magnetometer)

• ultrasonic sensor

• camera

Working:

• Our luggage carrier will consist of two motors, each connected to right and left wheels. These motors will generate enough torque to self move the trolley.

• We will be using a reverse current mechanism for braking.

• On the sides, we will have ultrasonic sensors on the side of the trolley to avoid a collision.

• On the front of the trolley, we will connect a camera to double-check the red

• The luggage carrier will maintain a distance of 1 meter from the user at all times.

• It will be able to move at a speed of approximately 1.5 meters per second.

• Battery to power up motors.

• It will use the camera to detect the user and track them.

• With the help of information from both the camera and MPU9250 as well as the data received from the smart band, the Luggage carrier will follow the user.

Band:

Components:

• Microcontroller

• Bluetooth module

• Mpu 9250 ( Gyrosensor + accelerometer + magnetometer)

• Battery

Working:

• The band will be worn by the user so the luggage carrier can track the users’ position in real-time.

• The user will calculate its distance traveled and orientation using MPU 9250 and send that data to the luggage carrier

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry TransportationOther IndustriesCore Technology RoboticsOther Technologies Artificial Intelligence(AI)Sustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	50680
Gyro Module mpu 6050	Equipment	2	300	600
Gyro Module mpu 9250	Equipment	2	1350	2700
Micro controller (Arduino UNO)	Equipment	2	800	1600
Micro controller (Raspberry pi)	Equipment	1	15000	15000
Motor Driver (L298)	Equipment	2	300	600
Bluetooth Module (HC-05)	Equipment	2	250	500
Ultrasonic sensors (HC-SR04)	Equipment	4	320	1280
Trolley Motor	Equipment	1	12000	12000
Trolley	Equipment	1	5000	5000
High Power Relay Coil	Equipment	4	600	2400
Battery (12V DC / 9AH)	Equipment	1	6000	6000
PCB , Circuits, Band, Others	Miscellaneous	1	2500	2500
Resistors+ Crystal + Wires	Miscellaneous	1	500	500