PLC based automated storage and retrieval system

The basic idea behind this project is to automate the laborious warehouse tasks.This project intends to pick up objects and place them in a rack and when required, retrieve them. But the essence of the whole system lies in the automation. PLC is used as the brain of

Project Title

PLC based automated storage and retrieval system

Project Area of Specialization

Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Project Summary

The basic idea behind this project is to automate the laborious warehouse tasks.This project intends to pick up objects and place them in a rack and when required, retrieve them. But the essence of the whole system lies in the automation.

PLC is used as the brain of the system.The system will detect the object and based on its kind, the system will place it in a particular slot. For Retreival, the system will take input from the user to retrieve as per user's requirement. The system will interact with the user through a GUI.

Project Objectives

Following are the objectives of this project:

• Discrimination of the objects
• Stable motion of the lifter
• Placement of the object in the right slot
• Picking up the right object while retrieving.

Project Implementation Method

The whole system is controlled by PLC. The whole system has the following cruical parts:

• A 2X2 rack i.e. 4 slots.
• A lifter with linear motion in three different directions. This is implemented by using belt mechanism and the motors that are used are step motors.
•  Interaction with the user using GUI made on SCADA. This interface communicates serially with the PLC.
• Also infrared sensors are used at each slot to keep a track of the capacity of the rack.
• Object discrimination is based on the size of the object which will be done by using an ultrasonic sensor.

Benefits of the Project

This project has immense applications in warehouses

• It saves a lot of time
• It can help in the prevention of human injuries
• It can be used to increase the efficiency 
• It also helps to get rid of human errors and keep a better record of the whole warehouse.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Hardware Mechanism:

The main part of the mechanism is the lifter.The lifter has linear motions in three different directions.Each direction is controlled by a stepper motor which is ultimately controlled by the PLC. 

The whole lifter mechanism rests at a zero position under no action scenario.As soon as it detects an object and storage command from the user,it picks it up and place it in the desired slot. 

For retrieval,the system when detects the retrieve coomand,moves to that particular rack and retrieves the object at that slot.

Software Interface:

The user interacts with the system through a GUI built using SCADA. This GUI communicates with the PLC serially in real time.      

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

Others

Other Industries

Security

Core Technology

Others

Other Technologies

Robotics

Sustainable Development Goals

Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production

Required Resources

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