Amazon Robotics Smart Storage System

Mechanical Systems Design

Aug 2024 - May 2025

This project focused on designing a novel storage rack system for warehouse applications where items require very short-term storage (less than five minutes) and rapid retrieval. Instead of equipping each storage location with dedicated motors, the system leverages an energy transfer mechanism: a robotic gantry device with a single drive motor engages with individual rack locations to power item translation in and out. The design balances speed, cost-efficiency, and precision, enabling 500+ operations per hour while maintaining reliable interfacing with multiple rack locations .

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Goals

  • Develop a cost-effective storage rack system for high-frequency, short-term storage and retrieval.
  • Design a robotic device capable of transferring energy to unpowered conveyors for item movement.
  • Ensure high precision and repeatability of item placement and retrieval across a 3x3 storage cell frame.
  • Meet performance targets including 99.5% engagement success, 5-second operation cycles, and >200 hours mean time to failure .
  • Integrate safety and calibration mechanisms into the robotic system for robust long-term operation.

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Features

  • Belt-driven gantry system with linear guide rails for rapid and precise positioning.
  • CAD design of mechanical components and assembly in Solidworks.
  • Nema 23 stepper motors with custom driver and power supply configuration.
  • Calibration with limit switches and movement control written with Arduino
No items found.
[digital project][digital project]

Specific Contributions

  1. Served as team leader, guiding project scope, design choices, and integration.
  2. Independently designed the gantry system using linear guide rails for stability and precision.
  3. Programmed the gantry system, incorporating limit switches for calibration and safety stop functionality.
  4. Wired and integrated the power supply, stepper drivers, motors, and Arduino, ensuring reliable system operation.
  5. Validated system performance against client requirements, balancing speed, cost, and reliability.

Final Demo Video