Following on form the radio shuttle being deemed compatible with the shelves constructed, final tests regarding the ability of the radio shuttle to perform to the project brief requirements were undertaken.
With the prototype now situated on the shelves, wire connections were made between the motors and the power supply. A soldering iron was utilised in order to join two separate wires so the length in total was sufficient enough for the prototype to move the length of the shelves without any obstruction from the connections.
Initially the drive system was operated from the power supply and the radio shuttle moved along the shelves perfectly in both directions and was clearly stable without any possibility of falling off the tracks. Once the shuttle was placed under a pallet, the lifting mechanism was operated and sufficiently lifted the pallet clear from the shelf. Furthermore, after lifting a pallet and operating the drive system, the pallet remained secure on top of the radio shuttle whilst being transported across the shelves. After the radio shuttle had come to a halt and the lifting mechanism was lowered, the radio shuttle was free to move under the pallet and to any point along the shelves without any interference.
The above was true regarding any point along the shelf structure.
Although the motors had to be operated manually with someone in control of the power supply, both processes that were set out in the project brief were completed as demonstrated in the videos below.
Unfortunately a micro controller issue hampered progress in attempting to construct and implement the brackets for electrical sensors which would produce a semi-automated system but all designs were in place by the end and this goal was certainly achievable in the near future. The electronic team had written a code for this purpose and once the sensors had been secured appropriately testing the automated system could commence.
Final Tests
Video 1
