A simple and cost-effective warehouse robot management system has been developed.

The article has been published in the journal "Innovative Technologies: Theory, Tools, Practice." The research was conducted as part of the academic strategic leadership program "Priority 2030."

The warehouse robot is a complex device that integrates mechanics, electronics, and software, designed to automate various warehouse operations. It is equipped with electric drives and wheels for movement, as well as sensors to detect its surroundings.

There are many mobile robots that read information about their changing environment and navigate based on that data using technologies such as GPS, radio beacons, laser navigation, and others. The challenge is that these systems require a large number of expensive sensors to operate, which increases their cost. Additionally, the advantages of global satellite navigation are lost indoors, as such signals often do not penetrate concrete and metal structures. Moreover, warehouse robots typically travel the same routes, making the need for such complex tracking mechanisms redundant.

Scientists from Perm Polytechnic University have developed a control system for warehouse robots that simplifies their navigation indoors.

They proposed utilizing lines on the floor along which the device moves. For this purpose, contrasting tape is applied to the floor. This system is intended for use in small warehouses of up to 500 square meters (Class D).

“We have developed an algorithm that allows for the most efficient movement along a designated trajectory. Implementation requires only four infrared sensors that operate autonomously. First, lines must be placed on the floor according to the movement scheme. These are detected by sensors, whose readings are sent to a special control unit. If the left or right sensor detects a line crossing the robot's path, it stops and turns if necessary. Simultaneously, it keeps a count of the intersections passed and continues moving until it has crossed the required number. After that, it stops, arriving at its destination,” explains Sergey Storozhev, Associate Professor of the "Automation and Telemechanics" department at PNIPU and Candidate of Technical Sciences.

The experiment on the development was conducted by simulating the robot's movement on a computer. It was required to pass two intersections, turning left at each, and stop at the third. Testing showed that the navigation mechanism successfully accomplished its task.

“Existing systems for moving items in warehouses are either not autonomous or rely on expensive equipment. Typically, their use in small warehouses is not cost-effective. We propose a more affordable solution that will enable the use of robots even in smaller spaces. Our control model can be implemented without video stream analysis and the use of costly sensors and recognition devices such as lidars and cameras. This not only simplifies the navigation system but also reduces its cost by seven times,” comments Olga Glukhova, a master's student at the "Automation and Telemechanics" department at PNIPU.

The development by the scientists at Perm Polytechnic University represents an effective and economical solution for ensuring reliable navigation in predictable warehouse environments. The movement algorithms created by the polytechnicians significantly simplify the robot's movement process, and the system's cost-effectiveness makes it accessible to a broader range of enterprises, including those with small warehouses where the use of expensive equipment is not justified.