Mechanical Design · Robotics · CAD · Prototyping
Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR)
A warehouse robot that autonomously followed routes, detected storage locations, lifted crates, and transported them without human intervention.
Project Overview
A complete autonomous material-handling prototype.
As part of Northeastern University's Cornerstone Engineering program, my team designed and built an Autonomous Mobile Robot capable of navigating a warehouse environment, detecting storage locations, lifting crates, and transporting them to their destination without human intervention.
The project required us to combine mechanical design, electronics, programming, and manufacturing into a functional prototype while working within strict time and budget constraints.
Mechanical Design
Developing the scissor-lift system.
My primary responsibility focused on the robot's mechanical design and lifting system. I designed and modeled components in Autodesk Fusion 360 and helped develop a rack-and-pinion-driven scissor lift capable of raising and lowering crates while maintaining stability.
Multiple design iterations were evaluated to improve strength, reduce friction, increase lifting performance, and simplify assembly. Components were 3D printed before being integrated with Arduino electronics, motors, sensors, and custom hardware.
Iteration
Testing exposed what CAD could not.
Early prototypes revealed issues with component clearances, servo placement, structural rigidity, and friction within the lift mechanism. We repeatedly modified the CAD models, printed updated components, tested performance, and refined the system until the robot consistently completed its tasks.
Testing also led us to redesign portions of the warehouse layout and shelving to improve navigation and sensor reliability.
Final System
Mechanical and electrical systems working together.
The final robot integrated a scissor lift, line-following sensors, ultrasonic distance sensing, and an Arduino-controlled drivetrain into a single autonomous platform.
The project strengthened my understanding of mechanical design, rapid prototyping, interdisciplinary integration, and continuous improvement throughout product development.
My Contributions
What I owned and delivered.
- Designed mechanical components and the lift architecture in Autodesk Fusion 360
- Iterated the rack-and-pinion scissor lift to improve strength, friction, and assembly
- 3D printed the components and integrated them with the Arduino-controlled platform
- Tested and refined the complete system with teammates across mechanical, electrical, and software work