Inspiration
My inspiration for this project was the robot chef from the INSANELY INNOVATIVE channel on YouTube. I had seen the video before, and the fluid movements of the arms—able to move in any direction—stood out to me as a great concept. That level of flexibility seemed perfect for a warehouse automation design.
What it does
My CAD design is a multi-purpose storage robot meant for warehouse use. It features an X-drive chassis, allowing it to rotate and move in directions that most robots cannot—such as turning in place and moving diagonally. The arm is designed to grab items or tools from any direction and drop them off similarly. The tip of the arm is modular and was specifically designed with multi-functionality in mind. Like a CNC machine, it can swap out tool bits and supply them with power if needed.
How we built it
We started by designing a chassis that balanced both reliability and agility. A standard tank drive is reliable but lacks the maneuverability needed for tight spaces. An H-drive improves agility but sacrifices some stability. After comparing our options, we chose an X-drive for its balance of both qualities.
The robotic arm required a lot of trial and error to perfect. Its motor configuration is very specific—any changes would compromise its precision and accuracy. The concept for the powered, hot-swappable CNC-like bit was Gabriel’s idea, aiming to combine versatility with functionality.
Challenges we ran into
Spacing was a major issue in this robot’s design. I wanted it to be compact yet fully functional, which meant compromising on aesthetics in some areas—like the battery mount—to fit all components neatly into a tight form factor.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud of how functional and compact the design turned out. The X-drive works exactly as intended, allowing for agile movement, and the arm has enough flexibility to handle multi-directional pickup and drop-off tasks. We’re also proud of the modular tool-tip concept, which adds a lot of versatility to the robot.
What we learned
We learned how crucial planning is when it comes to compact robot design—especially with spacing, wiring, and component placement. We also gained experience with CAD modeling, motion planning, and designing for modularity. On top of that, we learned how small tweaks in arm geometry or motor placement can drastically affect overall performance.
What's next for Multi-Purpose Factory Bot
I really like the current design and see potential for further improvements—especially in the chassis and docking stations. Future versions could include better wire management, a more refined battery system, and more robust modular tool attachments. I’ll continue developing this project when time allows.
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