PROJECT TOPICLogistics, Warehousing & Smart Retail
Autonomous Electric Pallet Jack
A brownfield automation concept investigating bolt-on steer-by-wire tillers, motorized hydraulic lift valves, and safety LiDAR fields to convert standard manual pallet jacks into autonomous transport units.
Cost-Effective Brownfield AGV Retrofitting
- ✓Converts existing commercial pallet jacks into autonomous transport assets.
- ✓Retains manual tiller handles for dual-mode manual or autonomous operation.
- ✓Employs dual safety LiDARs to ensure 360-degree obstacle detection around pallet tines.
The Engineering Challenge
Problem / Objective
Dedicated AGVs are expensive and custom-built, making warehouse automation cost-prohibitive for small and medium logistics hubs.
Conceptual Signal Flow
System Concept
Steer-by-Wire Tiller Actuator → CAN Motor Controller → Safety Laser Scanner → Autonomous Point-to-Point Pallet Haul.
Architecture Modules
1Bolt-On Steer-by-Wire Motor Actuator
2Hydraulic Lift Solenoid Valve Block
3Front & Rear Safety LiDAR Bumper Mounts
4Supervisory Autonomous Navigation Controller
Hardware Categories
High-Torque Steer MotorSafety LiDARsIndustrial CAN ControllerEmergency Stop Bumpers
Technologies & Software
Vehicle RetrofittingSteer-by-WireLiDAR NavigationIndustrial SafetyROS 2 Nav2 Pallet KinematicsSafety Interlock Watchdog
Engineering Considerations & Edge Cases
- Backlash and compliance in mechanical tiller linkage retrofits
- Stopping distances when carrying full 1500kg rated loads
Applications
Factory-to-warehouse pallet staging
Dock-to-storage buffer transfer
Production line waste removal
Engineering Inquiry & Collaboration
Interested in Developing this Architecture?
Connect directly with Tamizh Tech engineers in Coimbatore to discuss mechanical fabrication, sensor selection, firmware implementation, or turnkey system commissioning.