Project number
25026
Organization
Amazon
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Ambaflex spiral conveyers are designed to work with specific types of containers referred to as totes. The presence of non-totes causes severe jams and expensive repairs. These incidents lead to immense cost impacts including direct repair costs, lost production hours that affect multiple downstream processes, and labor costs. This project prevents non-totes from advancing further through the Ambaflex conveyors at an Amazon facility. This saves Amazon operational expenses and improves cycle times and customer satisfaction.
This design relies on two key components to distinguish between totes and non-totes: a Cognex IS2000M camera and an Orange Pi 5. Using color and dimension detection, these two components and their associated software work together to identify objects on the conveyor belt and stop it when necessary. Totes are bright yellow with specific dimensions; anything else on the conveyor line is classified as non-tote. The device is bolted to the floor via a sturdy rectangular metal frame that
encloses the conveyor belt. An interface screen on the frame’s side allows Amazon associates to monitor the system’s status, understand stoppages and restart operations as needed. The PIT system integrates with Amazon’s existing setup to illuminate an Andon stick when a non-tote is detected and alert associates to remove it from the conveyor belt line.
This design relies on two key components to distinguish between totes and non-totes: a Cognex IS2000M camera and an Orange Pi 5. Using color and dimension detection, these two components and their associated software work together to identify objects on the conveyor belt and stop it when necessary. Totes are bright yellow with specific dimensions; anything else on the conveyor line is classified as non-tote. The device is bolted to the floor via a sturdy rectangular metal frame that
encloses the conveyor belt. An interface screen on the frame’s side allows Amazon associates to monitor the system’s status, understand stoppages and restart operations as needed. The PIT system integrates with Amazon’s existing setup to illuminate an Andon stick when a non-tote is detected and alert associates to remove it from the conveyor belt line.