An RFID-Enabled Automated Storage and Retrieval System via Microcontroller Stepper Motor Control

This paper presents an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) which controls logistics operations using radio frequency identification (RFID) system recognition. The system has been designed and constructed focused at warehouse needs, especially for the transportation of pallets at short or long distances as well as accurate positioning of the pallets on the shelves. For the prototyping of the three-axis AS/RS system, two stepper motors for x- and y-axes and a DC motor with a speed reducer for z-axis were used. Control is achieved by a Microchip RISC microcontroller, (namely the ATmega32A). The RFID system succeeded to control the fully automated placement of pallets based on the PN532 transceiver. Furthermore the AS/RS communicates via RFID with another material handling equipment, i.e. the conveyor belt system, and therefore it has been designed to support Internet-of-Things (IOT). Moreover, it has been designed to support ERP systems.