Robotics · MI-ROB-01
Autonomous Material Cart (AMR) Prototype
A cart following a marked route between two stations with obstacle stop, load call button and trip counting.
Robotics · MI-ROB-01
A 4WD robot chassis with LiDAR, motor controller and battery, built into a cart that follows a marked route between two stations with obstacle stop, a load-call button and trip counting.
- ₹37,000pilot BOM · hardware only
- 8 – 12 daysto a live pilot
- Advancedintegration level
- 3validated providers
Why operators are your most expensive material movers
The problem
Operators walk components and sub-assemblies between stations several times an hour. The walking is unmeasured, the interruptions break the rhythm of the station, and the business case for a small autonomous cart cannot be made without one on the floor.
- Skilled operators spend time as material movers
- Interruptions reduce station output
- Commercial AMRs are hard to justify without a trial
- Nobody knows the trip count or the walking distance
The solution
A robot chassis with encoder motors and a 10–20 kg payload carries a tray between two stations along a marked route, using a 2D LiDAR or ultrasonic array to stop for obstacles. A call button at each station summons the cart; a controller counts trips and logs distance. The kit is ROS-ready so the same platform scales to SLAM navigation.
- Follows a marked route between two stations, stops for obstacles
- Load-call button at each station
- Trip count and distance logged for the business case
- ROS-ready chassis for a later SLAM/fleet phase
Validated service providers
Validated by TwoElectrons and ranked by validation score: verified credentials, completed jobs on the platform and client ratings.
- Sample Provider M — Pune · AMR & material handling · ★ 4.8 · 9 jobs
- Sample Provider N — Chennai · Cobots & pick-and-place cells · ★ 4.7 · 11 jobs
- Sample Provider O — Bengaluru · Conveyor automation · ★ 4.5 · 6 jobs
Provider listings are samples pending live registrations.
Prototype BOM and cost
Reference hardware to run the pilot. Unit costs are indicative Indian market prices for the component class.
| Qty | Item | Unit cost | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1× | 4WD robot chassis with encoder motors 10–20 kg payload class | ₹15,000 | ₹15,000 |
| 1× | 2D LiDAR or ultrasonic array | ₹9,000 | ₹9,000 |
| 1× | Motor driver + controller board ESP32 / Raspberry Pi | ₹4,500 | ₹4,500 |
| 1× | Li-ion battery pack & charger | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
| 1× | Line/marker sensors and E-stop | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| Pilot BOM total | ₹37,000 |
POC BOM cost only — hardware for a pilot. Installation, integration and provider services are quoted separately. Request for Quote
How the prototype cart works
- Build. Assemble chassis, motor driver, controller, LiDAR and battery.
- Mark. Lay a route between two stations with tape or markers.
- Tune. Set speed, stop distance and the call-button logic.
- Measure. Run for a week and log trips, distance and interruptions saved.
Prototype architecture
Route markers + call buttons (two stations) → AMR cart (chassis · LiDAR · controller) → Fleet/trip logger (trips · distance · stops) → Supervisor view (route · counts)
The prototype follows a marked route; the same chassis and LiDAR support SLAM navigation in a scale-up phase.
Business case: walking, interruptions, AMR justification
Ranges are typical figures reported for this class of solution; your pilot establishes the numbers for your plant.
- Hours of operator walking removed per week (measured by trip count)
- Fewer station interruptions (and steadier takt)
- Real numbers for the AMR business case (from your own floor)
- 8 – 12 days to a running prototype (two stations)
Who this is for: Production and industrial engineering, Lean and automation teams, Electronics and appliance assembly, Auto component cells, Pharma and FMCG packing halls, Any line with frequent manual material moves.
Illustrative case study
Illustrative scenario · not a client reference
An appliance assembly line moving sub-assemblies 40 m between cells in Noida (illustrative)
Set-up. Cart built on a 4WD chassis with a 15 kg tray, tape route between the motor sub-assembly cell and the final line, call buttons at each end, trip logging to a dashboard.
What happened. The cart made about 90 trips per shift, removing roughly 3.6 km of walking per operator per day and the associated interruptions. The measured trip data supported the purchase of two commercial AMRs the following year.
- Pilot budget: ₹37,000 hardware
- Trips per shift: ~90
- Walking removed: ~3.6 km/operator/day
FAQ
Is this a commercial AMR?
No — it is a prototype platform to prove the use case and gather trip data before buying commercial AMRs, with a ROS-ready chassis for a next phase.
How safe is it around people?
The LiDAR/ultrasonic stop and an E-stop are included; speed is limited and the route is marked. The pilot runs in a defined lane agreed with EHS.
Can it navigate without tape?
Yes, in a scale-up phase, using the same LiDAR with SLAM navigation; the prototype uses a marked route for simplicity.
What does the ₹37,000 cover?
Chassis, motors, LiDAR, controller, battery and sensors. Integration, safety assessment and provider build services are quoted after a Request for Quote.
