Robotics / Automation / Manufacturing Systems
VCU Open Cyber City Conveyor System
Overview
Designed and built a motorized conveyor belt system for the VCU Open Cyber City (OCC) Testbed to connect two model manufacturing buildings. The conveyor acts as a transfer link in an automated production workflow: robotic arms in the first building place blocks onto the belt, which transports them to a second building where another set of robotic arms retrieves and sorts them.
Problem / Real-World Purpose
The conveyor was designed to solve a specific integration problem within the OCC manufacturing environment: transferring physical parts between two separate robotic work cells. Rather than operating as a standalone mechanism, the system functions as a bridge between automated processes, allowing robotic arms in one model building to hand off parts to robotic arms in another.
System Context
- Robotic Arm — Building 1
- Block placed on conveyor
- Conveyor transports block between buildings
- Robotic Arm — Building 2
- Block retrieved and sorted
My Role
This project is part of my mentorship within the VCU Open Cyber City Testbed. I developed the conveyor assembly in CAD, incorporating the belt path, end rollers, motor mount, structural supports, and frame geometry before fabricating and assembling the physical system.
Design Process
The project focused on mechanical integration, reliable material transport, structural design, and compatibility with robotic automation within a larger cyber-physical manufacturing testbed.
- Defined the conveyor's role within the OCC manufacturing workflow
- Developed the complete conveyor assembly in CAD
- Designed the belt path and roller layout
- Integrated the motor and motor-mount geometry
- Designed structural supports and frame members
- Considered how the conveyor would interface with robotic arms
CAD / Engineering
CAD assembly of the conveyor system showing the belt path, end rollers, drive motor, structural frame, supports, and overall mechanical layout.
Prototype
Fabricated and assembled the physical conveyor system.
Testing
Tested the conveyor with representative parts and iterated on the system to improve mechanical operation and integration with the surrounding robotic work cells.
Results
[Add results — reliability, throughput, and integration outcomes]
Challenges
[Add challenges encountered during mechanical design, fabrication, or integration with the robotic arms]
What I Learned
[Add takeaways from the mentorship and this project]
