Shelfbot Technical Data Sheet
Doc: SB-SPEC-TDS
1. Introduction
This Technical Data Sheet defines the functional, mechanical, electrical, and environmental specifications of the Shelfbot Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS). It is intended for engineers, consultants, warehouse designers, fire authorities, racking manufacturers, and integration partners evaluating system compatibility and performance characteristics.
The Shelfbot system is a modular, mains-powered Goods-to-Person robotic solution designed for high-density storage and automated retrieval of small items using standard warehouse racking.
2. Purpose & Scope
2.1 Purpose
This document provides formal technical specifications for the Shelfbot system to support:
- warehouse design and engineering assessments,
- fire and building compliance modelling,
- racking layout and load analysis,
- electrical infrastructure planning,
- integration with external WMS/ERP systems.
2.2 Scope
This specification covers:
- system architecture and operating principles,
- robot mechanical and electrical performance,
- racking dimensional requirements,
- tote specifications,
- safety systems,
- environmental and operational limits,
- maintenance intervals and service requirements.
2.3 Exclusions
This document does not cover:
- WMS operational workflows,
- commissioning procedures,
- maintenance procedures,
- safety processes or operator training,
- installation instructions
Refer to the Shelfbot User Manual and Shelfbot Electrical Specification for those topics.
3. System Overview
A Shelfbot system consists of robots operating inside aisles of standard pallet racking. Each robot retrieves storage totes, transports them along the aisle, and presents them at a Station for picking or putaway.
The system supports installations ranging from a single aisle to large multi-aisle deployments of up to 20 robots.
System Characteristics
- Retrofittable to existing racking
- Robots travel on fixed upper and lower rails
- Totes are extracted and inserted using a suspended Platform mechanism
- All robots operate under the control of a local Shelfbot Server with cloud connected redundancy
4. System Architecture
4.1 Robots
Each robot consists of:
- Top Car: Drives along upper rail and provides vertical hoisting capability
- Bottom Car: Drives along lower rail and stabilises system motion
- Suspended Platform: Extracts and deposits totes using motor-driven arms
The robot operates on the X-axis (aisle length) and the Platform moves on the Y-axis (vertical).
4.2 Racking
Shelfbot robots install on standard steel storage racking compliant with AS4084:2023. Racking is configured as:
- Single Row: Two robots operate on opposite aisles and access a shared central row
- Dual Row: One robot accesses two adjacent rows (left and right)
4.3 Rails, Caps and Drag Chain
The dimensions, spacings and fixings of the rails and caps are given in the Shelfbot Racking Specification, which is the single source for them. This section says what each part is, what it does, and who supplies and installs it.
Bottom Rail
- Material: Roll-formed galvanised steel angle, size per the Shelfbot Racking Specification
- Mounting: Anchored to the concrete slab, fixing pattern per the Shelfbot Racking Specification
- Spacing: Per the Shelfbot Racking Specification, sized to house the drag chain and to admit a narrow-aisle scissor lift
- Fabricated: Shelfbot
- Supplied: Shelfbot
- Installed: Per the responsibility matrix in the Shelfbot Racking Specification
- Function: Provides lower running surface and stabilisation of Bottom Car; houses the drag chain
Top Rail
- Material: Custom roll-formed top rail (supplied by Shelfbot)
- Mounting: Fitted flush with the top of the upright to act as the robot running rail, fixed via rack upright caps
- Fabricated: Shelfbot
- Supplied: Shelfbot
- Installed: Per the responsibility matrix in the Shelfbot Racking Specification
- Function: Provides primary running surface and vertical support for Top Car and Platform hoisting
Rack Upright Cap
- Dimensions: Per the Shelfbot Racking Specification
- Mounting: Fitted to the top of the racking uprights
- Fabricated: Shelfbot
- Supplied: Shelfbot
- Installed: Per the responsibility matrix in the Shelfbot Racking Specification
- Function: Caps the racking upright and mounts the top rail
Drag Chain
- Position: Housed within the bottom rail profile
- Fabricated: Shelfbot
- Supplied: Shelfbot
- Installed: Shelfbot
- Function: Protects and guides control and power cabling along the aisle
These components must be installed to maintain straightness, parallelism, and clearances specified in this document. Tolerances for aisle deviation, rail alignment, and plumbness must be verified during commissioning.
4.4 Totes
Totes are mechanically compatible storage containers designed for robotic extraction provided by Shelfbot. Two configurations are supported:
- Standard plastic totes
- Steel mesh totes, which may reduce or eliminate the requirement for in-rack sprinklers subject to fire engineer approval
4.5 Stations
Stations include:
- Automatic Roller Door (interlocked)
- Safety Control Panel
- Operator mobile computer running the Shelfbot App: a customer supplied handheld with an integrated barcode scanner (refer to Customer Handheld Scanners)
- Put-to-light trolley behind the operator: a wheeled frame of lit shipper positions, battery powered as standard (batteries and charger customer supplied to the specification provided with the site design) or optionally mains powered from a standard GPO
4.6 Server
A Linux-based Shelfbot Server installed in a secure cabinet provides:
- robot coordination,
- cloud connectivity via VPN,
- API integration with customer WMS/ERP via cloud server
5. Performance Specifications
5.1 Robot Throughput
| Configuration | Robots per Aisle | Nominal Presentations per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Single Bot | 1 | 30 to 60 |
Maximum system capacity: 20 robots × 60 presentations/h ≈ 1,200 presentations per hour, varying by SKU distribution and operator utilisation.
5.2 Mechanical Performance
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Maximum Speed | 2,500 mm/s |
| Maximum Acceleration | 1,500 mm/s² |
| Typical Braking Distance | 1,500 mm |
| Noise Level | Typical operating noise measured at the Station during tote presentation ~65 dBA. |
6. Mechanical Specifications
6.1 Robot Mass
| Component | Mass |
|---|---|
| Top Car | 40 kg |
| Bottom Car | 20 kg |
| Platform | 20 kg |
| Masts | 100 kg |
| Total Mass | 200 kg |
6.2 Payload
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Maximum Item Weight | 10 kg |
| Maximum Tote Payload | 30 kg |
7. Racking Requirements
7.1 Dimensional Requirements
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Aisle Width | 1200 mm |
| Aisle Deviation | Max ±5 mm difference between top and bottom measurements |
| Vertical Upright Deviation | Racking uprights must comply with AS4084 plumbness tolerances |
| Minimum Height | 4 m |
| Maximum Height | 10 m |
| Maximum Aisle Length | 48 m (18 bays @ 2,691 mm) |
| Bottom Shelf Height | Per the Shelfbot Racking Specification |
| Top Shelf Clearance | Per the Shelfbot Racking Specification |
| Shelf Levels | Up to 23 levels at 10 m |
| Bottom Rail Spacing | Per the Shelfbot Racking Specification |
| Grid Clearance Zones | Min 3 m clear at the front of the grid for scissor lift access. At the rear the clearance is set by the fire regulations: the grid is unmanned, so 300 mm is enough where no fire egress path, fire hose reel or emergency exit runs behind it; otherwise the path of egress must be kept clear, confirmed by the project fire engineer |
7.2 Hole Pitch Compatibility
- Upright pitch options: 50 mm, 75 mm, 76.2 mm (3")
- Shelf spacing is set per tote height, providing a minimum 38 mm clearance between the top of the tote and the underside of the beam above
7.3 Storage Density
The figures below are theoretical maximum capacities at the largest supported rack geometry: 10 m rack height (23 levels × 5 totes per level = 115 totes per bay) and an 18-bay aisle. They are not a standard or committed capacity. Actual capacity for a deployment depends on rack height, aisle length and tote sizes, and is set out in the site design (Customer Site Drawings and Customer Equipment List).
| Configuration | Maximum Capacity |
|---|---|
| Single Row Robot | 115 totes/bay × 18 bays = 2,070 totes |
| Dual Row Robot | 2 × 2,070 totes = 4,140 totes |
| Maximum System | 20 robots × 4,140 totes = 82,800 totes |
8. Tote Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Width 420 mm (fixed); Depth 700–980 mm; Height 150–350 mm |
| Max Payload | 30 kg |
| Max Shelf Load | 150 kg UDL |
| Max Item Weight | 10 kg |
| Totes per Level | 5 |
Optional Steel Mesh Totes
Steel mesh totes are available where required to support fire-engineering designs or to reduce fire loading. Use of steel totes may eliminate in-rack sprinklers subject to approval by the appointed fire engineer.
9. Electrical Requirements
Refer to Shelfbot Electrical Specification for more details.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Supply Voltage | 240 VAC ±10% |
| Frequency | 50–60 Hz |
| Circuit Protection | 20A user-supplied RCBO (required) |
| Per-Robot Circuit | Dedicated 20A circuit (must not be shared) |
| Idle current | ~2 A |
| Operational current | up to ~18 A |
| Put-to-light trolley | Battery powered as standard (batteries and charger customer supplied to the specification provided with the site design); optionally mains powered from a standard 10A GPO |
10. Environmental Conditions
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating Temperature | 5°C to 55°C |
| Humidity | 5–90% non-condensing |
| Maximum Altitude | 2,000 m |
11. Safety Systems
Shelfbot incorporates a Category 3, PL d safety architecture compliant with:
- ISO 13849
- ISO 12100
- ISO 13857
- AS/NZS 4024
Safety Features
- Safety PLC with redundant contacts
- Emergency Stop (Category 0 stop)
- Interlocked Automatic Roller Door (two interlocks)
- Safeguarded Stop applied during every pick cycle
- Perimeter guarding surrounding all robot aisles
- Safety signage per AS4084 and AS4024
For operational safety procedures, refer to the Shelfbot User Manual.
12. Software & Integration Requirements
12.1 Interfaces
Shelfbot integrates with external systems via secure API supporting:
- product creation and update,
- inventory transactions,
- order ingestion and status updates.
12.2 Operator Interface
- Runs on customer supplied handheld mobile computers with integrated barcode scanners, Zebra TC53 or equivalent (refer to Customer Handheld Scanners)
- Guided workflows for pick, putaway, search, and diagnostics
- Real-time tote tracking and job allocation
12.3 Customer Handheld Scanners
Customer-supplied handheld scanning devices used with the Shelfbot system must meet or exceed the specification of the Zebra TC53. Alternative scanner models must be sent to Shelfbot for compatibility testing prior to deployment.
13. Maintenance & Service
13.1 Scheduled Intervals
| Component | Interval |
|---|---|
| Platform Service | 100 km or 6 months |
| Car Service | 10,000 km or 12 months |
| Platform Overhaul | 2,000 km or 24 months |
Shelfbot provides SLA-based support with remote diagnostics and onsite service.
14. Compliance
Shelfbot is designed in accordance with:
- AS4084:2023 Steel Storage Racking
- ISO 13849 Safety Control Systems
- IEC 60204-1 Machine Electrical Safety
- ISO 12100 Machinery Safety Principles
- ISO 14120 & ISO 13857 Guarding and safety distances
- AS 2118 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems
- FM Global DS 8-34 Protection for Automatic Storage & Retrieval Systems (ASRS)
15. Customer Responsibilities
To ensure correct installation and ongoing compliance, the customer is responsible for:
- providing dedicated electrical circuits per robot,
- ensuring racking is installed per AS4084 and Shelfbot specifications,
- maintaining safe working loads and tote clearances,
- ensuring accurate WMS inventory prior to enabling picking,
- undertaking monthly racking and guarding inspections,
- having any hazardous or flammable goods covered by the site safety assessment and the project fire engineer's review before they are stored.
16. Revision History
| Version | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 19/08/2026 | Published to Web Site |
| 3.2 | 10/09/2026 | Operator iPads replaced by customer supplied handheld mobile computers with integrated barcode scanners (refer to Customer Handheld Scanners) |
| 3.3 | 16/10/2026 | Put-to-light trolley added to Stations and Electrical Requirements: battery powered as standard (batteries and charger customer supplied to the specification provided with the site design), optionally mains powered from a standard GPO |
| 3.4 | 22/10/2026 | Customer Responsibilities: hazardous or flammable goods stored subject to a site safety assessment and the project fire engineer's review (was: not stored unless approved) |
| 3.5 | 22/10/2026 | Rails, caps and bottom rail spacing: dimensions removed, the Racking Specification is the single source for them (the copies here had gone out of date) |
| 3.6 | 24/10/2026 | Grid clearance: 3 m clear at the front of the grid only (the rear is not required) |
| 3.7 | 24/10/2026 | Rear clearance set by the fire regulations: 300 mm where no egress path, hose reel or emergency exit runs behind the grid, else the egress kept clear (racking supplier's advice, 22 Oct 2026) |
| 3.8 | 28/10/2026 | Bottom shelf height and top shelf clearance point to the Racking Specification (the 300 mm and 800 mm here were out of date) |