A full-stack pick-to-light system built at Genie that guides assembly line workers to the right parts for each step, from low-cost ESP32 hardware up through the server, database and screens.
Genie, Redmond, WA In a pick-to-light system, lights at storage locations show a person where to pick from. This one was built at Genie from start to finish as a full-stack project, covering the hardware, the firmware, the server, the database and the screens people work with. It helps assembly line workers pick the correct parts for each step of the process they are working on.
The hardware was designed and prototyped around the ESP32 microcontroller, with three goals: low cost, easy maintenance, and parts that are easy to get. The firmware that runs on it is written in C.
On the server, the logic runs in Node-RED, a visual tool for wiring devices and services together, with custom code in JavaScript. Data is kept in a PostgreSQL relational database, and its structure and the connections to it were written in SQL. The screens people use are built in Tulip, a platform for building manufacturing apps.