Remote Control Forklift Moves Minuscule Masses

Do you need a forklift? How about a miniature one? If so, then this vehicle by Leon van den Beukel looks like just the thing. The device features steering via the back wheels just like an actual forklift, programmable LED lights, and most importantly, working forks. They travel up and down, and can even tilt forward to dump off a tiny load.

The is project is powered by an Arduino Mega, which uses HC-05 Bluetooth module for user interface through a custom Android app. Two motors drive the front wheels independently via an H-bridge board, and the forks are controlled by the same type of motor and a second H-bridge module. Forks are pulled up and down using a belt drive locked to the fork assembly, along with a gear on the driving motor. Steering is taken care of by a small servo, as is tilting of the forks.

Be sure to see the video below, where the forklift is built and assembled with a combination of 3D printing, CNC woodworking, and hand tools. You can also see it demonstrated there, nicely navigating a hardwood surface and manipulating a tiny pallet. Code as well as STL and drawing files are available on GitHub, and the custom Android control app can be found in this separate repository.