Wheel wear monitoring systems for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors

1. A system comprising:

a track having a central axis, the track comprising a first rail segment on a first side of the central axis and a second rail segment on a second side of the central axis, the first rail segment having a first aperture and a second aperture;

a shuttle configured to transport one or more items from a first location to a second location using the track, the shuttle comprising a permanent magnet and a first conveyor assembly having a central axis that is transverse to the central axis of the track, wherein the first shuttle is configured to support the one or more items on the first conveyor assembly;

a set of electromagnets disposed along the central axis of the track, wherein the set of electromagnets interact with the permanent magnet to propel the shuttle;

a first camera disposed adjacent to the first rail segment;

a second camera disposed adjacent to the second rail segment; and

a controller configured to:

determine a first set of images of a first wheel of the shuttle using the first camera;

determine a second set of images of a second wheel of the shuttle using the second camera; and

determine a wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the first set of images.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first rail segment comprises a first aperture formed in a first sidewall of the first rail segment, and the second rail segment comprises a second aperture formed in a second sidewall of the second rail segment;

wherein the first camera and the second camera are disposed in a sideways-facing arrangement adjacent to the respective first and second apertures.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, using the first set of images, a vertical distance between a lower portion of the first rail segment and a wheel block adjacent to the first wheel;

wherein the controller is configured to determine the wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the vertical distance.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a first distance between a first sidewall of the first rail segment and a first lateral edge of the shuttle using the first camera; and

determine a second distance between a second sidewall of the second rail segment and a second lateral edge of the shuttle using the second camera.

5. A system for monitoring wheel wear for a shuttle moving along a track, the system comprising:

a first rail segment that forms a first side of the track, the first rail segment comprising a first aperture;

a second rail segment that forms a second side of the track, the second rail segment comprising a second aperture;

a first camera disposed adjacent to the first aperture;

a second camera disposed adjacent to the second aperture; and

a controller configured to:

determine a first set of images of a first wheel of the shuttle using the first camera;

determine a second set of images of a second wheel of the shuttle using the second camera; and

determine a wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the first set of images.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first aperture is formed in a first sidewall of the first rail segment, and the second aperture is formed in a second sidewall of the second rail segment;

wherein the first camera and the second camera are disposed in a sideways-facing arrangement.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first aperture is formed in a first lower portion of the first rail segment, and the second aperture is formed in a second lower portion of the second rail segment; and

wherein the first camera and the second camera are disposed in an upwards-facing arrangement.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, using the first set of images, a vertical distance between a lower portion of the first rail segment and a wheel block adjacent to the first wheel;

wherein the controller is configured to determine the wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the vertical distance.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a first distance between a first sidewall of the first rail segment and a first lateral edge of the shuttle using the first camera; and

determine a second distance between a second sidewall of the second rail segment and a second lateral edge of the shuttle using the second camera.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a lateral wear status of the first wheel using the first distance.

11. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a diameter of the first wheel using the first set of images.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a shuttle identifier of the shuttle; and

cause the wear status of the first wheel to be stored in association with the shuttle identifier.

13. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that the second wheel is due for maintenance based at least in part on the second set of images; and

cause the shuttle to be routed to a maintenance station.

14. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a third set of images of a third wheel of the shuttle using the first camera;

determine a fourth set of images of a fourth wheel of the shuttle using the second camera; and

determine that the third wheel is due for replacement;

wherein the first wheel and the third wheel are on a first side of the shuttle, and the second wheel and the fourth wheel are on a second side of the shuttle.

15. The system of claim 5 , wherein the shuttle comprises a conveyor and a permanent magnet; and

wherein the track comprises an electromagnet disposed along the track, wherein the shuttle is propelled via interaction between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet.

16. A system comprising:

a track comprising a first rail segment and a second rail segment, wherein the first rail segment forms a first side of the track, and the second rail segment forms a second side of the track;

a shuttle configured to move along the track;

a first camera disposed adjacent to the first rail segment;

a second camera disposed adjacent to the second rail segment; and

a controller configured to:

determine a first set of images of a first wheel of the shuttle using the first camera;

determine a second set of images of a second wheel of the shuttle using the second camera; and

determine a wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the first set of images.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, using the first set of images, a vertical distance between a lower portion of the first rail segment and a wheel block adjacent to the first wheel;

wherein the controller is configured to determine the wear status of the first wheel based at least in part on the vertical distance.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a first distance between a first sidewall of the first rail segment and a first lateral edge of the shuttle using the first camera; and

determine a second distance between a second sidewall of the second rail segment and a second lateral edge of the shuttle using the second camera.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a diameter of the first wheel using the first set of images.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a shuttle identifier of the shuttle; and

cause the wear status of the first wheel to be stored in association with the shuttle identifier.