Leading AGV System Manufacturers

AGV System Designs

AGV systems come in various sizes and capacities since they serve many applications. AGV systems may use their vehicles to help equip workers with needed resources or supply parts to cargo-handling robots found in completely automated manufacturing plants. They range from light load autonomous guided vehicles which move small parts and support light assembly procedures to AGVs specially designed to handle large loads up to 250,000 pounds through the use of their wide platforms, large bases, and solid wheels.

Other guided vehicles, such as draggers, forked automated guided vehicles, transferring vehicles, and pallet trucks, fall between these extremes. Guided vehicles carry out light and heavy production tasks, such as tool change, trailer reloading, and final product handling. These machines run without human control. For instance, pallet trucks can convey cargo that would be too large, thick, or awkwardly shaped for effective hand transportation. The AGV cart, meanwhile, is a different type of guided vehicle that can simultaneously move multiple tons of weight.

AGV Principle of Operation

AGV systems operate autonomously, following either a preconfigured path or one designed through an inbuilt navigation system, needing minimal human involvement. These navigational methods are referred to as fixed route and free range strategies, respectively. For guidance, fixed path systems use components like embedded wiring, magnetic tape, and painted or colored tape strands that have been physically drawn.fixed path systems use automatic guided cars that use their antennae and preset frequencies to stay on a path. However, their constraint to a set path and rigidity to a set schedule make them a less-popular choice.

On the other hand, a free-range system does not experience this issue since the AGVs they employ have internal navigation systems that warn them of anticipated traffic and assist them in detecting unexpected traffic and barriers. These AGVs can then modify their courses based on what they already know. In addition, free-range AGV systems may employ laser-guided and conventional autonomous guided vehicles. Laser-guided vehicles use a thermal detection sensor to improve their ability to detect and assess their surroundings.

Navigation Systems

Laser Guided Navigation

An AGV that uses a laser positioning device for navigation is known as a "Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV)." Laser navigation is one of the most well-known navigational systems and is used for laser-guided cars. Each precision-guided vehicle has a navigational laser (referred to as a navigation system) mounted on the top of a pole that communicates with targets positioned inside the AGV operational area. The navigation device sends a 360-degree pattern of revolving laser arrays. These arrays help the vehicle perform its goals.

Reflectors are reflecting tapes or cylinders about 20 inches (60 cm) high and can be installed in building systems like columns, walls, poles, etc. The reflector center must be positioned at the highest point of the navigation device and at least 100 feet away (30 meters) from any AGV. The laser array sign is then returned to the automatic-guided laser navigation device through reflectors.

LGVs use extremely complex algorithms and must gather at least three array feedbacks to enable positioning calculations. LGVs calculate and accurately determine their placement between 30 and 40 times per second, depending on the AGV manufacturer. These devices are incredibly accurate.

SLAM Navigation

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping, or SLAM navigation, is the most advanced type of AGV system. An AGV equipped with SLAM navigation can map its surroundings and determine its location using data from the environment. Internal inertial measurement units (IMU) are utilized to define and recalculate the actual AGV positioning. AGVs can map their surroundings using various sensors, such as vision cameras, LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors, or even with the same lasers employed for safety purposes.

The AGV can be driven manually (for instance, with a gamepad) or automatically along an AGV course, The AGV will scan the surrounding area as it travels and make some reference maps that it will use to navigate when it passes through the same area again. One can add a map of a property created in AutoCAD or a comparable program to the AGV control system.

The beginning coordinates (0, 0) are defined by matching the two sets of data: the AutoCAD map and the actual mapped environment. The AGV will follow the established route using the combined data sets and check to see if what it is "seeing" matches what was loaded on its "brain," to determine its position. All the data collected by the AGV are integrated with data from encoders and odometry to increase precision.

Choosing the Correct AGV Systems Supplier

To make sure you have the most productive outcome when purchasing AGV Systems from an AGV Systems Supplier, it is important to compare at least 5 Manufacturers using our list of AGV Systems companies. Each AGV Systems Supplier has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the manufacturer for more information or request a quote. Review each AGV Systems company website using our patented website previewer to get an idea of what each business specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple AGV Systems businesses with the same form.