Automatic transportation with AGV system

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are a modern solution widely implemented in contemporary factories and warehouses for automated transportation. AGVs are computer-controlled vehicles guided by methods such as wires, sensors, or automatic positioning, enabling them to move goods accurately and safely within manufacturing or storage environments.

Applications of AGV

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems are utilized for tasks typically handled by forklifts, conveyor systems, or manual carts, moving large volumes of materials in repetitive ways. AGVs are employed across various applications.

Transportation of raw materials

AGVs are commonly used to transport raw materials such as metal, plastic, rubber, or paper. For example, an AGV can transport raw materials from receiving areas to warehouses or deliver materials directly to production lines. AGVs provide the necessary raw materials consistently and reliably without human intervention, ensuring that production lines always have the materials they need without interruptions.

Application in manufacturing process

In addition to transporting raw materials, AGVs are also used in manufacturing processes and with finished products to support production lines or assembly. In manufacturing process applications, AGVs move materials or components from warehouses to production lines or between stations, providing repetitive and efficient material movement throughout production. Without AGVs, production processes could halt when production lines run out of materials. Subsequently, production would be delayed while workers fetch necessary materials from warehouses and transport them to production lines.

AGVs are also utilized in inbound and outbound handling to replenish and pick inventory. For instance, AGVs can transport inventory from receiving locations to storage locations or from long-term storage to picking locations to replenish inventory. Moving inventory from long-term storage to subsequent picking locations ensures that pickers have adequate inventory access, facilitating more efficient order picking processes. AGVs act as mobile collaborative robots, assisting in the picking process by guiding warehouse personnel through tasks and transporting selected orders to packing and shipping stations.

Types of AGV

There are several types of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Many AGVs resemble other vehicles operated by humans but are designed to operate without direct human intervention or guidance.

Automated Guided Carts (AGCs)

Automated Guided Carts (AGCs) are the most basic type of AGV with minimal features. Their positioning systems can range from simple track-based systems to more complex sensor-based systems that use AI to navigate their environment. They can transport various types of materials, from small components to loaded pallets, and are commonly used in sorting, storage, and cross-docking applications.

An example of an AGC is a hospital cart, used to efficiently transport compact loads within hospitals, such as meal trays, empty or dirty bed linen, hazardous biomedical waste, or sterile supplies. Eliminating the need for manual pushing by staff from one place to another, automated hospital carts can help reduce labor costs.

AGV Forklift (AGV with lifting capability)

Automated guided forklifts, or AGV forklifts, are another commonly used type of AGV. They are designed to perform functions similar to manually operated forklifts (such as transporting pallets) but without the need for human operation.

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) tow tractors

A tow tractor or automated guided tow vehicle pulls one or multiple trailers without human operation, resembling a train formation. Sometimes referred to as unmanned trains, these electrically driven tow vehicles move on wheels. Automated guided tow vehicles are typically used to transport heavy loads over longer distances. They may have several pick-up and drop-off points along a defined path through warehouses or factories.

Unit load handling refers to processing individual loads separately, such as individual items or a unit like a pallet or tote containing multiple items.

Heavy-duty transport AGV

For the heaviest loads, heavy-duty transport AGVs are used in applications such as large assembly, casting, and transporting rolls and sheets. Some heavy-duty transport AGVs are capable of self-loading and may feature standard steering systems, pivot axles, or omnidirectional capabilities.

Mobile robot AGV