As they are not tied down to markings, there is no additional outlay associated with adapting routes. ![]() If there are changes to its surroundings or if new working processes are introduced, the AMR can therefore adjust to them with ease. If it encounters obstacles, for instance, this flexibility means that it doesn’t have to come to a stop and can instead find and take the best alternative route. Using integrated cameras, scanners and sensors, the AMR automatically calculates the shortest route to its destination. This adaptability is based on maps that are either uploaded to the system or are generated by the AMR itself. The word “autonomous” indicates primarily that an AMR is not allocated to one specific route, but can instead adapt to its surroundings in real time. For example, Audi uses a combination of AGVs and supply trolleys built using item profile technology in the manufacturing operations for the Audi A8.Īutonomous mobile robots (AMRs) – especially flexible and versatileĪutonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have attracted particular attention in industry over recent years. They are particularly popular in the automotive industry. Their routes and behaviour are a fixed, known quantity, which means staff know how best to act around them. The tasks and routes of AGVs also ultimately end up being simpler and clearer than in the case of AMRs, which benefits their dependability and safety. For instance, if your scenario centres on routes that don’t change, or only change very little, and involve a low number of obstacles, then an AGV could prove more cost-efficient than an AMR. The key to deciding between an AGV and AMR is what the specific transport task and scenario require. AGVs do require some initial outlay for setting up the environment, although this is not necessarily a disadvantage. However, the procurement costs for AGVs are usually lower than for AMRs, which use technology that is more complex, making them more expensive on the whole. Given the need for this additional infrastructure, any changes to the production environment and processes have a knock-on effect that results in extra outlay. Fundamentally, an AGV therefore needs a special infrastructure that incorporates markings such as magnetic tapes, wires, QR codes or reflective markings. Although it can identify obstacles, an AGV can’t drive around them, and instead stops and waits until the obstacle has been removed. Unlike an AMR, an AGV is restricted to a fixed route. The biggest distinction between an AGV and an AMR is its method of navigation. In German-speaking countries, a distinction is made between a “driverless transport vehicle” ( fahrerloses Transportfahrzeug or FTF), which is the individual vehicle and a “driverless transport system” ( fahrerloses Transportsystem or FTS), which is a complete system comprising AGVs and a control station. So what are the key features of each robot type? What are the main differences between them? And to what extent do these distinctions ultimately help a company decide on which type best fits its needs? Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) – ideal for fixed routes and excellent reliabilityĪutomated guided vehicles (AGVs) come in various shapes and sizes, for example to fit under trolleys, specialist superstructures or trailers, or to push or pull loads in a role similar to that of automated forklift trucks, tractors and lift trucks. ![]() The robots being used can often be categorised into two types – AGVs and AMRs. As a result of all these elements, mobile transport robots are becoming an increasingly common feature in intralogistics operations – both in industry and in eCommerce. Moreover, there is a pressing shortage of staff in the intralogistics sector. By automating repetitive tasks such as these, companies can free up their staff to focus on the real work that generates value. ![]() After all, moving materials from place to place ties up important resources. What’s more, material transport is one of the seven types of waste (muda) in lean production, a production philosophy that considers any activity which does not add value to be waste. Using AGVs or AMRs to automate transport tasks in intralogistics is a key step in easing the strain on staff. For example, mobile transport robots offer a genuine advantage by taking over time-consuming intralogistics tasks. The field of robotics covers much more than just industrial robots and cobots.
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