AGVs

Autonomous and intelligent mobility for the factories of the future

What are AGVs?

Automatic Guided Vehicles, better known as AGVs, are vehicles that move autonomously without the need of control by an operator. They can carry several tons of weight and can adapt to any type of load.

They are very flexible equipments that easy the internal transport of elements and have many advantages such as traceability, security and automation of flows.

AGVs are already the present in some factories, but they will be the future of all companies in their logistic areas and internal transport of materials.

We also work with Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles (AIV). AIVs are able to learn and move naturally without guidance so that their work is even more flexible.

What do we do in ATRIA in an AGV project?

Selection of the suitable hardware

We select, design and purchase the most suitable AGV for the application of our customers. For this we have a wide network of suppliers that allow us to select the best technology for each application.

Mapping and configuration

In this process we teach the vehicle the work environment in which it will perform its work. We take into account all the possibilities of your environment and how the AGV should react. We also prepare the system to react before environment changes.

Installation and start up

Once the hardware has been selected and configured, we install the AGVs in their final work area, performing functional tests and adjusting their programming in a real environment.

Technologies associated with AGVs

There are several guidance technologies for AGVs depending on both external and internal elements. A correct choice of the guidance system is the first step for tohe successful implementation of a vehicle of these characteristics in an installation.

Wire-guided

The AGV travels guided by a conductive wire installed under the ground, which is accessed through small slots where a rod connected to the vehicle is introduced. This method of guidance is very simple but it has the least flexibility, since the AGV movement routes are limited to the routes with the installed wire. There are some more comfortable alternatives such as magnetic tapes that avoid doing work to install the wire.

Guide tape

The AGV travels guided by a mirror strip that extends along the AGV paths, placed continuously on the sides of the roads (or on the ground) or in the corners where the AGV has to make a decision. By means of catadioptrics the AGV can detect the guide. The installation of these mirror guides does not require a work as in the case of filoguiding, and the modification or creation of new routes is less complex, since it is enough to draw the new areas with mirror strips to define the movements in the AGV .

Computer vision guided

The AGV recognizes by computer vision an array of catadioptric mirrors, calculating and correcting at any moment the deviation between the AGV and the route. Depending on the route you have programmed and the distance obtained through computer vision, the AGV performs the necessary movements to continue with the preset route.

Laser guidance

The AGV is equipped with a rotating laser unit that carries out sweeps to identify in its surroundings the greatest number of reflectors possible to determine its position on the map of the installation it has in memory. To realize the map of the installation, catadioptric mirrors are placed in vertical position in strategic points of every installation. These mirrors will be reference points with which to calculate the position of the AGV, in the same way as the Optoguided. The main advantage of this guidance method is the incredible simplicity with which a pallet loading / unloading station can be created or a route can be modified.

2D-3D mapping

This technology makes no necessary the installation of any external element to the AGV, since by means of all the sensors that it has (cameras, LIDAR, ultrasound,…) they are able to create a virtual map of the environment in which they are working (in 2D or 3D depending on the technology). This greatly facilitates the start-up of these devices, since it is simply necessary to move the AGV manually along the paths it will travel, mapping them and internalizing all the information necessary for its subsequent use. It is the most flexible and adaptive system.

What can we achieve thanks to AGVs?

Better flow of materials. More constant flow of materials and parts in the factories.

Traceability. Allows traceability of transported loads.

Security. Avoid traffic accidents in factories and warehouses.

Avoid damage to the articles. Thanks to its sensor and automated processes, it does not damage the articles.

Reduce response time. The time from the order to the beginning of the transport is zero.

Our projects with AGVs

See projects

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