Design and manufacture of specialized AGVs
Autonomous mobility for your application
What AGVs are?
Automatic Guided Vehicles, much better known as AGVs, are vehicles that move autonomously without the need for control by an operator. They can carry several tons of weight and can be adapted to any type of load. They are very flexible equipment that facilitates the internal transport of elements and that have many advantages such as traceability, security and flow automation. AGVs are used both for transporting material and for other functions that require autonomous movement, making it possible to develop AGVs ad-hoc for different functions and applications in sectors such as agriculture and livestock. There are applications or processes that cannot be carried out by commercial AGVs. It is in these cases that specialized AGVs are necessary. At ATRIA we design and manufacture AGVs tailored to your application so that it is perfect for the work it is going to do.
Why specialized?
There are applications or processes that cannot be performed by commercial AGVs. It is in these cases where specialized AGVs are necessary. At ATRIA we design and manufacture AGVs tailored to your application so that it is perfect for the job to be done.
AGVs types and technologies
Philoguided
The AGV moves guided by a conductive thread installed under the floor, which is accessed through small slots where a rod connected to the vehicle is inserted. This guidance method is very simple but it is the one with the least flexibility, since the AGV’s movement paths are limited to the paths previously set during installation. They are useful for simple transfers with few obstacles.
Optoguided
The AGV moves guided by a mirror strip that extends through the AGV routes, placed continuously on the sides of the roads or on the ground or, beacons placed in the corners where the AGV has to make a decision as to a change of address. The installation of these mirror guides does not require work as in the case of the wire guide, 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.
laser guided
The AGV is equipped with one or more laser units that scan to identify the largest possible number of reflectors in its environment to determine its position on the map of the installation that it has in memory. To make the map of the installation, catadioptric mirrors are placed in a vertical position at strategic points throughout the installation. These mirrors will be reference points with which to calculate the position of the AGV, in the same way as Optoguidance. 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.
3D mapping
This technology does not require the installation of any external element to the AGV, since, through sensors such as: cameras, LIDAR, ultrasound, among others, they are capable of creating a virtual map of the environment in which they are working. This facilitates the implementation of these devices and allows them to be used in changing environments, even outdoors, since it is simply necessary to move the AGV manually along the roads it is going to travel, mapping them and internalizing all the necessary information for its subsequent use. It is the most flexible and adaptive system.
Methodology: What we do ATRIA in AGVs projects?
At Atria we focus on the ad-hoc development of an AGV that adapts to the needs of each project.
We select the technology more suitable for the application
We carry out the design of the equipment and the selection of the appropriate hardware in each case. It can be the modification of a commercial equipment or the design from scratch of the AGV.
We manufacture and calibrate the AGV and integrate all the necessary sensors for its correct operation.
After the development and configuration, the start-up is carried out in the work environment, carrying out functional tests and the final adjustment.
In this process we teach the vehicle the work environment in which it will carry out its work. We consider the environment and how the AGV should react.
Applications
The development of AGVs can be applied to different sectors with different characteristics, it is simply necessary to select the appropriate technology in each case. Next, we show you examples of AGVs applications:
Cleanings AGVs
Autonomous cleaning systems for harmful or unergonomic environments. The system navigates autonomously through the aisles of the aisles performing vacuuming functions, among others.
Autonomous robot for agricultural activities
Equipment that navigates autonomously moving around the field environment. It is possible to integrate more elements to perform handling or inspection tasks or simply to move all types of implements.
Development of AGvs as the basis for a robotic arm
One solution to automate several workstations using robotics is to incorporate a robotic arm to an AGV that moves between the different workstations, performing tasks sequentially.
