Automated Guided Vehicle Systems Trends in Technology and Application

Abstract

The automation of transportation in the production, trade and service sector is a key point in the optimization of logistics. For this task Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS) provide special benefits. Main points of these systems are the central controlled Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV). In the beginning, the vehicles were guided by optical or inductive guidelines. The main disadvantages of guidelines are the inflexibility regarding the modification and changing of the routing and the necessity of installations on or in the ground. New developments result in guidance without guidelines. An example of this development is the laser guidance for the AGV. The AGVs have a high individuality. They are usually developed and constructed for the demands of a special application and are therefore unique. Due to this individuality a special problem is the wide variety of maintenance and part logistics. Research and development leads to new approaches to this question. Examples are the implementation of the modulation of AGV and the implementation of construction kits. Further points are the reduction of complexity of the modules and the establishment of compatibility between various AGVS-producers. Another main direction of the development is the supplementary automation of standard fork lift trucks. At the Department of Planning and Controlling of Transport Systems and Warehouses, University of Hanover (PSLT), an AGV was developed and established for further research. This AGV is used for verification and validation of new hardware and software components, like safety, navigation or controlling parts. It is strictly modular composed and offers a high adaptation in different directions. Based on the AGVS-Statistic Europe, which is created and administrated by the department PSLT, the main application of AGVS and the industrial sectors in which they are used are analyzed. With this database developments and current trends in the AGVS-sector are identified. More and more the AGVS-producers have to offer their products in a global competition. The relevance of AGVS in the area of automation will increase in the future.