What is an AGV?

Often known as automatic guided vehicles or self-guided vehicles, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are material handling systems or payload carriers that travel autonomously throughout the floors of a warehouse, distribution center or production facility, without an onboard worker.

What are Automated Guided Vehicles used for?

Common AGV applications include retrieval and storage in storage facilities and DCs, usually in support of order picking. They are also put to use for transport of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished products in factories.

What are the main advantages of Self Guided Vehicles?

1. Reduced Labor Costs: AGVs can significantly decrease labor expenses. A one time cost can get rid of the continuous costs of salaries, taxes, and benefits associated with a full time employee.

2. Increased Safety: contemporary AGVs utilize sophisticated video cameras, lasers, or other sensing units that allow them to "see" and respond to their environment instantaneously. Humans can get careless or distracted, whereas self guided vehicles do not. AGVs can also be used in harsh environments or around hazardous materials where human safety is jeopardized.

3. Increased Productivity & Accuracy: AGVs can work 24 x 7, never needing breaks or tiring. They can make repeated treks across a large building effortlessly. They also do not make the kinds of mistakes that humans are prone to making.

4. Modularity: most AGV solutions can be introduced gradually, displacing a few workers here and there without a massive expenditure in advance. As automation requirements expand, more AGVs can quickly be added to the system.

How do AGVs work?

AGVs are shepherded by a mix of sensor-based supervision systems and software. They can maneuver safely through a warehouse or production facility by using impediment detection bumpers and following carefully vetted paths, while utilizing precisely regulated acceleration and deceleration.

AGV navigation is generally managed by one of these types of systems:

• Vision guidance: cameras log the AGV's environment, and the vehicles use these cataloged images to plot a course. Vision guidance is standalone, meaning no adjustment is needed to a warehouse or factory infrastructure for this type of navigation.
• Laser target navigation: with laser based equipment, reflective tape is affixed to racks, wall surfaces, posts and other stationary objects. AGVs utilize laser transmitters to rebound laser beams off of these reflectors and then utilize the distance and angle of items to navigate.
• LiDAR: LiDAR systems transmit laser pulses to determine the range between the AGV and objects in its vicinity. This data is used to develop a comprehensive map of the setting. Like vision guidance, no adjustment of a facility is needed.
• Inertial navigation: transponders embedded into a facility floor surface route AGVs along a defined track.
• Wired navigation: these systems utilize wire tracks embedded into a warehouse or factory flooring. The wire transmits a signal that an AGV recognizes via a sensing unit or antenna system.
• Magnetic guide tape: this style of AGV uses magnetic sensors and follows a route laid out by magnetic tape.

What are the different kinds of Autonomous Guided Vehicles?

There are numerous types of automated guided vehicles. Many AGVs resemble other human-operated vehicles yet are engineered to maneuver in the absence of continuous human supervision or assistance.

• Forklift AGVs: forklift automated guided vehicles are a commonly utilized kind of AGV in warehouses. They're built to transfer pallets without the assistance of a human operator.
• Automated Guided Carts: an automated guided cart is the most basic type of AGV. They can transport all kinds of materials, from entire pallets to small components. AGCs are regularly utilized in storage, sorting, and cross-docking applications.
• Tugger AGVs: towing, or "tugger" AGVs pull non-powered, payload-carrying carts trailing them in a train-like configuration. These kinds of automatic guided vehicles are typically utilized for moving heavy loads over long distances. Often times they are programmed to make several pickups and dropoffs along their course.
• Unit Load Handlers: unit load handlers ferry solitary loads like specific items, or a discrete pallet or tote.
• Heavy Burden Carriers: these are utilized for extremely heavy payloads like castings, coils or plates.

Los Angeles Automated Guided Vehicle Supplier

If you'd like a complete analysis of AGV possibilities for your warehouse, DC or manufacturing facility, you can talk to an expert at Raymond West by calling (562) 944-8067.

Raymond West
9939 Norwalk Blvd
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Phone: 562-944-8067