Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)

Automated guided vehicles are driverless conveyors which are controlled automatically and operated without human intervention. They are used to transport material with the aid of active or passive load-carrying equipment by means of both pulling and carrying.

Automated guided vehicles (AGV) are playing an increasingly important role in modern intralogistics. The term stands for an overall system, which comprises automated guided vehicles (AGVs), a master control, units for data communication and loading stations. Automated guided vehicles have a wide range of uses. The focus is on their role of transporting goods from A to B without human intervention, thus taking over from the non-value-adding transport.

AGVs offer a number of benefits in everyday warehouse operations: they take over repetitive transport tasks from employees, create optimum process stability and thereby reduce error and accident rates in the warehouse. With its autonomous vehicles from the MATIC series, Linde Material Handling offers AGVs for virtually any customer requirement. The perfect device is part of this offer.

Like any automated guided vehicle, driverless trucks need to move quickly and safely through the warehouse environment. Two types of navigation technology are available for this.

• Track-guided navigation With this option, the AGVs move using visual aids or magnetic tracks. The sensors of the autonomous logistics vehicles navigate to the desired destination by means of this track guide. Forward planning is required for this kind of track guide. Companies need to consider in advance precisely what their ideal route network should look like. Subsequent changes to the specified routes are often costly.
• Natural feature navigation With natural feature navigation, AGVs are controlled by means of a laser-assisted navigation system. Additional infrastructure such as guide rails or light reflectors are not necessary. The AGVs scan their surroundings in all directions with laser sensors. The natural feature navigation is incredibly flexible and can be adjusted to new routes and surroundings with little effort. Mapping of the surroundings is performed during commissioning with the aid of the AGVs. This process enables additional sections to be added and used with little effort. Intelligent control software coordinates the routes and speeds of multiple automated vehicles as required. Linde uses natural feature navigation in its autonomous MATIC trucks too.

Virtually any type of industrial truck known in manual operation can be used in an AGV. This includes autonomous tractors, pallet stackers, counterbalanced forklift trucks, reach trucks and very narrow aisle trucks. Automated platform trucks are also incredibly efficient, especially in very tight spaces. They can lift and set down load carriers directly from a transfer station or together with trolleys that can be driven under.

For many companies, it makes a lot of sense and is necessary to switch their in-house intralogistics fully or partially to an AGV. This is for the following reasons:

• Fewer staff: the use of AGVs means that non-value-adding transport tasks can be automated. This combats the lack of skilled workers and also saves costs. With manually controlled logistics vehicles, the required staff alone accounts for around 80% of the overall costs.
• Continuous operation: what’s more, driverless vehicles can be used 24/7. To achieve this, material flows are optimised as part of the automation process, which significantly increases the overall handling capacity.
• Lower error rates: AGVs also increase safety in goods handling. The result is reduced rates of errors and accidents in the warehouse and thereby lower costs from damage to goods or the building infrastructure.

Networking is essential for smooth processing of automated material flows. Two areas are particularly important here: ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems facilitate comprehensive planning and coordination of tasks and resources. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) cover all internal goods movements and increase efficiency in complex environments. The AGVs from Linde can communicate with ERP and WM systems for optimum automation. The intelligent control functions of AGVs also enable synchronisation of vehicles and automatic hall doors. Connection to traffic light systems and the fire alarm system is possible too.

In order to automate individual process sections or entire material flows into existing warehouses, the support of specialist staff is required. When it comes to the development and implementation of an automation solution , Linde supports its customers with its own Implementation Team. Linde specialists help with the selection and design of the trucks, integration into existing processes and ultimately operation of the system. Thanks to the infrastructure-free natural feature navigation, the trucks can be integrated quickly and easily into the existing process. If conditions change, the system can be adapted and rescaled without huge effort.

When opting for an AGV, the main costs lie in the procurement of the trucks and commissioning of the system. The individual costs depend on various factors. First and foremost, the fleet size and the complexity of the application. Experience shows that investment in an AGV pays off very quickly. This is not least due to the fact that processes are optimised through automation and significant staffing costs are saved.