In logistics, goods are moved from the warehouse to outgoing goods, stored on arrival from the ramp, transferred by transport vehicles - everything is constantly on the move. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are electric vehicles that are an integral part of future-oriented logistics applications. They navigate battery-powered through warehouses or container ports and make a significant contribution to increasing efficiency and reducing costs in logistics processes. What's more, transport with these vehicles is emission-free and environmentally friendly.

Automatic battery changing systems or high-performance charging stations are used to keep the AGVs constantly running and to avoid interrupting work processes. It is important that the charging process is carried out quickly in order to avoid downtime and keep costs low. When it comes to charging applications, the Swiss company Stäubli Electrical Connectors has tailor-made, powerful and safe solutions for almost any task.

Simple and flexible connector solution

An automatic battery change is robot-controlled, which is why the connections for power transmission must be pluggable and disconnectable. Alignment errors up to a certain degree require compensation and the connection solution must withstand a high number of mating cycles. The Combitac modular connector system from Stäubli allows free configuration of the media to be transmitted and is equipped with an additional frame for this application to compensate for inaccurate guidance. Various contacts and high-density contact carriers are available for signal transmission, while special last-mate-first-break contacts monitor and control the connection status and ensure increased safety. A ten-gigabit module for Industrial Ethernet applications meets the requirements of CAT6A and is suitable for real-time data exchange.

Stäubli Electrical Connectors can also develop customized designs to ensure that the connector solution is individually tailored to the application. Sales engineers and designers support the process, including the provision of 3D CAD models for easy integration into customer drawings. The Multilam contact technology is designed for high mating cycles: Products from the range relating to automation technology (Dockingline) ensure both up to one million mating cycles and low-maintenance operation of the system. The broad industrial expertise makes it possible to design optimally tailored standard or specific customer solutions.

Automatic quick-charging system

In automated logistics processes that function smoothly without the intervention of personnel, the energy supply must also be autonomous. The automatic charging system not only communicates with the vehicle, but also with higher-level software that controls and monitors the entire charging process. There is an emerging trend towards flexible systems that operate without a guide line or whose guide line can at least be changed without major structural effort. This means that adaptable charging systems that can be adapted to both the application and the existing infrastructure are also in demand.