Something is happening in intralogistics. Advancing automation means that freely navigating transport systems are in use almost everywhere. And what is the next development step? Mobile robots. Where stationary robotics reach their limits, they can be used to make processes more efficient. For example, in picking. However, humans will not be completely replaced as workers in warehouses and production halls, but will work in harmony with machines. What the market currently needs are robots that interact smoothly with people and machines.

Torwegge aims to meet these requirements with the next development stage of the Torsten automated guided vehicle (AGV): The Manipula-Torsten mobile manipulator, which, just like the basic version of the AGV two years ago, has once again been nominated for the IFOY Award. "With our Manipula-Torsten, we are creating a further automation option within intralogistics processes, thereby ensuring greater efficiency and accuracy," says Jörn Dauer, Head of Intralogistics at Torwegge. One possible area of application is picking. The mobile robot takes the goods directly from the shelf to the picking station or assembly table, where either humans or other machines take over the next work step.

At the IFOY test days in Hanover at the beginning of March, Torwegge demonstrated a possible intralogistics scenario: a Torsten equipped with a roller conveyor takes a material container from a roller conveyor and places it on a shelf. The mobile pick robot removes it again and returns it to the roller conveyor. "As the Manipula-Torsten completes its tasks much faster and without errors, there is no need to return incorrectly picked items," explains Dauer. The robot can also replace the combination of a stationary picking and transport system. Both reduce costs.

The mobile manipulator Manipula-Torsten has been nominated for the IFOY Award © Torwegge

Stable picking processes and the integration of a robot into complex human-machine interaction environments place high technical demands on the system. Torwegge had to extend Torsten's radius of action. For this purpose, the three degrees of freedom of the omnidirectional process were extended by six additional axes of the serial robot kinematics. In addition, it had to be ensured that Manipula-Torsten could reliably detect its surroundings. This was achieved with the help of additional laser scanners and depth imaging cameras. Dauer explains the benefits of the sensor technology: "This not only guarantees personal safety but also minimizes the error rate during picking." Several board computers help the system to link the installed technologies. In terms of processors, the users are manufacturer- and platform-independent. "Right from the start, our aim was to keep the hurdles for implementation as low as possible. We have achieved this impressively," says Dauer.

Compared to the original AGV, such a system has a higher energy requirement. Nevertheless, Manipula-Torsten is available almost around the clock. Torwegge has further developed the energy concept and created an inductive charging option. This not only eliminates the need for long charging cycles. It also extends the radius of action, as the mobile robot does not have to return to the stationary charging station as often.

Torwegge is delighted that the Manipula-Torsten is among the last three nominees in the "AGV/Shuttle" category of the IFOY Award. Dauer is already proud of his team. "It is an outstanding achievement to be nominated for the most important innovation award in intralogistics for the second time." This alone is a sign of the high market relevance and the great customer benefit of the system. as