Standardized in design, flexible in use

Automated guided vehicles are now an integral part of numerous production and logistics processes. There are many vehicle manufacturers on the market whose concepts differ in terms of software architecture, intended tasks, safety aspects and the size and shape of the robots. Anyone who wants to automate their logistics or transportation task is therefore faced with the major challenge of choosing the right provider.

If companies want to automate transportation tasks, the first step is to determine what is to be transported. Are the workpieces small or large? Will small load carriers (SLCs) with little or a lot of weight be used and how many are to be transported with one vehicle? The hall layout also plays a role. How big can the robot be so that it fits through existing aisles and has sufficient space for maneuvering? Do you need a track-guided vehicle or one that navigates autonomously with the help of cameras, lasers or radio waves, for example? With automated transportation, the possible interaction with employees must be taken into account. Could there be collisions or are the employees working in a completely different area? Another decisive factor is whether the source and sink in logistics should be integrated into the process.

"When planning, it is important to clarify whether transfer stations need to be approached with high precision or whether the transported goods are simply parked and the positioning accuracy is of secondary importance," says Hannes Fröhlich, Product Manager for Robotics at Item Industrietechnik in Solingen. "We also need to consider whether the vehicles need to interact with other systems and whether they need to be compatible - the keyword here is interoperability." In summary, planning is complex and extensive and project planning is time-consuming. On the one hand, all aspects must be taken into consideration and processes must be considered from start to finish, but on the other hand, it is important not to get too bogged down in details so that the cost of implementation is no longer in proportion to the benefits.

Flexibility is key

Even if projects are planned in detail, there are often changes or adjustments to the processes. The transport systems should therefore have a certain degree of flexibility. This applies in particular to the equipment used to transport products or components safely and reliably from A to B. Pallets, pallet cages, racks or other superstructures must be stable and suitable for the transported goods. The entire system must also comply with the technical specifications of the AGV manufacturer. Rigid, welded transport racks are less suitable as aids, as they cannot be adapted to changes. For example, if the transported goods change, a new frame must be welded. If an automated guided vehicle (AGV) from another manufacturer is used, the welded system can also no longer be used, as it most likely does not meet the specifications of the new vehicle manufacturer. A modular system with components that are compatible with each other offers advantages.

"The mobile robots differ not only in terms of their sensors, their dimensions or their docking mechanism, but also in terms of their function and their area of application - sometimes they are used for order picking, sometimes for transportation," explains Hannes Fröhlich. "We have looked at this issue in detail and developed a transport solution that consists of a standardized base cart and perfectly matched, variably configurable top modules."