AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE

AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE [AGV]:

• An automated guided vehicle (AGV) is a mobile robot .

• Computer-controlled vehicle equipped with guidance and collision-

avoidance systems.

• It is used to transport work pieces and tools between work stations.

The use of AGVs can be divided into four main areas of application:

• Supply and disposal at storage and production areas,

• Production-integrated application of AGV trucks as assembly platforms

• Retrieval, especially in wholesale trade and

• Supply and disposal in special areas.

TYPES OF AGV:
There are four types of AGV

1.Light duty AGV

2.Heavy duty AGV

3.LASER guided AGV

4.Automated guided carts

ADVANTAGES:
1. AGV reduce damage to inventory.

2. AGV make production scheduling more flexible.

3. AGV reduce staffing needs.

4. They help in increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost.

5. AGV’s are available in a variety of models.

6. They are used in assembly line, transport goods throughout

plants.

DISADVANTAGES:
1. Installation cost is too high.

2. AGV’s are fragile and should be handled with care.

3. Regular care ,inspection and maintenance is required.

DESIRABLE AGV’s:
1. Though there are various models of AGV the following two are most
desired.

[a]. LASER Guided Vehicle (LGV)

[b]. Automated Guided Carts (AGV)

2. LGV are guided by LASER.

3. AGV are guided by magnetic tape.

FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM [FMS]:-
1. FMS integrate automated material handling, robots, numerically
controlled, machines and automated inspection stations.

2. AGV play a very important role in FMS.

3. FMS uses computer numerically controlled machines.

4. FMS is fast and efficient but not cheap.

5. Most industries use part of FMS called flexible manufacturing cell.

SENSORS IN AGV:-
AGV mainly use two types of sensors

1. Wired sensors

2. Wireless sensors

WIRED SENSORS:

a. Wired sensors are placed at the bottom of the robot(Automated

Vehicle).

b. The sensor detects the radio frequency and follows it.

WIRELESS SENSORS:

Wireless sensors are further classified as

a. Guide tape

b. Laser target navigation

 c. Modulated laser

d. Pulsed laser

GUIDE TAPE:

1. Mostly light duty AGVs use tape for the guide path.

2. The tapes can be one of two styles:

a. Magnetic

b. Colored.

3. One major advantage is that it can be easily removed and relocated.

4. Guide tape is considered a "passive" system since no guide medium is

required.

LASER TARGET NAVIGATION

1. The wireless navigation is done by retroreflective tape on walls, poles
or machines.

2. The AGV carrys a laser transmitter and receiver on a rotating turret.

3. The laser is used to calculate the distanceand it is stored in the AGV’s

memory.

4. The AGV can correct its position based on errors between the
expected and received measurements.

5. It can then navigate to a destination target using the constantly

updating position.
Modulated Lasers:
1. The use of modulated laser light gives greater range and accuracy
over pulsed laser systems.

2. By emitting a continuous modulated laser light a system obtains an

uninterrupted reflection.

3. The reflection ceases at the trailing edge of the reflector which

ensures an accurate reflection.

4. Using a modulated laser; the system achieves an angular resolution of

~ 0.1 mrad (0.006°) at 8 scanner revolutions per second.

PULSED LASER:
1. Pulsed laser lies at a rate of 14400Hz.

2. It gives a maximum resolution of 3.5mrad(0.2).

3. Readings are based on the intensity of the reflected laser light.

 .

GRYSCOPIC NAVIGATION:
1. Another form of an AGV guidance is inertial navigation.

2. Here transpondres are embedded in the floor of workplace.

3. The AGV uses these transponders to verify that the vehicle is on

course.

4. A gyroscope is used to detect the slightest change in the direction.

5. The margin of error for the inertial method is ±1 inch.

PATH DECISION:
1. AGVs have to make decisions on path selection.

2. This is done through different methods:

a.Frequency select mode (wired navigation only),

b.Path select mode (wireless navigation only) or

c.A magnetic tape .

FREQUENCY SELECT MODE:

1. it is based on frequencies emitted from the floor.

2. When an AGV approaches a point,it detects the two frequencies and

chooses the best path.

3. The different frequencies are required only at the decision point for
the AGV.

4. This method is not easily expandable and requires extra guiding.

PATH SELECT MODE:
1. An AGV using the path select mode chooses a path based on
preprogrammed paths.

2. It uses the measurements taken from the sensors and compares them
to values given to them by programmers.

3. AGV has to decide whether to follow path 1, 2, 3, etc.

4. This decision is rather simple .

5. This method can increase the cost of an AGV

6. This method is easy to change and set up.

MAGNETIC TAPE MODE:

1. The magnetic tape is buried in a 10 mm channel.

2. It provide the path for the AGV to follow .

3. This method is effective than the other two.

COMMON AGV APPLICATION

Automated Guided Vehicles can be used in a wide variety of applications to
transport many different types of material including pallets, rolls, racks, carts, and
containers.

AGVs excel in applications with the following characteristics:

• Repetitive movement of materials over a distance

• Regular delivery of stable loads
• Medium throughput/volume
• When on-time delivery is critical and late deliveries are causing
inefficiency
• Operations with at least two shifts
• Processes where tracking material is important
RAW MATERIAL HANDLING
1. AGVs are commonly used to transport raw materials such as paper,
steel, rubber, metal, and plastic.

PALLET HANDLING
1. Pallet handling is an extremely popular application for AGVs as
repetitive movement of pallets is very common in manufacturing and distribution
facilities.

2. AGVs can move pallets from the palletizer to stretch wrapping to the
warehouse/storage and/or to the outbound shipping docks.

FINISHED PRODICT HANDLING

1. Moving finished goods.

2. Moving to final destinations before they are delivered

3. AGVs operate with precisely controlled navigation .

ROLL HANDLING
1. AGVs are used to transport rolls in many types of plants including

• Paper mills
• Converters,
• Printers,
• Newspapers,
• Steel producers
• Plastic manufactures.