History of mobile robots in logistics - from AGV to AMR
The history of material handling automation in warehouses and manufacturing organizations is more than seventy years old. During this time, mobile robots have evolved from vehicles guided along a well-defined track to devices that can cover distance by navigating the warehouse or production area on their own, without having to be taken out of normal operation.
In this article, we show how self-driving vehicles have changed and what development prospects await us in the near future.
AGV vehicle - the prototype of the modern logistics robot
The first self-driving vehicle was in the form of a cart for pulling platforms on which goods were transported. This type of “train” began its operation in the early 1950s in the USA. The concept of a cart transporting components is so universal that you can still find manufacturing companies using this solution to optimize warehouse and production logistics.
A common feature of AGV solutions – both those deployed decades ago and those of today – is the need to program the travel path in advance. Vehicles move along it using technologies such as:
magnetic field,
Reading navigational markers with the help of vision devices,
laser navigation.
AGV technology is mature and proven in thousands of implementations. It works well in predictable environments with low dynamics of change, such as manufacturing organizations and traditional B2B logistics.
AMR robots - a solution for dynamic distribution centers
AMR vehicles are the next stage in the development of autonomous transportation. Their origins go back to space technology and the first rovers. Thanks to digital image analysis, these vehicles can autonomously navigate between points using data provided by cameras and sensors.
AMR’s advantages in warehouse logistics include:
rapid deployment in existing infrastructure,
Flexible adaptation to changing conditions,
No interference with infrastructure,
Working safely in a warehouse environment,
Dynamic cooperation with operators,
Lower implementation costs compared to AGVs.
Solutions for robotization of material handling offered by HKK
The HKK Group offers a full range of solutions of Robotize – one of the market leaders in mobile robots. These devices use SLAM technology (simultaneous localization and mapping of the environment) based on 3D camera image analysis. This makes deployments fast, cost-effective and safe.
Robotize robots support pallet transport and the picking process, which is of great importance in e-commerce warehouses. HKK Group performs implementations comprehensively – from the delivery of equipment to the integration with existing IT systems (e.g. WMS).
