Automatic guided vehicle systems, also known as an AGV system, otherwise known as an automated guided vehicle,autonomous guided vehicles, or even automatic guided cart, is a system that follows a predestined path around a facility. An AGV automated guided vehicle is a motorized vehicle that carries a load through either an assembly,manufacturing, or warehousing facility. An AGV can take on any form a customer requires to best address their application needs.
1.Magnetic Strip Navigation
Similar to electromagnetic guidance, magnetic stripe navigation uses magnetic stripe tape on the road surface instead of buried metal wires, achieving guidance through magnetic induction signals. This method offers greater flexibility, making it easier to change or expand the route, and the tape is simple to lay. However, this guidance method is susceptible to interference from surrounding metal objects and mechanical damage, making guidance reliability significantly affected by external factors.
2.Laser SLAM Navigation
Laser guidance involves installing precisely positioned laser reflectors around the AGV’s path. The AGV uses a laser scanner to emit laser beams and simultaneously collects the laser beams reflected by the reflectors to determine its current position and heading. AGV guidance is achieved through continuous triangulation. The biggest advantages of this technology are precise AGV positioning; no additional ground positioning equipment is required; and the driving path is flexible and adaptable to various field environments. It is currently the preferred advanced guidance method by many international AGV manufacturers. However, its disadvantages include high manufacturing costs, relatively stringent environmental requirements (such as ambient light, surface conditions, and visibility), and its unsuitability for outdoor use (especially due to rain, snow, and fog).
3.GNSS-GPS/Beidou Navigation.
4.Others—Ink ribbon, vision, and QR code.
The AGV drive system includes: wheels, servo motors, planetary reducers, chains, housings, slewing bearings, hydraulic cylinders/springs, etc.
Types of Automated Guided Vehicles
There are many different types of agv vehicles in use today.