by Automated Guided Vehicles or AGVs have been around for decades, but they are now experiencing a surge in popularity and adoption across many industries. AGVs offer numerous benefits for logistics, warehousing and manufacturing operations by increasing efficiency, productivity and safety.
What are Automated Guided Vehicles?
AGVs , commonly referred to as AGVs, are driverless vehicles that can transport materials around a facility without any onboard human operation or control. AGVs use guidance technologies like laser guidance, magnetic guidance, indoor GPS or vision systems to safely and precisely navigate predetermined paths and routes within a facility.
Some key characteristics of AGVs include:
– Programmable routes and paths within a facility using guidance technologies. The routes can be permanently defined or dynamically altered based on operational needs.
– Ability to lift/transport loads of varying weights and dimensions like pallets, containers, bins, racks etc. based on the required payloads and dimensions.
– Various types of power sources like battery, electric line power, fuel cell etc. depending on operational requirements.
– Safety features like collision avoidance systems, redundant sensors, safe speed control etc. to ensure safe co-existence with humans and obstructions.
– On-board controllers and software to autonomously guide the vehicle and integrate with warehouse management/material handling systems.
The Benefits of Automating with AGVs
There are significant operational and financial benefits that companies realize by automating their material handling with AGVs:
Increased Productivity: AGVs can work 24/7 without any breaks, resulting in increased output. They eliminate idle time caused by shifts, breaks etc. This dramatically improves productivity and throughput.
Reduced Labor Costs: By automating repetitive material handling tasks, the need for manual labor is reduced. This lowers direct labor costs associated with moving materials within a facility.
Higher Accuracy: AGVs precisely follow pre-programmed paths and routes reducing errors. They don’t accumulate fatigue over long shifts ensuring accurate pickups and deliveries. This improves order fulfillment accuracy.
Space Utilization: Narrow aisle AGVs can access tightly packed storage areas that were previously inaccessible to traditional forklifts. This improves space utilization within a facility.
Real-time Visibility & Control: AGVs are universally integrated with warehouse execution & control systems. This provides real-time status of vehicles, loads, routes etc. enabling proactive monitoring and control.
Safety: AGVs eliminate accidents caused due to operation of forklifts in congested areas. Their safety features like collision avoidance help ensure a safe work environment.
Applications of AGVs in Different Industries
Automated material handling has now become widespread across various industries:
Manufacturing: AGVs are commonly used within manufacturing plants to transport raw materials, components and finished goods between work centers, assembly lines, warehouses and quality testing areas. They streamline in-plant logistics.
E-commerce & Retail: E-commerce fulfillment centers extensively utilize AGVs to efficiently pick, sort and transport customer orders for shipping. They are well-suited for the high volumes and complexity in e-commerce operations.
Food & Beverage: AGVs safely and hygienically move goods within food processing plants as well as distribute products between cold storage, packaging lines and dispatch areas.
Pharmaceuticals: Critical applications like transporting vials, syringes and drugs between sterile manufacturing zones are well-managed using AGVs in pharma facilities.
Automotive: Major automotive plants across the world rely on AGVs to deliver parts Just-In-Time to assembly lines, reducing component lead times and buffers.
Challenges & the Road Ahead
While AGVs offer compelling value, there are a few challenges that are being addressed:
Interoperability: AGVs from different vendors need to seamlessly communicate with diverse warehouse/fleet management systems. Open protocols are helping overcome this.
Dynamic Workflow Changes: Routine facility/process changes can impact predefined AGV routes. Vehicle fleets now have dynamic rerouting capabilities.
Human-Vehicle Coexistence: Constant interactions between humans and AGVs require advanced collision avoidance and safety systems. Computer vision is playing a role.
High Upfront Investment: Initial investment costs for AGV fleets, infrastructure and system integration can be high. However, paybacks are typically under 2 years making them very attractive.
With technology advancing rapidly, new avenues for AGVs are opening up. Applications beyond material handling like transportation of goods on public roads and the application of AGVs in construction sites indicate a very bright future ahead. Automated guided vehicles are revolutionizing logistics and factory operations with their productivity enhancing capabilities.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
