AGV Car Selection Guide
For ordinary people, choosing a car is a hassle. You need to consider the budget, car type, brand, design, parameters, functions, etc. In short, choosing a car that suits you within a certain period of time is a hassle that weighs family needs and family preferences.
For enterprises, choosing an AGV car that suits the production needs of the enterprise requires combining the actual situation of the enterprise and selecting the optimal solution for enterprise applications within a certain range.
So "how can I choose an AGV that suits the enterprise?" The editor will take you to understand the selection method of AGV.
What is AGV?
Automated Guided Vehicle is referred to as AGV, also commonly known as AGV car, which refers to a transport vehicle equipped with an automatic guidance device such as electromagnetic or optical, which can travel along a specified guidance path, has safety protection and various transfer functions, and does not require a driver in industrial applications. It uses a rechargeable battery as its power source.
AGV trolleys can generally control their routes and behaviors through computers, or use electromagnetic tracks to set up their routes. The electromagnetic tracks are attached to the floor, and the unmanned transport vehicle relies on the information brought by the electromagnetic tracks to move and act.
With the rapid development of intelligent manufacturing, more and more production and manufacturing companies have also accelerated the pace of upgrading and transformation. Flexible and automated production lines and warehousing and logistics systems are favored by many companies. AGV trolleys with high automation, sensitivity, and safety have become one of the key equipment for flexible production lines and intelligent warehousing and logistics systems.
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Issues that need to be considered before selecting AGV
Before selecting AGV, we need to have a detailed understanding of the on-site material situation, mainly in the following points:
- Material handling method;
- Material size and weight/material vehicle size;
- Positioning accuracy requirements;
- Working cycle requirements;
- Actual on-site working environment;
After understanding this information, it is more appropriate to select AGV specifically.
The so-called suitable is a statement under the premise of meeting the requirements of the automated logistics system, actual process production and the use occasions, and it is also the best cost-effectiveness of the application of AGV vehicles.
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AGV selection requires comprehensive evaluation of AGV configuration and parameters
AGV selection mainly includes: selection of basic parameters and performance indicators, selection of navigation methods, and selection of transplanting methods, while ensuring efficient completion of various automated handling and obtaining relatively high cost-effectiveness.
The main indicators for measuring the performance of AGV are: navigation system, drive device, steering device, precise parking device, motion controller, battery and charging system, communication device, transplanting device, etc.
(1) When selecting, the basic parameters and performance indicators of AGV are as follows:
- AGV drive type;
- AGV deadweight (excluding battery);
- Rated load capacity;
- Running speed;
- Turning radius;
- Positioning accuracy;
- Vehicle size;
- Battery type and charging method;
- Continuous working time;
- Alarm and emergency stop device;
- Control system;
(2) When selecting, the appropriate navigation method should also be considered
According to the operating environment of the AGV, it is crucial to choose the appropriate navigation method.
◉ Laser navigation: The AGV on-board laser navigation system consists of multiple lasers and receivers. The laser emits a pulsed laser, and the receiver receives the reflected laser signal and determines the position of the AGV by calculating the time of light propagation. Laser navigation has the characteristics of high precision and high stability, and can achieve millimeter-level positioning accuracy.
◉ Magnetic navigation: The AGV on-board magnetic navigation system navigates by burying magnetic strips in the ground or using magnetic tapes. AGV is equipped with a magnetic sensor that can sense the change of the magnetic field on the ground to determine its own position. The magnetic navigation system has the characteristics of low cost and low energy consumption, and is suitable for some application scenarios that do not require high positioning accuracy.
◉ QR code navigation: The principle of QR code navigation is that the AGV scans the QR code laid on the ground through the camera and obtains the current location information by parsing the QR code information.
◉ Laser anti-navigation (reflector navigation): Precisely positioned reflectors are installed around the AGV driving path, and the laser scanner is installed on the AGV body. The laser scanner emits a laser beam while the AGV is moving. The emitted laser beam is directly reflected back by multiple sets of reflectors laid along the AGV driving path, triggering the controller to record the angle when the rotating laser head encounters the reflector. The controller matches these angle values with the actual position of this set of reflectors, calculates the absolute coordinates of the AGV, and realizes very accurate laser guidance based on this principle.
◉ Visual navigation: Paint or tape with a large color contrast to the ground is applied on the AGV's driving path. A camera sensor is installed on the AGV to compare the continuously captured images with the stored images. The offset signal is output to the drive control system. The control system corrects the AGV's walking direction through calculation to achieve AGV navigation.
(3) When selecting a model, choose a transplanting method suitable for product transportation
Currently, there are five main types of transplanting methods for AGV trolleys: forklift type, lurking type, traction type, backpack type, and roller type.
◉ Forklift type: It can replace traditional manual + forklift transportation and is suitable for material handling and loading and unloading in environments such as docks, warehouses, and factories with large freight volumes, thereby improving storage and handling efficiency.
◉ Lurking type: The material cart can be replaced like a train carriage, but the on-site material cart needs to be modified so that the lurking AGV can dive to the bottom of the material cart.
◉ Traction type: No modification is required to the material vehicle, only a traction device needs to be added to the AGV. This is suitable for situations where materials are transported by trailers and trailers, such as chemical transportation and waste collection.
◉ Backpack type: Materials or material boxes can be placed directly on the AGV to transport materials to multiple sites. This is suitable for production systems with frequent transportation and long material supply cycles.
◉ Roller type: The loading and unloading sites only need a docking platform to achieve automatic loading and unloading. Roller type AGVs are used for the transportation of items in factory workshops. They can also be used as mobile assembly tables and processing tables to automatically circulate materials.
◉ Robotic arm grabbing type: Materials are grabbed by a robotic arm to achieve material handling, stacking and transportation. They can be used as assembly platforms and intelligent production line robots.
(4) Customized AGVs, other issues that need to be considered
The selection of AGV vehicles usually needs to be customized according to the customer's actual application scenarios to meet production needs and expansion needs. It is also necessary to make corresponding analysis of the application scenario:
◉ Transportation environment: The material transportation environment has a great impact on the selection of AGV. Whether it is indoors or outdoors, high temperature and humidity, refrigeration or darkroom, etc., different transportation environments have very different requirements for AGV.
◉ Material characteristics: Select the appropriate AGV according to the length, width, height and weight of the transported materials, whether they are in boxes or bulk materials, temperature, odor, etc.
◉ Interface: An interface is required between the transported items and the docking equipment sent to the destination. The positioning, identification, recording, marking and display of this interface require corresponding AGV carts. Only by selecting appropriate automation equipment can the task be completed perfectly.
◉ Walking path: Reasonably plan the AGV cart path to reduce traffic congestion. A good path planning can not only reduce the risk of road congestion for multiple AGV carts, but also make the logistics system smoother and the handling efficiency higher.
In addition, if AGV is used in smart manufacturing scenarios, it is also necessary to consider that smart manufacturing is the integration of software and hardware. Usually, AGV needs to be combined with MES system and WMS system. With the help of MES information management platform, it can efficiently, accurately and flexibly complete the material handling task, improve the flexibility of production and the intelligence of warehousing.
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Xinghang's AGV products
After years of technical accumulation, the AGV products of Beijing Xinghang Electromechanical Equipment Co., Ltd. have formed a multi-variety, diversified and multi-scenario product system. The general assembly AGV represented by backpack AGV and forklift AGV has been applied in the intelligent manufacturing production lines of many industries such as mechanical processing, automobile manufacturing, and military industry.
On the basis of AGV products, the company continues to deepen its cultivation in the field of intelligent manufacturing, and has developed a variety of robot products such as automatic polishing composite robots, composite glue spreading robots, and aerospace light boat education AGV.
Aerospace Light Boat Education AGV
Compound Glue Spreading Robot
Automatic Grinding Composite Robot
More importantly, the Aerospace Star Aircraft Intelligent Logistics System is divided into business layer, scheduling layer and execution layer. The business layer is mainly integrated with the upper-level master control system, MES system, etc. The scheduling layer is the warehouse management system WMS and the scheduling system RCS, and the execution layer is various mobile robot products. It meets the customized AGV application scenario needs of various types of customers.
