Driverless and autonomous transportation systems

Which goods can be transported?

There are many suppliers of automated guided vehicles on the market, with a wide variety of vehicle designs and for a wide range of applications. These vehicles can be used to transport a very wide range of goods. The key parameters here are the dimensions of the parts and their weight. From small, maneuverable vehicles for transporting standardized small load carriers (SLCs) to transporting pallets and pallet cages to large vehicles for special load carriers, e.g. individual wooden pallets with dimensions larger than EUR pallets and industrial pallets or even for rolls, there are adapted solutions.

Do you still have to stick lines or lay induction loops in the floor?

Automated guided vehicles have undergone significant technological development in recent years. To operate the first generations of automated guided vehicles, it was necessary to stick lines on the ground along the route, for example, so that the vehicle could follow these lines using optical recognition systems. The problem here was often that some of the markings came loose or wore off, which meant that the lines had to be re-glued regularly. Or are you familiar with the time-consuming milling of the floor to lay an induction loop, for example, so that the vehicle could follow it?

All of this is no longer necessarily required today. The current generations can move around independently and navigate in space using, for example, recognition markers, sensor systems or similar. And current developments in the field of artificial intelligence also reveal a number of innovations for driverless transport systems. For example, it is conceivable that vehicles could independently search for alternative routes if the main route cannot be used. Technological developments therefore remain exciting.

Which are currently the most successful and innovative providers and products?

In addition to the well-known manufacturers of industrial trucks (e.g. Jungheinrich, Linde or Still) or transport technology (e.g. SSI Schäfer, Gebhardt), there are a number of young companies that deal with driverless or autonomous transport systems. In the following, we would like to introduce you to one or two of these innovative products.

Safelog:

The German company offers three AGV models (AGV S2, AGV M4 and AGV L1) for different application scenarios. While the AGV S2 is compact and agile and can lift up to 125 kg, the AGV L1 is designed for a high load or pulling capacity of up to 3,000 kg.

Idealworks:

With the iw.hub, the innovative Munich-based company offers a flexible AGV for a wide range of intralogistics applications. The iw.hub can move load carriers weighing up to 1,000 kg and, with the help of a 360° field of vision, can independently detect and drive around obstacles.

Magazino:

Magazino, the innovative start-up from Munich, specializes in autonomous picking robots for shoe boxes and robots for industrial replenishment. In 2021, Magazino will launch the Soto 2, which delivers materials to the assembly line just-in-time completely autonomously.

Mobile Industrial Robots:

Mobile Industrial Robots automates and optimizes the internal transport of goods and pallets weighing up to 1,000 kg. The MiR100 – MiR1000 mobile robots cover various sizes and weight classes and relieve personnel so that they can perform higher-quality tasks. We have already had very good experiences with the systems from Mobile Industrial Robots at our clients.

Agilox:

The Austrian company Agilox builds intelligent logistics robots for internal pallet transportation. The design of the robots is particularly geared towards the supply and disposal of production systems in confined spaces. We have already used Agilox robots several times for customers and have had very positive experiences with them.

Robotize:

The Danish company Robotize stands for innovative robot technology for internal pallet transport up to 1,000 kg. The GoPal technology also collects all the data required to optimize internal transport.

DS Automation:

The Austrian company DS Automation has been developing AGVs and the associated control systems for over 30 years. In addition to forklift and KLT solutions, the company also offers AGVs specifically for assembly purposes.

Do I first need an expensive management consultancy to introduce an AGV?

There is the classic consultant answer to this – it depends :). You should start by asking yourself the following questions:

• What is to be transported?
• What is the distance to be transported and what is the nature of the transport route?
• What is the quantity structure or frequency behind it?
• How many vehicles are to be used?
• How should the AGV system be controlled or triggered?
• Should/must the AGV system be fully integrated into an IT landscape(ERP, WMS/WMS) or can it also be a proprietary third-party system that either runs autonomously or is connected to existing systems via interfaces?

As an experienced and tried-and-tested technical management consultancy in the fields of production, logistics, supply chain and digitalization, we are happy to support you in your project for automated guided vehicles. Our consulting services are scalable and can be adapted to your needs:

• We offer cost-effective, agile (short) projects to prepare a feasibility study or a potential analysis to examine the introduction of automated guided vehicles.
• As part of the detailed planning, we are happy to advise you on project management at the interface between production, logistics, IT and the supplier of the automated guided vehicle system. During implementation, we can also support you in project management and ensure that the system is introduced in line with the concept.
• Depending on the control concept and integration of the IT systems, we can also advise you on the development of a digitalization strategy. As a partner in the SAP Open Eco System, we are specially trained in the SAP S/4 HANA and SAP WM, LES and EWM environment forintegration in SAP. However, our customers not only use SAP, but also other ERP and WMS systems. We explore the possibilities together in an initial consultation.

As a general rule, however, we do not necessarily recommend unpacking the big club straight away. In order to achieve the goal and a presentable result, we recommend starting with small steps and, for example, defining a pilot area in which one or two vehicles are to be used. Once this milestone has been reached and you have been able to convince and inspire your stakeholders and management, the way is clear for the rollout and a potentially comprehensive IT integration.

Summary

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) increase efficiency in logistics processes and optimize productivity in logistics and factory operations. They relieve the burden on skilled workers, shorten lead times and reduce the risk of bottlenecks. Their technological maturity, combined with the associated added value, means that they are no longer only used in large corporations, but are also increasingly being used by medium-sized companies. If you would also like to benefit from the advantages of AGVs, then let our experts support you in finding the best solution for your requirements, regardless of the manufacturer.