Real-World Examples of AGV Installations

Manufacturing Industry: Fork

The fork AGVs are used to move product from production lines to buffer and stretchwrap/shipping locations. Operators at the production lines hand stack boxes on pallets at floor level. When a pallet is ready for transport, the operator will press an AGV call button. The call signal is received by the AGV Vehicle Manager’s PC. It communicates the calling station location to the host computer system. The host computer identifies the product type and gives the Vehicle Manager a destination for the load.

The Vehicle Manager selects the closest, available AGV to execute the pickup and delivery task. The vehicle receives its mission via RF instruction from the Vehicle Manager. Loads picked up in the production area can be transported to either the buffer storage area or directly to the stretch wrap drop-off station in the shipping department. Loads that are taken to the buffer area will be picked up by AGV at a later time and transported to the stretch wrap drop-off station.

The buffer area is double ended. Incoming loads are brought to one end of the system, while outgoing loads are picked up at the other end of the system.