Most major US AGVS manufactures use proprietary control system designs. However, they tend to fall into two categories. Either they use a centralized controller or a decentralized vehicle control approach.
The centralized controller approach utilizes a PC or other computer device to manage the movement of vehicles along the path. Often, this is called the smart central approach. Either or both the routing or traffic control functions would be performed by the central controller. The AGVs would take appropriate direction from the central controller via a communications link.
The decentralized control approach does not require a central controller device for basic vehicle movement. Instead, the vehicles perform their own routing and traffic control functions. This is often referred to as the smart vehicle approach. The AGVs would use their onboard intelligence to select their route to a destination and they would avoid running into other AGVs operating on the path by communicating directly between AGVs.
