Application of AGV in warehousing and logistics

AGV, short for automatic guided vehicle, is a kind of automated and computer-controlled transportation robot, which is widely used in the field of warehousing and logistics. Compared with the traditional warehouse logistics, which uses manual loading, unloading, handling and distribution of goods, AGV liberates manual labor, uses machines to carry out goods entry and export and material distribution activities, improves the accuracy and timeliness of distribution, not only improves the distribution efficiency, but also effectively reduces labor costs.

The key technology of AGV system

Safety technology

Although AGV is flexible and convenient in application, injury accidents caused by AGV also occur frequently, so its safety performance cannot be ignored.

Scram button

AGV emergency stop button is generally installed in the front or back of the machine, usually red color is easy to identify, if an emergency can be pressed on the AGV body of the emergency stop button, the AGV will immediately stop.

Safe touch edge

The safety contact side is a rubber band pressure sensitive switch, which is composed of a rubber jacket, an internal electrical layer and an aluminum alloy base. Generally installed on the front and back edges of the AGV, when the AGV moves or hits the external obstacles, the rubber jacket deforms and presses the internal conductive layer and transmits signals to the power source to stop operation, and the AGV will stop safely to ensure the safety of equipment and personnel.

SoftsenseDNA safety edge, suitable for AGV, security door, conveyor belt and other occasions.

① The coat is made of EPDM rubber material, one molding, strong flexibility; And oil resistance, aging resistance and corrosion resistance, long service life, greatly reduce the cost of use;

② The internal moving parts are made of conductive rubber, which can respond quickly, with high sensitivity and rapid action when the AGV car hits the obstacle;

③ The base fixing bracket is made of aluminum, which can be firmly installed on the AGV body, and the protection grade is IP55 to ensure stable use.

SoftsenseDNA safe touch side trigger force is 20N~40N, trigger distance is 5.0mm ~9.0mm, single end or two ends of the cable outlet, and the contact side can be connected to normally open 2 wires, 2 wires with resistance, 4 wires, etc., convenient for customers to use flexibly.

Laser scanner

One or more laser scanners need to be installed on the AGV body. When an obstacle is detected to enter the safety warning area, the AGV will slow down or stop, and automatically resume operation after the obstacle leaves.

Navigation technique

1. Magnetic stripe navigation

Magnetic stripe navigation requires laying magnetic stripes on the track where the AGV car moves to guide the AGV's movement. Magnetic stripe navigation is not affected by indoor light and dust, and the cost is low, and the construction period is short. So it is widely used. However, it should be noted that the strength of the magnetic strip is susceptible to interference from magnetic substances on the ground, resulting in deviations in the information collected by the magnetic strip navigator, resulting in the derailment of the AGV. Therefore, when using magnetic strip navigation, the ground should not allow the distribution of magnetic substances.

2, laser navigation

The principle of laser navigation is to install a laser sensor on the AGV, and install a reflector around the driving path, and the signal emitted by the laser sensor is reflected back by the reflector to the transmitter, so as to determine the position and direction. Laser navigation installation is more convenient, but it should be noted that the cost of laser sensor and reflector installation is higher, and the composition algorithm is more complex.

3. SLAM navigation

SLAM navigation technology integrates map construction technology and location arrival, and AGV adopts SLAM technology to accurately locate the transport location. In the process of moving the machine, the surrounding environment is detected by the sensor, and the encoder on the drive wheel feeds back real-time position information to avoid road obstacles and timely and accurate delivery of goods to the destination.

Application of AGV in logistics warehousing

In the logistics workshop, AGV mainly replaces manual distribution. First of all, AGV can maintain continuous operation mode to achieve the purpose of rapid transportation, and can improve the accuracy and real-time delivery, improve the efficiency of distribution; Secondly, the whole system interaction of AGV operation is relatively independent. If an AGV in the system fails, the standby AGV can be quickly removed or replaced, so as to restore the system operation and greatly reduce the fault repair time. In addition, the AGV is equipped with safety protection equipment, which can avoid the security risks brought by human factors.

With the development of intelligence, AGV has been widely used in the logistics and warehousing industry. It is believed that with the continuous development of AGV technology, the distribution of logistics and warehousing will be more intelligent and more flexible in the future.