The Approach of Automated Guided Vehicle Systems

The automation of transportation in the production, trade and service sector is a key point in the optimization of intralogistics. For this task automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS) provide special benefits. Main points of these systems are the centrally controlled automated guided vehicles (AGV). In the beginning, the vehicles were guided by optical or inductive guidelines. The main disadvantages of guidelines are the inflexibility concerning the modification and changing of the routing and the necessity of installations on or in the ground. New developments result in systems without guidelines. An example of this development is the laser guidance for the AGV. The AGVs have a high individuality. They are usually developed and constructed for the demands of a special application and are therefore unique. Due to this individuality a special problem is the wide variety of maintenance and part logistics. Research and development leads to new approaches to this question. Examples are the implementation of the modulation of AGV and the implementation of construction kits. Further points are the reduction of complexity of the modules and the establishment of compatibility between various AGVS-producers. Another main direction of the development is the supplementary automation of standard fork lift trucks. Applications of AGVS exist in all fields of industry and trade. Typical examples are the use in assembly lines, warehouses, order picking systems and production plants. Based on the AGVS-Statistic Europe, which is created and administrated by the Department of planning and controlling of warehouse and transport systems (PSLT), the main application of AGVS and the sectors in which they are used are analyzed. With this database developments and current trends in the AGVS-sector are identified. More and more the AGVS-producers have to offer their products in a global competition. The relevance of AGVS in the area of automation will increase in the future