AGVs: The Future Is Now

Companies are looking for ways to lower operating costs, increase efficiency and be more competitive in this economy. Who knew the solution was revealed in a cartoon some of us watched more than 20 years ago?

The opening scene of the cartoon, “The Jetsons,” is amazing. The household functions like a well oiled machine because of one simple thing: Everything the family needs is brought to them by some sort of robot or guided vehicle.

Well, technology has finally caught up with this futuristic family. It may not be in our homes yet, but in manufacturing and distribution, the future has arrived, thanks to automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

Lower Costs, Boost Efficiency

AGVs have been around for a while, although rising labor costs and increased affordability have recently given the industry a boost. Today, AGVs play an important role in the design of new factories and warehouses as more companies recognize the technology as an efficient, dependable and versatile material handling solution.

The increasing popularity of AGVs is due to the cost savings and efficiencies that can be gained in manufacturing and distribution facilities. These futuristic vehicles run on the plant floor and help move product from point A to point B without the need for an onboard operator or driver. This makes AGVs cost effective for a variety of industries, including automotive, food and beverage, chemicals and plastics, commercial print, paper and pharmaceuticals.

AGVs often move raw material to a manufacturing line and finished product to a distribution area, which helps companies focus employee time on value-added activities, while the AGVs handle the mundane movement of materials. They also help reduce labor-related costs and product damage, improve safety and ensure on-time material delivery.

AGVs are particularly useful in the following applications:

• Multiple-shift operations;
• Repetitive movements;
• Processes for which material tracking is critical.

Types of AGVs

There are several different types of AGVs. Towing/tugger vehicles are commonly used in manufacturing facilities. They are in demand for their ability to tow single or multiple trailers that can be configured for manual or automated loading. Towing vehicles are popular in a variety of industries, such as paper and automotive, where the same AGV tugger can be applied to many different applications just by changing trailers. This interchangeability lends itself well to the flexibility, serviceability and backup requirements of just-in-time (JIT) environments.

Unit load vehicles feature rugged steel frames and onboard conveyance, making them suitable for industrial environments with automated processes. For example, a food and beverage company making packaged products can benefit from this type of AGV.

Cart vehicles, popular in the automotive and electronics industries, are used for material transportation and assembly line tasks. Typically featuring low capacity and complexity, these systems are less expensive than conventional AGVs and also more flexible. Most cart vehicles follow a magnetic tape on the floor, so changing the path is quick and inexpensive. In this scenario, a cart might move auto parts to employees along the assembly line.