From Towing to Transporting: What Types of AGVs are most suited for your business?

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are now becoming a common sight in many warehouses and factories as a more efficient way to transport or tow goods from one point to another.

There are a number of different types of these innovative robots available, and each one is capable of transforming the way that your business works to help make it more productive as well as safer.

In this article, we take a detailed look at what types of AGVs are on the market, what activities they can perform and which businesses each one is best suited to.

What is an AGV?

An Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) is a robot which is capable of moving goods from one place to another without the need for a driver.

They navigate their way along specific paths using cameras, marks on the floor or even their own navigation systems and can lift things on and off shelves or tow other carts.

They can be told what they need to move and where to and can then be left to carry out the task, avoiding the mistakes, accidents and distractions that can occur when humans are in charge. This means that they can continue working without supervision and can free up members of staff to do other, more important tasks.

In addition to being able to find their way around, some AGVs also come fitted with RFI technology which allows them to know what is on a pallet or stored inside a container, so that they can find what they are supposed to be moving and can make it much easier to keep track of where things are.

So, what types of AGVs are available and how do you know which one your business will need?

Cart AGVs

A cart or underride AGV usually has a flat surface to carry goods of varying sizes and weights and can drive underneath their loads.

They can withstand loads that can weigh anything up to a few tons and come in a range of sizes to enable you to choose one that can handle the goods that you need.

These types of AGVs can connect to their loads in a variety of ways, including using tow pins or lift modules, and are often used in large fleets to help in production lines.

Forklift AGVs

A forklift AGV comes with typical forklift arms that can lift and carry heavy items in warehouse settings. They can be connected to warehouse management systems to enable them to understand where items are stored and allow them to plan the right routes around the space.

They are able to perform the same tasks as manual forklifts but without the need for a driver and can include a pallet truck, counterbalance, reach truck and very narrow aisle AGVs to ensure that there is something that will work within your business.

Towing AGVs

As the name suggests, towing AGVs pull loads behind them rather than carrying them. They are able to connect and disconnect from their loads without assistance and can mean that a number of different carts or pieces of equipment can be moved at once.

Each load is carried on a cart or logistics train and can transfer parts through assembly lines or move them through warehouses.

Unit Load AGVs

If your business needs large items like pallets or containers to be moved around, then you might need a unit load AGV.

These can carry loads made up of a wide range of different weights and can fit into your existing racks and storage systems and will have methods of stabilising large or uneven loads while they are being transported.

Typically, they carry their cargo on top, and can use transfer devices such as conveyors and lift platforms to put the loads in place.

Outdoor AGVs

Not all loads that need to be moved are kept indoors in warehouses and distribution centres, and so it is important to have AGVs which can handle being outdoors. These are ideally suited to construction sites and outdoor storage yards and can carry heavy loads even in bad weather. Many of these rely on GPS to find their way around the area and are equipped to be able to deal with rough terrain.

Mobile Picking AGV

In a busy warehouse, it can be useful to have an AGV which is capable of picking items and filling orders. They come fitted with robot arms or grippers which enable them to pick up individual items precisely and take them to where they are needed.

Choosing the right AGV

When choosing the right AGV for your business, it is important to think about the size and weight of the items that your AGV will be required to move and how far they will be needed to travel in order to pick the right one.

Many types of AGVs can handle different weights, enabling you to choose the one that will be best suited to your business, both in regard to the size of the loads that it can handle and the way in which it works.

You should also think about the way in which the AGV will find its way around your business and identify its loads to find one with the technology that you need.

Some will use cameras to identify obstacles and find their route, whilst others follow a predetermined route which is marked out on the floor. Many can be connected to existing management systems, so you should explore what software each AGV is compatible with.

Each AGV can help to make your business a lot more efficient, as they are capable of performing tasks throughout the day without any delays and can also help to ensure that your warehouse is a much safer place too. Choosing the right one is very important, and so you need to think carefully about the loads that need to be transported and the best way to do this in order to find the model that is best suited to your business needs.