Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS)
Definition: An Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) consists of vehicles equipped with automatic guidance equipment designed to follow a prescribed path within a facility. These vehicles stop at designated stations for manual loading and unloading of parts or materials, facilitating efficient material handling in industrial environments.
Key Features
- Guidance Systems:
- Path Guidance: AGVs use various methods to follow a prescribed path, including magnetic strips, optical sensors, lasers, or guided tracks embedded in the floor.
- Navigation: They may employ onboard sensors, cameras, or GPS to navigate and avoid obstacles.
- Vehicle Types:
- Towing Vehicles: Designed to tow carts or trailers carrying materials between stations.
- Unit Load Vehicles: Equipped to carry specific loads, such as pallets or bins, directly to and from workstations.
- Forklift AGVs: Capable of lifting and transporting pallets or other heavy loads.
- Operations:
- Loading and Unloading: AGVs stop at designated points where operators manually load or unload parts or materials. This manual intervention is necessary for tasks such as assembly or machining.
- Path Control: Vehicles follow predefined routes that ensure they reach the correct destinations within the facility.
- Benefits:
- Efficiency: AGVs streamline material handling processes, reducing the need for manual transport and minimizing delays.
- Safety: Automated systems reduce the risk of accidents associated with manual handling and improve workplace safety.
- Consistency: Provides consistent and reliable transport of materials, improving overall operational efficiency.
- Applications:
- Manufacturing: Commonly used in manufacturing environments to transport materials between production stations.
- Warehousing: Employed in warehouses for moving goods and inventory management.
- Assembly Lines: Facilitates the movement of parts and products along assembly lines.
- Challenges:
- Initial Cost: The installation of AGVS can be expensive, including the cost of vehicles, guidance systems, and infrastructure modifications.
- Flexibility: While AGVs are efficient for set paths, adapting the system to new routes or configurations may require additional programming or infrastructure changes.
Summary
An Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) is a system of vehicles equipped with automatic guidance equipment to follow a predefined path for material handling within a facility. These vehicles are used to transport parts and materials between stations, where manual loading and unloading occur. AGVS improves efficiency, safety, and consistency in material handling operations, and is commonly used in manufacturing, warehousing, and assembly line environments.
« Back to Dictionary Index