Are AGVs the Future of Warehousing?

Technology is now increasing in almost every walk of life, and warehousing is no exception. Many warehouses are now incorporating automation in order to make them more efficient and safer. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through automated guided vehicles (AGVs) which are transforming the way that many warehouses now work.

As the AGV market is set to grow by 7% each year between 2024 and 2032, Aerocom, specialists in commercial Automated Guided Vehicles thought it was time we discussed the type of AGVs that are available, how they are used in warehouses and whether they really are the future of warehousing.

What is an AGV?

An AGV is an autonomous guided vehicle that often works in warehouses and other similar environments. They are material handling systems which are used to transport goods or materials around the space without the need for any human operators or drivers. They travel using tracks on the floor that they can follow, GPS systems or sensors and cameras to help them find their way around without causing any accidents.

Types of AGV

There are a number of different types of AGV available, which means that warehouses are able to choose the ones that suit their needs the best. Automated guided carts tend to be the most basic options, as these move through paths using a magnetic tape navigation system. They tend to transport small items such as parts for assembly lines and can also assist with sorting, storage and cross-docking workflows.

A forklift AGV works in a similar way to conventional forklift trucks, but without the need for any human intervention. They are capable of lifting very heavy loads to a number of different heights, which means they are able to help supply raw materials to any production lines. They can also be used as retrieval systems to carry items to and from racks and can therefore improve warehouse operations significantly.

For the transportation of individual items such as pallets, containers and racks, then a unit-load AGV is the best option. These can carry weights of up to 20 tonnes and so they offer a lot of flexibility as they can also be involved in automated loading and unloading processes.

Towing AGV's are used to pull other manual load carrying vehicles to form a train of heavy items which can be transported across long distances. They make use of coupling systems to allow them to connect to other vehicles and navigate on a predefined path that has pickup and drop off locations marked out.

The heaviest loads tend to be dealt with by heavy burden carriers. These can deal with large plates, coils, assembly components, or castings and usually have self-loading features and complex steering functionalities, which means they are suitable for navigating any small or narrow spaces. This is because their steering can either be standard, pivotal or omnidirectional.

Autonomous mobile robots are also being used increasingly as their sensor technology has now developed to allow them to navigate paths using machine vision. They combine artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision algorithms to enable them to understand their surroundings, making them better equipped to avoid collisions and make use of dynamic navigation. This means they are able to automatically define their own routes and adjust their paths according to their environments.

How do AGV's work?

AGV's work through a number of different methods. Navigation systems can vary and so they may follow a wired path or magnetic tape which has been installed on the warehouse floor to provide a guide. There are also laser target AGVs which emit laser beams that can bounce off reflectors that have been located around the warehouse floor. This allows them to detect the reflected beams and understand their current location.

Other AGVs have inertial navigation that uses things like gyroscopes and accelerometers to guide them along their path, whilst vision guidance AGVs employ advanced sensors and cameras to be able to see what is in front of them, recognise obstacles and adapt their course.

Geo-guidance is also sometimes used to help AGVs detect objects in their current location and move throughout the warehouse floor. There is also LiDAR technology which uses laser pulses emitted from sensors to help them calculate the distance between a vehicle and an object.

The benefits of AGVs

When automated vehicles first started to arrive in warehouses, there was a fear that they may do people out of their jobs. However, what has become apparent is that whilst employees are no longer needed to steer and manoeuvre the vehicles themselves, they can be redeployed to other areas of the warehouse to help make it more efficient. This means that the workforce is able to be more productive, warehouse management can be improved and therefore labour costs for the warehouse can be reduced.

An AGV can also make a warehouse much safer. Handling heavy machinery such as a forklift truck can be a dangerous job, and human error plays a big part in many accidents. By allowing AGVs to take over this role, you can help to minimise many of the issues that might occur.

They are capable of making quicker decisions, are less likely to become distracted or unwell, and will not be tempted to take unnecessary shortcuts. Many of the tasks in a warehouse tend to be physically demanding and so lifting heavy items, carrying toxic material or moving between workstations can pose its own risks for the workforce.

By performing these tasks automatically, workers are saved from many of the risks involved, ensuring that they remain healthy and free of injury.

Another benefit that many warehouses are experiencing is the increased speed and accuracy that they can bring. As they work using calculated movements and precise material handling mechanisms, there are much fewer errors involved than if these jobs were completed manually.

AGV's are gradually making warehouses safer and more efficient places to be, which can only benefit the businesses themselves and the people that work within them, proving that they are likely to be the future.