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1995
Conference Paper
Titel
Free-ranging fork lift carrier with a scaleable control
Abstract
The number of new installations of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) is decreasing worldwide. Classical wire-guided AGVs often do not work cost-effectively and cannot fulfil the challenging requirements given by new organisational structures in production. In this paper an overview of the current situation in autonomous transport is given. To overcome the existing problems, the requirements and demands to the next generation of free-ranging vehicles are analysed. New profitable solutions are required. The approach described is based on studies and developments performed at IPA in the area of modular open system architecture for industrial motion control. An open control concept including innovative sensor and control functions is presented - e.g. the localisation of roughly positioned pallets. The paper includes major results of study as well as industrial expierences with a pilot installation of a prototype fork lift carrier at BMW, Munich.