Transportation and Logistics

Logistic systems cover the management of the flow of goods, their transport, handling, and packaging. Most logistic systems, except for goods-to-robot systems, require mobility either in indoor or outdoor environments. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are mobile robots (see applicable definition in chapter 1.2.1 and see Figure 3.39 and Figure 3.40 for two examples) used in industrial and in non-manufacturing applications to automatically move materials from point to point. Some companies use the term AGV (Automated/Autonomously Guided Vehicle) interchangeably to the term AMR. Nevertheless, it is important to differentiate between traditional AGVs which use some kind of external guidance (e.g. colored marking, rails or beacons) for navigation, while AMRs are able to navigate autonomously. Traditional AGVs do not classify as robots.