Find AGV’s including AGV systems, industrial AGV’s, automated guided vehicles and more. From automatic guided vehicles and self guided vehicles to transfer cars, you will find the AGV you need. Use the time-saving Request for Quote tool to submit your inquiry to all the AGV manufacturers and suppliers you select.
Savant Automation has a full line of automatic guided vehicles such as automatic guided carts, fork units, unit load carriers and automatic truck loading units, which we sell, engineer, install and service ourselves. We have supplied hundreds of AGV systems to all industries and are ISO 9000 certified.
For nearly five decades, Webb AGVs have increased productivity, while reducing operating costs for companies in nearly every industry. Webb was one of the first to develop Automatic Trailer Loading AGVs, Automatic Guided Carts & heavy-duty AGVs. Guidance options include laser, inertial, wire & magnetic tape.
COH manufactures custom-built, heavy-duty transfer cars for manual or fully automated operation and automatic material handling solutions. Transfer cars handle bulky/heavy loads (up to 125T in service), roll on rails or finished floors, battery or AC operated, wire guided or with manual on- or off-board operator.
AMERDEN AGVS provides new or retrofitted automatic guided vehicle systems, plus electronic hardware, motor repair & software support services for your AGV systems. AGV types include standard or custom fork lift, unit load, side load, high lift, tuggers & Automatic Guided Carts, AGC, systems. In business since 1988.
Wheelift Systems Group of Doerfer Companies specializes in heavy capacity vehicles & transporters for industries needing to move up to several hundred tons without using overhead cranes. Automatically Guided Vehicles or manually driven transporters – these are an amazing solution to heavy moving!
An automatic
guided vehicle (AGV), also known as a
self guided vehicle, is an unmanned, computer-controlled mobile transport
unit that is powered by a battery or an electric
motor. AGVs manufacturers program AGVs to drive to specific points
and perform designated functions. They are becoming increasingly popular
worldwide in applications that call for repetitive actions over a distance.
Common procedures include load transferring, pallet loading/unloading
and tugging/towing. Different models, which include forked, tug/tow,
small chassis and large chassis/unit load, have various load capacities
and design characteristics. They come in varying sizes and shapes, according
to their specific uses and load requirements.
AGVs have onboard microprocessors and usually a supervisory control system
that helps with various tasks, such as tracking and tracing modules and
generating and/or distributing transport orders. They are able to navigate
a guide path network that is flexible and easy to program. Various navigation
methods used on AGVs include laser, camera, optical, inertial and wire
guided systems. AGVs manufacturers program AGVs for many different and
useful maneuvers, such as spinning and side-traveling, which allow for
more effective production. Some are designed for the use of an operator,
but most are capable of operating independently.
Corporations that use AGVs, often factories, warehouses, hospitals and
other large facilities, benefit from the many advantages AGVs have to
offer. One of the most beneficial is reduced labor costs. AGVs do not
tire like human workers, and when their batteries are drained, charging
the AGVs easily replenishes their energy. Loads that AGVs carry are far
heavier than any single human could manage, which makes transporting
heavy objects quick and simple. AGVs help give companies a competitive
edge because they increase productivity and complete the job in an effective
and time-efficient manner. They are flexible and can be adapted to many
different needs. Also, using AGVs reduces damage to products and increases
safety among workers.
Currently, AGVs manufacturers produce fairly pricey AGVs which discourages
some companies, but in truth, the money is quickly earned back through
reduction of other costs. Manufacturers of AGVs are working on reducing
costs and making the units easier to understand to attract more potential
buyers. Research on these vehicles is on-going, and new developments
on software and movement techniques are frequently being made.
AGVs are moving robots used in various industrial applications.
Automated guided vehicle
systems consist of the computer, software
and technology that are the “brains” behind
the AGV. Without computer software systems and communications networks,
only the simplest AGV functions can be performed.
Camera guided AGVs are used when precise guidance accuracy is needed, such as in crowded
environments and smaller sized facilities. An on-board
camera focuses and guides the AGV while performing.
Forked AGVs are used to pick up and deliver various loads, such as
pallets, carts, rolls and others. These can be manually driven as well
as used automatically, and have the ability to lift loads to many levels.
Inertial guided AGVs use a magnet sensing
device, a gyroscope that measures the unit’s heading and a
wheel odometer that calculates the distance traveled. Magnets mounted
beneath the floor are detected
by the on-board magnetic sensing device and combine with the first
two readings to give an accurate positional location.
Large chassis/unitload
AGVs are used to transport heavier loads with
various transfer devices such as rollerbeds, lift/lower mechanisms
and custom mechanisms.
Laser guided AGVs use mounted laser scanners
that emit a laser and reflect back from targets. The vehicle’s
location can be determined based on distance to the target and time
of reflection information.
Optical guided AGVs use
a latex-based photosensitive tape on a facility’s
floor for guidance. Distance is measured by use of wheel odometers,
which establish stop locations for the AGV along the course.
Outrigger AGVs have two horizontal stabilizing legs (outriggers)
to provide lateral support, and are used to handle pallets, rolls and
racks.
Small chassis AGVs are able to maneuver through crowded workplaces
through laser sensing, while transporting smaller loads.
Smart vehicle AGVs are
capable of determining their own traffic control and routing without
necessitating a central controller.
Tug/tow AGVs are
used to pull trailers and are usually manned by an operator who adds
and removes the trailers at designated
stops. These
can follow a basic loop or a more complicated path.
Wire guided AGVs use a charged wire that is
buried beneath the floor for proper guidance and has a small antennae
composed of
metal coils mounted on their bottoms. The stronger the field between
the buried
wire and antennae, the higher the voltage induced to the
coils.
Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) Terms
Acoustical Operating
Indicator – A control on
the sound and volume of the AGV that alerts the surrounding area when
it is in motion.
Accumulative Blocking – A type of traffic control performed by
the AGV using detection sensors that allow for one vehicle to slow or
stop, then resume motion once there is a safe gap between machines. The
sensor housing on the AGV detects stopped and slower vehicles in front
of and behind it en route.
Antenna – Used for wireless
communication that gives the AGV instructions and information about traffic
control.
Automatic Charge – An AGV’s battery recharge without the
removal of the battery itself. A copper plate in the floor makes contact
with
the conductor of an AGV overhead, activating a charge, and the AGV departs
once charging is complete.
Automatic Guided Vehicle Display – Displays information necessary
to operating the AGV system and keeps it operating efficiently.
Automatic Guided Vehicle Operator’s Pendant – A device with
a joystick designed to manually operate the AGV as needed.
Automated Material Handling – The process of relocating or stocking
materials using an automated device such as an AGV.
Clamp – A device on some AGVs
that allows them to grab circular or cylindrical objects such as barrels
and place them wherever needed.
Communication – Unit commands within the AGV system such as where
to go, when to start, slow down and stop. Within most AGV systems, the
basic communication methods are infrared, radio, guide wire data and
inductive loop.
ID Tag – Marks on the floor indicating where the AGV is supposed
to stop or change direction.
Local Dispatching – AGV dispatch
that occurs from a nearby source, used for simpler systems. Onboard sensors,
keys and data couplers are
all examples of local dispatching controls.
Multi-Directional Wheels – Wheels that, in addition to allowing
the vehicle to move forward and back, are capable of moving sideways
and spinning.
Navigation – The means by which
an AGV determines its calculated position and stop points. Laser, optical,
wire, camera and inertial systems
are types of navigation.
Odometer – A device that records the distance traveled. Wheel odometers
are often implemented on AGVs to determine position and speed.
Obstacle Sensor – An ultrasonic sensor on an AGV that allows the
vehicle to slow down or stop when faced with an obstruction.
Open Path – A navigation system
that allows an AGV to select from a large number of pathways. Open path
systems are useful in crowded warehouses
and smaller facilities.
Power Transfer – When the battery of the AGV supplies power to
pickup and delivery stations, to make additional wiring unnecessary.
Remote Dispatching – A means
of communication that involves a central controller dispatching information
to the AGVs. Remote dispatching can
be done through an RF network (broadband or wired) or infrared communication.
Safety Bumper – Usually a detection
sensor, designed to detect obstructions in front of and behind the AGV.
System Monitoring – Analysis
of the entire AGV system, including hours of runtime, transaction queue(s)
and parts and service records.
Tug/Tow – A function of certain
AGVs that serves to pull or tow multiple items. Tug/tow AGVs are useful
for moving wheeled products such
as shopping carts.
Vehicle Monitoring – Analysis
of AGVs and their individual components. Common vehicle monitoring examples
are vehicle runtime, battery status
and error logs.
Visual Operating Indicators – Lights on an AGV
that flash in the direction of travel during an operation.
Zone Blocking – A preventative
method controlled by an AGV system controller. Sections of guide
path that have zone blocking allow only one AGV to be in a particular
zone at one time.
