According to Invia Robotics (2019) the first automated guided vehicle (AGV) system, which eventually led to AGV forklifts, was introduced in the 1950s by Barrett Electronics of Northbrook, Illinois. The website also states that the initial AGV forklift was a simple towing machine that followed a wire laid in the floor, used primarily in warehouses and factories to transport materials. Nowadays, many types of AGVs have been developed, some utilizing simple sensors which track reflector tapes and others which use advanced laser guided sensors (Mansfield,2024). Most popularly used are the AGVs with laser navigation; this system uses a combination of a laser scanner on the AGV and multiple reflective targets placed throughout the facility. Laser strobes bounce off the reflectors which are detected by the AGV’s receivers and then utilized as inputs for its control algorithm, which then guides the AGV’s movement within the warehouse (Robopac USA, 2022). The AGV forklifts have been the solution to many businesses intending to overcome labor shortage or cut costs, as these systems proved to be cheaper than the driver operated forklifts (Goodwin,2022). The advancements in AI and robotics have allowed for the development of Automated Guided Vehicle technologies such as AGV forklifts that reduce manpower costs in manufacturing settings, increases productivity and also minimizes inventory damages and accidents.
REFERENCE:
Invia Robotics. (31 July 2019). “Autonomous Warehouse Robots: a Brief History”.
https://inviarobotics.com/blog/autonomous-warehouse-robots-brief-histod
Spectra Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. (28 June 2024). ”What Are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)?”.
Robopac USA.(8 April 2022). “How Exactly Do Vehicles Work in an AGV System?”.
https://robopacusa.com/how-exactly-do-vehicles-work-in-an-agv-system/.
Planet Engineering.(27 January 2022).”Five advantages of AGVs”.
https://www.plantengineering.com/articles/five-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-agvs/.
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