Automated guided automobile (AGV) robots have gotten a robust addition to develop your automation capabilities. From streamlining inner logistics to growing throughput, an AGV robotic will help you continue to grow your automation past fastened robotics.
Selecting the best AGV robotic entails greater than merely evaluating specs. You additionally want to find out how nicely a robotic will combine together with your programming and design processes.
With the precise instruments, and this helpful information, you’ll be able to learn to guarantee a easy deployment of your AGV robotic.
What Is an AGV Robotic?
An Autonomous Guided Car (AGV) is a sort of cellular robotic that navigates with out human steering round an area, akin to a warehouse or manufacturing facility ground. AGV robots are sometimes used to automate the motion of supplies or different automation parts (akin to robotic arms) in industrial settings.
The marketplace for AGV robots has risen steadily up to now 5 years, as firms have seen how they will develop on their success with different sorts of robotic automation.
AGVs vs AMRs… Is There a Distinction?
A standard distinction is between AGVs and Autonomous Cellular Robots (AMRs).
Each can navigate autonomously. Nonetheless, AGVs typically use fastened markers (akin to tracks, paths, or markers) for navigation. AMRs use extra superior algorithms and sensors to navigate in unstructured environments.
Whereas this distinction is related, the distinction between the 2 phrases is beginning to blur. Because the expertise improves and the necessity for fastened markers reduces, it appears doable that the extra in style time period of AGV robotic would possibly find yourself getting used for each varieties.
5 Sorts of AGV Robots (And Use Circumstances)
When deciding on an AGV robotic, it’s useful to know the vary of use circumstances and kinds.
There are lots of methods you may divide AGV robotic varieties, however listed here are 5 examples:
1. Autonomous Cellular Robotic (AMR robotic)
As defined above, autonomous cellular robotic is a time period used to explain a cellular platform with superior navigational capabilities. They don’t require exterior navigational fixtures, so are “self driving.”
For instance, the Omron robots within the RoboDK Library are literally AMR robots.
2. AGV Pallet Mover
An AGV pallet mover transports empty or loaded pallets round your services. They’re principally like a self-driving pallet jack.
These generally is a nice extension to a robotic palletizing software. See our Important Information to Robotic Palletizing

3. Tugger AGV
Designed to tow a number of carts like a prepare, tugger AGVs are a good way to move extra objects with a single cellular robotic.
A big profit to tugger AGVs is their scalability — you’ll be able to hold including carts to the prepare so long as the load falls throughout the capability of the robotic.
4. Forklift AGV
Just like pallet movers, a forklift AGV is principally an autonomous forklift truck designed for lifting and stacking pallets.
With purposes from meeting, warehousing, and logistics, forklift AGVs might be a good way so as to add easy automation by changing handbook fork lifting.
5. Hybrid AGV with Robotic Arms
Whereas AGV robots alone generally is a game-changer, they turn into much more highly effective when mixed with robotic arms.
With RoboDK, you’ll be able to simply design and simulate hybrid robotic purposes with each AGV robots and arms.
What to Search for in an AGV Mannequin
With so many choices for AGV and AMR robots, how do you select between them?
Listed below are some elements to search for when looking for an AGV robotic:
- Utility First — Begin together with your software. What would you like your AGV robotic to do? What objects or different automation expertise will it’s carrying?
- Payload Capability — What are the heaviest hundreds the robotic might want to transport? Additionally take into account if the robotic might want to pull trailers, as with a tugger AGV.
- Navigation Know-how — What vary of navigation applied sciences would work to your software? Would a hard and fast monitor be too restrictive? Would a full-featured AMR be too expensive? Take into account the higher and decrease limits of appropriate navigation expertise.
- Security Options — What security options are obligatory for the AGV robotic to work in your setting?
- Integration Capabilities — How simply will the AGV robotic combine with different automation parts? Utilizing a flexible robotic programming software, [like RoboDK,][RKSIM] can considerably ease the roadblocks to integration.
By specializing in these elements, you’ll be able to choose an AGV mannequin optimized to your present software and longer-term automation targets.

How RoboDK Helps You Program AGV Robots
Selecting the best AGV mannequin is simply half the story. The true problem comes when programming and deploying it successfully to satisfy your facility’s distinctive workflows.
RoboDK simplifies programming for an unlimited vary of automation initiatives, together with these with AGV robots.
With a wealthy set of simulation options, an intensive library of over 1,000 robotic fashions, and superior programming choices, you’ll be able to simply combine cellular robotics into your software.
3 AGV Fashions from the RoboDK Library
It’s easy so as to add any robotic mannequin to RoboDK. Nonetheless, there are AGV robots already supported in our in depth robotic library, which you’ll be able to obtain and begin utilizing instantly.
Listed below are 3 that yow will discover:
- Omron LD-60 — With a payload capability as much as 60 kg, this AMR from the Omron LD collection is right for gentle materials transport in compact services.
- Omron LD-250 — Constructed for mid-sized a great deal of as much as 250 kg, this LD collection robotic is ideal for warehouses needing environment friendly pallet or container motion.
- Omron HD-1500 — A heavy-duty AMR from the Omron HD collection, this could transport hundreds as much as 1,500 kg.
In case your AGV robotic isn’t at present obtainable within the RoboDK library, don’t fear! You’ll be able to simply add it your self by means of our Create Mechanism or Robotic characteristic , or get involved with us to ask if we are able to add it for you.
Closing Ideas on Discovering the Proper AGV
Investing in an AGV robotic isn’t simply concerning the automobile itself. It’s about constructing a system that seamlessly integrates into your facility and evolves as your automation wants change.
RoboDK makes AGV programming easy, dependable, and scalable. Whether or not you’re simply beginning or seeking to optimize an current software, RoboDK helps you reduce guesswork and deployment dangers, so your AGV robots carry out as anticipated from day one.
What purposes would profit from an AGV robotic in your enterprise? Be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Discussion board.. Additionally, take a look at our in depth video assortment and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel