Automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) are a hot item in industrial automation these days, with a popular variant of this technology appearing in autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs .
In the video above, we look at how AMRs are changing the game for part delivery, among other applications, while operating autonomously and side by side with humans in dynamic environments.
“Putting together a safe platform that can navigate through a changing, dynamic environment has tremendous value in the industry,” said Ed Mullen, VP of sales in North America at Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR). “We’re seeing more and more people getting comfortable with this technology, and it’s really opening up the potential for new applications.”
MiR is a developer of AMRs and released their first unit, the MiR100, in Denmark. Since that release, the company has entered the North American market among others, and recently released a new unit, the MiR200.
“We essentially kept the same the same form factor of the MiR100, but doubled the load capacity,” Mullen explained. “The MiR200 is a 200kg (440lbs) load weighted robot that can pull up to 500kg (1,100lbs) of load in a cart version. We also have an ESD compliance now with our plastic covers.”
The MiR200 also uses an upgraded user interface for easier operation and additional functionality. With the new interface, a MiR200 can be operational within two to three hours after opening the box.
The MiR200, and its earlier version, finds its way around a facility in a similar way to how a car’s navigation or GPS system works, Mullen explained.
“Think about your vehicle, which may come with a preloaded set of maps. When you teach it a home and work address, it generates a path based on simple positions on that map. We’re doing the same thing. To get our system to work, you generate a map of your facility and teach it locations to pick up and drop off parts.”
The system plans its own routes autonomously based on the locations programmed. This way, if the environment were to change and a closed door or similar obstruction blocked a path, the software would generate its own alternative route.
In case of an inattentive human stumbling in front of the AMR, a laser vision system will interpret the obstruction fast enough to prevent a collision.
“We’re a Category Three, Performance Level D safety system,” Mullen said. “We use safety laser scanners, safety PLCs and safety relays to feed data into our planning algorithm, so we can recognize obstacles out up to 50 feet and plan to go around them, or make a safe stop to not bump into or hurt someone.”
For more information, watch the video above and visit the MiR website.