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WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 02/2018

WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 02/2018

Intelligence of AGV

Intelligence of AGV systems − Software makes all the difference LOGISTICS Driverless transport systems and their autonomous guided vehicles (AGV) are taking on more and more in-house transport tasks, because they can react flexibly to changed requirements. Their ability to close the gap in the chain of automated processes depends on the capability of the AGV control system to communicate with other systems while ensuring maximum productivity as well as optimal worker safety. Based on task-oriented concepts, the DS Navios AGV control software from DS Automotion covers the entire variety of requirements. As early as 1984, DS Automotion GmbH started supplying AGV systems using different system approaches to production and healthcare facilities. Whether purpose-built custom vehicles or automated standard handling equipment: In track-guided systems, the vehicles follow magnetic stripes or induction loops, acting as work piece or platform carriers in flow production and facilitating flexibility gains in assembly processes. In classic intralogistics applications, mainly AGVs using free navigation are used. They verify the route they are pursuing using guiding aids such as floorrecessed magnets, laser reflectors or contour-based navigation with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology. Supplying AGV systems of various sizes and complexities to customers around the globe, the Austrian company serves the most diverse demands and requirements and ranks among the world’s leading manufacturers. It owes this market position not least to its DS Navios AGV family of control systems. It not only calculates 46 WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 2/2018

Track-guided AGVs facilitate agile assembly processes following the guiding principles of Industry 4.0 routes for the vehicles that often come in large numbers and several types within a system. It also takes care of communication and interaction with surrounding systems such as permanent conveyor installations or production cells. DS Navios constitutes the intelligence behind DS Automotion’s flexible AGV solutions. Its high efficiency limits the number of vehicles required. Controlling track-guided and free-navigation AGVs Not least due to the extensive capabilities of the DS Navios management and control system to solve transportation tasks of any complexity, DS Automotion AGVs are standard equipment in production and health facilities alike. Arthur Kornmüller, Managing Director, DS Automotion Track-guided systems are typically deeply integrated with the production plant; vehicle movements mainly follow the flow or cycle schemes of the production workstations. The TrackGuide control system kernel used to create track-guided AGV systems within DS Navios is based on PLC technology. Programming uses the same Siemens TIA Portal software development environment that is also in use for production automation. As this is a de-facto standard not only in the German Automotive industry, track-guided DS Automotion AGV systems can seamlessly be integrated with their operators’ overall automation processes. FreeGuide is the AGV traffic management system for DS Automotion free navigation AGVs. It communicates with MES and ERP systems, using order, material and machinery information to create driving jobs for the individual vehicles. It also communicates directly with other parts of the production facility, for instance to summon an elevator or to enter a safe production cell through a light curtain without causing an access violation. Continuous position and condition monitoring of all vehicles facilitates undisturbed operations. “Not least due to the nearly unlimited capabilities of the DS Navios management and control system to solve transportation tasks of any complexity, DS Automotion AGVs are standard equipment in production and health facilities alike”, says Arthur Kornmüller, Managing Director of DS Automotion. Photographs: DS Automotion www.ds-automotion.com WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 2/2018 47

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