Automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs) in outdoor operation
Automated and autonomous navigation of wheel-driven vehicles in outdoor areas; ensuring safe and, above all, uninterrupted operation in a wide range of weather conditions – Neumaier Industry has a new patented solution for AGVs in outdoor areas.
New patented solution for outdoor automation
Neumaier AGVs can drive safely and autonomously outdoors. With a new innovative and patented solution, we can also use our vehicles safely and efficiently outdoors. The challenge was to use the PLd-safe outdoor laser scanner on the vehicle in such a way that it works in weather conditions such as rain and ensures that it remains available and does not recognize each raindrop as a hazard, causing the vehicle to malfunction and stop operating.
The new solution also enables our customers to automate their intralogistics in outdoor areas. We can have all our automated outdoor-capable vehicles such as tow trains, load trains and electric forklifts drive safely and efficiently autonomously outdoors.
Autonomous outdoor load train
A tow truck pulls one to five inconspicuous trailers behind it. What looks so simple and plain is pure high-tech and unique. Because both indoor and outdoor driving and the loading/unloading processes are fully automated on this load train. The load train even charges the battery itself. At a certain charge level (freely adjustable), the load train drives automatically and autonomously to the stationary charging station and charges at the charging station via inductive coils. Alternatively, intermediate charging is also possible for 24/7 operation. This means that the tugger train utilises the time of the charging/discharging processes and always charges the battery briefly in between, so that the battery can never reach a critically low state. This means that no downtimes/standstill times are generated due to battery charging processes.
The load train is navigated using geo-navigation (contour navigation) over a previously mapped route. Additional satellite navigation via GNSS is optionally available for outdoor applications. GNSS navigation in combination with geo-navigation as hybrid navigation is particularly useful for very extensive factory premises with little contour recognition for the vehicle.
Fully automated loading and unloading
The loading process is also fully automated. The load carriers (trailers) are equipped with conveyor technology (roller conveyor). The vehicle docks at the source/sink with millimetre precision and the internal roller conveyor positions itself at the height of the stationary conveyor system for automated picking up of the goods (Euro pallets) or automated delivery of the goods (Euro pallets) to the stationary conveyor line. Alternatively, we also have goods carriers with automated telescopic forks in our range, which can be used to automatically pick up and deliver secured/braked pushable load carriers standing on the floor, such as trolleys/roll racks or pallets (transverse and lengthwise).
Fully automated and autonomous Factory Train outdoor load train from Neumaier Industry with roller conveyor load carriers for the automated loading of stationary conveyor technology or unloading onto stationary conveyor technology.
Fully automated and autonomous Factory Train outdoor load train from Neumaier Industry with telescopic fork load carrier for the automated loading and unloading of load carriers to/from transfer stations or directly to/from the ground.
