When introducing problem-specific solutions, such as optimizing intralogistics processes through the introduction of driverless transport vehicles (AGVs), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face the challenge of keeping track of all the information, correctly classifying the framework conditions and ultimately making economic decisions. This is exactly where the ASTRADIS research project, funded by the Bremer Aufbaubank through the European Fund for Regional Development, comes in.
This project by BIBA and Plan B was about developing and researching a support tool that makes the introduction and planning of AGVs (driverless transport systems) easier, especially for SMEs, by supporting the user in the selection process and taking into account AGVs and AGVs offered by independent manufacturers.
Here you will find insights into the research results and the prototype of the selection tool for driverless transport vehicles.
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile systems are considered to be highly relevant for the design of production and logistics systems. Nevertheless, the use of automated guided vehicles lags behind material flow technologies and transport solutions that are classified as similar or even less relevant. The reasons for this are often the high time and cost involved in planning and the specialist knowledge required for this. The advantages are clear: increased flexibility, optimal use of technical equipment, reduction of empty transports and transport damage, and relief for employees, to name just a few.
In a joint research project by BIBA and Plan B Automation, funded by the EU as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the planning, selection and verification process for AGVs (driverless transport vehicles) and AGVs (driverless transport systems) was combined and simplified in a software-based support tool. It can therefore help to implement the introduction of driverless transport systems in companies more quickly and cost-effectively.
The user-friendly Astradis software solution offers the opportunity to get started without detailed specialist knowledge or planning expertise in the field of driverless transport systems. The user is accompanied through the entire planning process for selecting an AGV with guided recording. Various functions are available, which can also be used individually.
In a first step, the manufacturer-independent AGV catalog can be searched. The number of solutions can be reduced using manual filters and, after selecting a solution, the corresponding manufacturer can be contacted. This already gives a good overview of the AGV types that are suitable for the task. The catalog thus also functions as a context-based source of ideas. The catalog currently includes around 320 driverless transport vehicles and transport systems (as of 2022) from various manufacturers.
Alternatively, it is possible to reduce the number of solutions for driverless transport vehicles using the assisted requirement recording program. This is based on a questionnaire, but is much more convenient and structured to use than analog templates. In addition, the digitized data can be reused directly via the software interfaces. On this basis, a technical exchange with the providers of the AGV solutions or a system integrator for further AGV planning is possible.
The planning of a driverless transport system can also be further detailed by the user themselves. With the help of the layout editor, the spatial conditions can be intuitively recorded on the basis of a building floor plan and relevant locations such as transshipment and loading points, the transport routes, but also gates and obstacles can be drawn in the 2D layout using drag & drop. Optionally, the layout can be created in an on-site inspection with an augmented reality (AR) app . The description of the transport task is effortless and without much prior knowledge using prefabricated modules with defined input fields.
Thanks to the integrated interface for material flow simulation, the AGV planning can be verified through simulation based on this data and the number of required driverless transport vehicles and thus the quantity structure for the request can be determined.
As a result, the user has access to an information package that contains the collected requirements, the transport profiles and the route matrix. The particular added value lies in the systematic linking of structured queries, the specific transport task and the hall layout with existing planning approaches and AGV expertise.
