Intelligent AGV collaboration announced

Amherst, NH—ActivMedia Robotics and RMT Robotics have announced that they’re collaborating on a revolutionary, smart Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) based on ActivMedia’s Robotics Control Systems (ARCS).

By Control Engineering Staff November 25, 2003

Amherst, NH— ActivMedia Robotics and RMT Robotics have announced that they’re collaborating on a revolutionary, smart Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) based on ActivMedia’s Robotics Control Systems (ARCS). The new AGV, scheduled for a June 2004 release, will target flexible manufacturing, package delivery, and materials handling operations with difficult pick-up and delivery problems.

AGVs typically move items by following lines in warehouse or factory floors, or by triangulating from reflectors in the building. RMT and ActivMedia’s new AGV will deliver unit loads to any location without lines or reflectors, and will instead ‘map’ its building and calculate its position using multiple sensor readings.

ARCS is a software, firmware, sensing and electronics package that allows mobile platforms to travel to any destination in a known building. Goal destinations and orientations may be changed on demand automatically or manually.

‘Standard repetitive-path AGV’s don’t provide the flexibility needed for most industrial applications,’ says Douglas Pickard, RMT’s president. ‘We chose ActivMedia Robotics’ ARCS control systems for our new platform because it will allow our customers to adapt easily and quickly to changing needs. This opens up new applications and new markets for integrated robotic and AGV systems.’

Jeanne Dietsch, ActivMedia’s CEO, adds that, ‘We chose RMT as a technology partner for this new ARCS AGV because they understand the materials handling needs of manufacturers and have an excellent reputation for engineering, manufacture and integration of unique industrial automation systems.’

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com