Transport automation columnvol.1

Which is better for automating your transport process: AGV or AMR?
What is needed to improve productivity is a holistic perspective

There is no need for advanced features that you will not use

During business negotiations, there are a certain number of customers who, from the very start, discuss automation with AMR in mind.

Of course, we are happy for customers to purchase the AMRs we sell, but if the automation required can be achieved with AGVs, there is no need to choose an AMR, which is generally more expensive and has too many advanced features compared to AGVs.
(There are certainly reasons to choose AMR, but we'll cover that in another article.)

As the number of buttons on home appliance remote controls increased, more and more consumers began to think that high functionality was a good thing, and so they started buying home appliances equipped with functions they would never use. I feel like this is similar to how things have progressed. It's a bad analogy, but functions that you don't need are a waste, no matter how high-functioning they are.

As an automation specialist, the first thing you need to do is correctly understand the difference between AGVs and AMRs. Before we go any further, let's briefly review the difference.

What you need to know in advance: the difference between AGVs and AMRs

AGV AMR
Navigation method Guided navigation (requires guide) Autonomous navigation (no guide required/guideless)
Range of movement Fixed route Autonomously calculated route
Collaboration with people Improper Possible
Dealing with obstacles Stop Avoiding, rerouting

First of all, I want you to understand that"AGVs are vehicles. AMRs are robots."This is the difference in concept.

AGVs, also known as transport vehicles, are vehicles for moving objects from point A to point B. They are nothing more and nothing less. On the other hand, AMRs are robots that can make autonomous decisions and move.

Let's take a closer look at some of the more notable points.

Navigation method

The biggest difference between AGVs and AMRs is in the navigation method. This difference is the distinction between and definition of AGVs and AMRs.

AGV

AGV is an abbreviation for automated guided vehicle. It is also called a self-guided vehicle or automatic guided vehicle. JISD6801 defines an AGV as "a vehicle that has the function of automatically traveling in a certain area and transporting goods other than humans such as loads, and is not used on roads stipulated by the Road Traffic Act." Its definition is still a vehicle.

AMR

Among AGVs, those that do not require guide like magnetic tape (guideless) and estimate their own position based on information from built-in sensors are generally called AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). They are also called a guideless AGV and next-generation AGV. It may be considered that the concept of a vehicle that runs within a predetermined condition has evolved into a robot that moves by its own judgment.

Range of movement

Due to the difference in navigation method between AGVs and AMRs, there is a difference in the range of movement as well.

AGV

As mentioned above, AGVs travel a fixed route set by guides such as magnetic tape. Therefore, it is impossible to navigate in a place where no guide is installed, and if there is an obstacle on the fixed route, it will stop and cannot navigate further. In order for them to move smoothly without any trouble, it is essential to secure a place with no obstacles and install guides.

AMR

On the other hand, AMRs travel along routes that are automatically calculated according to the surrounding environment. Therefore, even if there are people or obstacles on the travel route, they can avoid them or slow down to deal with them. Since there is no need to install magnetic tape or other guides (guideless), the destination can be easily changed according to the situation. This makes it possible to introduce AGVs to new locations where they have not been introduced before.

What do you think? Did you understand?

In the past, when only industrial robots existed, robots were enclosed in fences and used separately from humans. This made it possible to use robots safely without causing harm to humans and ensure their safety.

However, this meant that they were limited to certain tasks and were not suitable for collaborative work, where people work together. There were inevitably limitations to being separated into humans and robots. In order to overcome these limitations and achieve even greater productivity, collaborative robots that enable collaboration with humans without barriers were developed. Of course, there were various favorable factors behind this, such as changes to laws and regulations, but I think this is a common phenomenon in the process of technological evolution. I feel that the relationship between AGVs and AMRs is very similar to this.

AGVs and AMRs: Where are they best suited?

Now that we understand the characteristics of AGVs and AMRs, let's consider situations where each is suitable.

Scenes where AGVs improve productivity
  • ・Places that emphasize speed = importance of takt
  • ・A place where the route is fixed or constant
  • - One-way streets, places where you can use the vehicle like a train
  • ・Replacement for conveyors (AGVs are an option when flexibility is required in conveyors)
Scenes where AMR can improve productivity
  • - Places where complex transportation is taking place within the process
  • - Transport that doesn't mind waiting and isn't focused on speed
  • - I want to deliver the goods to the next process without worrying about the takt time.
  • ・Places where the route changes and where it can be used like a taxi
  • ・Human replacement
  • ・Automate parts that could not be automated using AGVs, etc. with AMR

When we look at the factory from the perspective of overall optimization rather than partial optimization,
There is a best combination.

It is natural that perspectives differ depending on one's role and position, such as how high one looks at things and how long a time frame one looks at things from. For example, a dedicated worker's perspective is how to perform the task at hand as efficiently as possible. On the other hand, a production manager's perspective is how to efficiently increase the productivity of the manufacturing department he or she is in charge of.

Something I heard during a business negotiation is symbolic.

When I said, "It seems that the transportation from this production line to the next production line is done manually, but considering productivity, wouldn't it be better for you to consider introducing an AMR here?", I received the response, "If we did that, it would involve departments outside of our department, and the discussion would not move forward."
In other words, the departments are divided vertically, making it difficult to coordinate between departments, and it is difficult for one's own department to get involved in the gaps. This type of case is probably not unique to this company.

Summary

What is important is the manager's perspective of looking at things from a long-term perspective.

The COVID-5 pandemic has led to a major shift in the way manufacturing sites operate, with non-contact between people now a given. There is no guarantee that something similar will happen in the future. Are we adequately prepared for that? Also, will the labor shortage, which is currently an issue for the entire company, be resolved in the future? If it is not resolved, we will need to consider automation that can optimize the entire factory from a higher perspective, assuming a labor shortage, over a span of five to ten years. When thinking about this, what should our options be? Perhaps it is time for a drastic change in thinking.