Motion control for AGV automated guided vehicles: Robox on Automazione Oggi

Robox is featured in Automazione Oggi with an article dedicated to motion control for AGV automated guided vehicles and integrated architectures for automated logistics.

The article “Navigation Systems for AGVs: an Integrated OEM-Oriented Approach” describes how the solutions developed by Robox Motion Control allow automated guided vehicle manufacturers to integrate navigation, motion control, fleet management, and functional safety within a single modular and scalable architecture.

AGVs for logistics require increasingly advanced systems capable of ensuring precision, reliability, and operational flexibility in dynamic environments. To meet these requirements, Robox offers an integrated approach in which the RP-2 onboard controller processes sensor data in real time, estimating the vehicle’s position and orientation.

At fleet level, AGV Manager enables the management of vehicles and missions, coordinating the system’s operating logic. To support the design, configuration, and commissioning phases, tools such as the Robox AGV Tool (RAT) allow users to create the layout map, simulate routes, and validate application logic before start-up, helping to reduce commissioning times and on-site issues.

Functional safety also plays a key role, as it is now an essential element in AGV systems. The Robox architecture includes the integration of a safety PLC dedicated to continuous monitoring of the operating environment, interfaced via FSoE with the safety laser scanners and the drives controlling the vehicle’s motors.

From a navigation standpoint, AGV solutions can adopt different technologies depending on the application, layout, and required level of flexibility.

• Inertial navigation provides accuracy, repeatability, and robustness with limited infrastructure impact.
• Laser navigation, based on triangulation using reflectors, is suitable for structured environments requiring flexible routes.
• Natural navigation, on the other hand, uses environmental perception and is particularly suitable for applications where fixed references cannot be installed on the floor or on walls.

The choice of the most suitable technology must therefore be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the system characteristics, infrastructure constraints, and productivity targets.