Purpose and Practice: How Do AGVs Work?
Automated guidance vehicles are machines of varying size that are guided by either wires or embedded track in your facility. They can also be guided by light, radio waves cameras or magnets. In the context of warehouse operations and order fulfillment AGVs are essentially meant to assist or replace human personnel in the movement and preparation of goods for packing and shipping, so they can focus on other duties.
There are multiple daily and long-term benefits of AGV systems, including but not limited to:
- Lower Staff Costs – Rather than train and retain a staff of full-time employees to manually pick and pack items, AGVs enable you to make a one-time investment in technology implementation that pays dividends for years to come.
- Reduced Errors and Safety Issues – AGVs are guided with smart technology, like cameras, wire sensors, lasers and other mechanisms to reduce collision and other types of accidents that can threaten your staff and your inventory. They also reduce the possibility of human error due to distraction, fatigue and other factors.
- Better Accuracy and Productivity – Targeted and intuitive systems allow AGVs to pick and move more items faster and with more precision. AGVs also have the capacity to run around the clock seven days a week, as opposed to human personnel.
AGVs are also scalable to fit the configuration, size and spatial limitations of any warehouse or production facility.
