AGVs (Automated Guide Vehicles) are industrial driving robots that mainly perform internal logistic transport tasks and are equipped with a navigation system. Over the years, these navigation systems have evolved from route guidance to a two-dimensional location determination in which all types of navigation systems are still used today. Typically, an AGV is equipped with 1 navigation system. However, every navigation system has its limitations. As a result, conflicts regularly occur during the design phase. Eliminating these conflicts is mainly done by making concessions in terms of budget, AGV route... Because of this evolution, technologies become cheaper and more compact so that systems such as a gyroscope or an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) find their way to AGVs. However, the use of a gyroscope leads to new limitations. For example, a gyroscope/IMU needs to be set to zero on a regular basis.
This study wants to add a new dimension by, on the one hand, developing a navigation system based on barcodes that combines the characteristics and advantages of route guidance and two-dimensional location determination. On the other hand, the study wants to investigate the use of two navigation systems on one AGV. Finally, it will investigate whether the barcode system is suitable for zero positioning.
The following research questions will become the guideline during the research:
- Which software solutions are needed to switch an AGV from a main navigation system to a back-up navigation system and vice versa?
- Which software solutions are needed to position AGV gyroscopes and/or IMU's to zero using a barcode navigation system?
The goal is to design the necessary analyses and to develop software, in the shape of a software library and to put it into use on a real AGV.