Whether Egemin is exhibiting at a tradeshow or in a demonstration environment, it never ceases to amaze us how often people ask the following question in regard to Automatic Guided Vehicles: "Will it stop if I step in front of it?" Despite the presence of ANSI safety regulations, generally speaking, this is one of the first questions asked of Egemin or any AGV supplier. It isn''t "How does this AGV work" or "Can you explain Laser or Inertial guidance" -- it''s "Will this thing stop?" When investigating Automatic Guided Vehicles, a fundamental concern will always be, "Is this safe?"
When asking this question, consider the alternative. How safe is man-aboard fork traffic within your facility? How often are pallets and/or product damaged? Do collisions between forklifts occur? How many "close calls" do you have on a daily basis while operating? Fork traffic presents many challenges to a facility on a day-to-day basis, the least of which are the variables outside of your immediate control. How alert/aware of the environment is the driver? How secure is the load? Is visibility within your facility difficult for your drivers to maintain? The list continues. Strangely enough, despite the variables out of our direct control, this mode of material transport is often perceived to be safer than using Automatic Guided Vehicles. AGVs allow these variables to be controlled and maintained within your facility, resulting in a safer environment for you, your product, and your employees.
Egemin AGVs come equipped with many standard safety features: warning lights, audible signals, contact and non-contact bumpers, and a collision avoidance system to ensure safety in your facility. Egemin AGVs come standard with a SICK Laser Bumper®, which enables the collision avoidance system. When the vehicle is traveling along the virtual guidepath, this system will detect an obstacle (such as a person or debris) in front of the vehicle. At a configurable distance from the obstacle, the vehicle will decelerate to a slower speed. If the obstacle is detected within an ANSI specified distance from the vehicle, the vehicle will apply its brake, stopping before contact is made. The vehicle will resume operation approximately three seconds after the obstacle is removed.
In addition to the non-contact bumper, Egemin AGVs are outfitted with side contact bumpers, ensuring that obstacles that brush up alongside of the vehicle, outside of the Laser Bumper''s® view, are detected, thereby stopping the vehicle. Whether the vehicle is turning a corner or in a straightaway, these features make certain the vehicle will stop every time and for every obstacle (person, debris, other AGVs, etc.). Can your fork driver produce the same results?
Visibility concerns associated with fork traffic disappear with Automatic Guided Vehicles. Whether the vehicle is turning a corner or in a straightaway, each vehicle maintains within its system a detailed map of the facility, making visibility unnecessary and allowing the vehicle to focus on obstacle detection. These are just a few illustrations of the increasing safety benefits of Automatic Guided Vehicles. Next time you wonder if an Automatic Guided Vehicle will stop, you will know the answer: most definitely.