Cheap Automated Guided Vehicles - concept and experiments

摘要

The robotic platforms used for ensure the transfer of the semi-finished product within a company are proven to be useful compared to conventional conveyor systems through flexibility, reliability, fast maintenance with a much higher degree of reservation than other systems, but especially through the possibility of fast reconfigurability in line with the current market economy requirements. The present paper addresses this reality in conjunction with a real situation identified within a company, going through all the specific stages, from the concept to the physical implementation of the prototype. Successfully experienced solution by the authors has focused not only on satisfying the requirements imposed by the concept, but also to identifying cheap, easy-to-buy components by any company. Thus, certain components of a usual Segways and control subsystem that can be quickly purchased through on-line commerce (shields and controllers from the Arduino family) are used. At the end of the article, the conclusions outlined propose potential beneficiaries a number of possibilities to extend the proposed concept, along with a procedure for selecting the main components that are part of the CAGY.