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  1. Mobile Robots
  2. Localization

Always on track: How to achieve an efficient flow of goods with mobile robots

In order for mobile robots to perform their tasks as quickly and accurately as possible, they need to know where they are at all times. This goes for both the travel paths and the identification of the goods to be loaded. RFID tags or 2D codes, for example, provide the necessary information. As landmarks, they show the mobile robots the route to be travelled, while tags and codes on pallets or goods containers are used for product identification.

Transparency in track & trace through information dialogue

In a seamlessly digitalised track & trace solution, mobile robots not only receive and execute orders. They also continuously report their position and information about the picked goods back to the IT level. This helps to optimise fleet scheduling and improve material flow control. The flow of goods and stock levels can be monitored centrally and transparently. Downtime due to missing or incorrectly delivered parts is avoided.

To put it in a nutshell: The use of mobile robots increases the efficiency of intralogistics and the effectiveness of the entire production plant when intelligently integrated into a digitised overall solution.

Localisation and identification for efficient order processing

Problem

Codes on the hall floor that are used by mobile robots as landmarks can become faded or rubbed off. This makes the codes difficult to read and the robot’s navigation may become unreliable, leading to navigation errors, reducing the efficiency of the mobile robots, as well as affecting the entire intralogistics system and productivity in downstream processes.

Solution

Thanks to a flexible exposure time, the O2I code reader can identify and read even faded codes. Robot navigation remains reliable, intralogistics and production processes run with undiminished quality and speed.

Problem

To reliably read codes on the hall floor, mobile robots must operate at a reduced speed. This reduces the effectiveness of the individual unit and the fleet size needs to be adjusted accordingly in order to achieve the required performance metrics.

Solution

The O2I code reader reliably detects codes at speeds of up to 3.5 m/s. This increases the speed at which mobile robots can move over codes as landmarks. The performance of each unit increases and a smaller fleet is sufficient to achieve the required performance metrics.

Problem

Navigation using codes is unreliable due to prevailing conditions. The care (maintenance, cleaning) of the landmarks is too time-consuming, making the use of mobile robots uneconomical.

Solution

RFID tags can be embedded in the ground as landmarks. There they are protected from damage and the ground surface is even. RFID antennas from ifm reliably read these tags, thus enabling a robust navigation of mobile robots.

An AGV reads QR codes on the floor

An AGV reads QR codes on the floor

Benefits of locating and identifying using code readers and/or RFID

  • Easy commissioning
    Whether code reader or RFID antenna: Simple parameter setting via free software (code reader) or browser environment (RFID antenna), a guaranteed error-free connection via standard cable and the simple option of easily transferring pre-configured data records reduce commissioning and thus the production time per robot unit.
  • Seamless data communication right up to the IT level
    Both the code reader and the RFID antenna are available with an IO-Link interface. The open digital communication standard promotes a smooth dialogue between the sensor and IT level and simplifies the integration of mobile robots into an overall digitalised intralogistics solution.

Learn more about IO-Link now ➜

IO-Link systems from ifm

Point-to-point communication with IO-Link systems from ifm

IO-Link has been developed by leading sensor, actuator and control manufacturers. The result is a standardised and fieldbus independent interface for automation. This provides the user with point-to-point connections without complex addressing. Binary switches that used to be limited to simple switching signals or analogue values have developed into smart sensors.