KEEPING MOVING COMMUNICATION AND SAFETY CHALLENGES FACING MOBILE ROBOT MANUFACTURERS Mark Crossley, Daniel Heinzler, Fredrik Brynolf and Thomas Carlsson, HMS Networks
Modern communication solutions help overcome the challenges in implementing mobile robots.
challenges facing mobile robot manufacturers and provides an easy way to overcome these challenges to keep mobile robots moving.
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What are mobile robots?
obile robots are everywhere, from warehouses to hospitals and even on the street. Their popularity is easy to understand: they’re cheaper, safer, easier to find and more productive than actual workers. They’re also easy to scale or combine with other machines. As mobile robots collect a lot of real-time data, companies can use mobile robots to start their IIoT journey. But to work efficiently, mobile robots need safe and reliable communication. This article outlines the main communication and safety
28 PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - APRIL 2023
Before we begin, let’s define what we mean by mobile robots. Mobile robots transport materials from one location to another and come in the form of two types: automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). AGVs use guiding infrastructure (wires, reflectors or magnetic strips) to follow predetermined routes. If an object blocks an AGV’s path, the AGV stops and waits until the object is removed. AMRs are more dynamic: they navigate via maps and use data from cameras, built-in sensors or laser scanners to detect their
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