Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots: Understanding the Difference
Article from MHI Solutions Magazine
MHI’s Mobile Automation Group (MAG) fills an important role in connecting suppliers to end users and helping integrators understand that mobile automation is just one part of the overall warehouse process. But none of that matters if safety isn’t at the forefront.
“That’s not going to change” as a focus of the group, said Brian Keiger, chair of MAG and vice president of MHI member Conveyco. “There’s a huge interest now in automation. For MAG, it’s essential that growth is accompanied by an emphasis on safety. One can’t happen without the other.”
Understanding the latest ANSI and other standards related to automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and the underdevelopment standards for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) is just one aspect of MAG’s commitment to education. “There are new standards popping up all over the place,” Keiger said. “We help people understand why they are so darn important. They exist to help guide us, but also are there to promote safety and reliability, and to get the most of productivity and efficiency…”
