Warehouse Automation: Role of AI in Boosting Automatic Guided Vehicles’ Performance

Summary: The main goal of infusing automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) into the automation process is to limit human engagement in tasks requiring manual labor. This results in error reduction, safety enhancement, and overall performance improvement. Today, AI has equipped AGV with many more features to make them capable of handling even complicated and strategic tasks.

Warehouse automation involves using automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) or also called autonomous guided vehicles for managing inventory and delivering finished goods to their desired location. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly enhanced the core capabilities of automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) by making them much more smarter, adaptable and capable of complicated decision-making on the go.

Machine learning plays a key role in enhancing AGVs’ decision-making capability by allowing it to adapt to changing environments. It enables these self-guided vehicles to make quick and intelligent decisions even in complex environments. AGVs help in saving costs and its market is expected to see a 7% annual growth between 2024 to 2032.

Let’s now dive in further to know how AGVs are reshaping warehouse automation and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.

Evolution of Automatic Guided Vehicles

AGVs have evolved over time. Their earlier versions used to follow a predetermined path which were demarcated using wires or magnets embedded in the floor for ease of navigation. Also, they lacked the capability to take decisions or adapt to changing situations which restricted their role to limited tasks.

They were also reliant on basic sensors for detecting obstacles or navigating around them. The AGVs were devoid of AI or machine learning capabilities which limited its efficacy in complicated and dynamic environments. Their roles were confined to environments which were predictable and static like factories or warehouses with structured layouts.

In spite of their inherent limitations, AGVs have paved the way for developing much more intelligent and capable AGVs which would revolutionize automation in the forthcoming years. AGVs have become a common phenomenon in warehouses today. Hence, it’s essential to know the various types of AGVs for implementing the right variant depending on your use case.

Types of Automatic Guided Vehicles

AGVs have become a common phenomenon in warehouses today. Hence, it’s essential to know the various types of AGVs for implementing the right variant depending on your use case.

Automated Guided Carts (AGC)

Useful in transporting a variety of materials ranging from small parts to loaded pallets. Frequently used in sorting, storing and cross-docking applications. For more information — originally published