As one of the core equipment of smart factory logistics, automatic guided vehicle (AGV) is playing an increasingly important role in the factory logistics automation system. They walk through the warehouse and efficiently complete the handling tasks. While bringing great convenience to production, there are also certain safety hazards. AGV safety application standards can refer to ISO 3691-4 (in our previous content, you can search for relevant content).
At present, the recommended configurations for AGV safe operation solutions are: safety scanner, safety analysis unit (ie safety controller) and industrial firewall.
The production workshop is in full swing: components, materials on the packaging machine, and pallets in the warehouse must arrive on the production line on time. Traditional AGV systems are track-based, similar to trains or trams, and follow a predetermined route. Free-navigating vehicles, so-called autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), operate on more flexible routes. Due to working with people, in this dynamically changing environment, no matter what type of AGV system it is, it must bear the brunt of safety. So, for mobile robots, how can we ensure both productivity and safety?
Modular Security Solutions
The complexity of an AGV system increases with its capabilities, and a modular safety solution can increase the productivity of the application. The track-type AGV system must be able to maintain a certain warning and safety area according to its own speed, and can stop running when encountering obstacles. The safety laser scanner PSENscan from Pilz is suitable for this type of safety protection, monitoring the production area and preventing collisions that could cause danger. If the emergency stop function needs to be overridden, a more flexible solution comprising the PSENscan scanner and the modular safety relay myPNOZ is available.
more safe areas
Free-navigating mobile platforms can autonomously navigate around obstacles or people without stopping, so the safety features of such systems are more complex. The safety laser scanner is constantly “scanning” the surrounding environment, and the relevant data are directly read out by PSENscan’s ROS (Robot Operating System) software package, and the user can use these data for his own SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm to create an environment for navigation map.
PSENscan can set up to 70 protection areas, and can be adjusted dynamically: when the AGV is running at high speed, its corresponding protection area is also larger, so that obstacles can be detected in time and measures can be taken; when the AGV is running at a slower speed , and its protection area is relatively reduced to avoid stagnation as much as possible. In this way, the AGV can move more efficiently. The configurable small controller PNOZmulti with speed monitoring module (extension module for motion monitoring) enables very reliable selection of the corresponding safe protective field.
Industrial firewall, making it impossible for illegal manipulation
AGV systems often need to communicate wirelessly with the main controller of the production workshop where they are located, which makes them vulnerable to external attacks or manipulation. If proper measures are not taken, the AGV system map data may be tampered with. Worst case , will lead to the stagnation of the AGV system and the entire production.
The industrial security system proposed by Pilz can solve this problem well. The industrial firewall SecurityBridge can ensure that unauthorized parties cannot access its internal IT network during the operation of the AGV, realizing mechanical security and industrial information security for mobile platforms integration.
