Feature: Industrial applications
AGVs and AMRs in industrial settings (Photo credit: iStock-901807090-01)
Building mobile robots for
industrial environments By Jörg Stollfuß, Field Application Engineer, MicroSys Electronics
processes efficiently and safely on the factory floor, materials processing premises but also warehouses and logistics centres. Tey ensure safe, precise and automated material handling, relieving employees of hard tasks and mitigating the shortage of skilled labour. Tey can largely be leſt to their own devices to handle tasks autonomously. By integrating them into existing systems, the entire industrial setup is thus easily managed, optimised and efficient. However, developing AGV and AMR
A
systems requires hardware and soſtware, to power their real-time processing and decision making. Tey must also meet stringent safety certifications.
utomated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), as the name states, are mobile robots. Tey handle transportation
AGVs and AMRs Generally, AGVs follow predefined routes using tracks and markers, whereas AMRs rely entirely on onboard sensors, real- time processing and AI to interpret their surroundings and make autonomous decisions. Both are characterised by intelligent navigation and localisation capabilities, advanced sensor fusion and high-speed communication between components. To meet these demands, they require dedicated computing cores, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) units and advanced network interfaces. Conventional computing architectures are proving out of their depth in supporting these systems’ successful operation. Now, modern edge processors handle tasks that include sensor and image processing, motion control and other computations. Information is gathered from many sensors, but also radar, LiDAR and cameras, ensuring these robots’ safe
20 September 2025
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
movement and navigation. Inter-component communication and data transfer must be achieved with minimal latency.
Software integration Soſtware also plays a critical role in AGVs and AMRs, supporting functions like navigation, object detection, route planning, power management. For that, real-time data transmission and processing for rapid response are crucial. Comprehensive soſtware integration
enables mobile robots to operate seamlessly, safely and efficiently, with optimal interaction between sensors, control systems and communication interfaces. It also enhances scaleability, facilitates updates and allows quick adaptation to new processes or environments.
Complexity, reduced! Overall, building a mobile robot can be complex, requiring integrated,
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