MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM DESIGN - Environmentally Conscious Materials Handling - page 13

Figure 1.6 High-speed palletizer (Source: Courtesy of FKI Logistex)

3.4 Robots

Robots are programmable devices that resemble the human arm. They are also
capable of moving like the human arm and can perform functions such as weld,
pick and place, load and unload (see Figure 1.8). Some advantages of using a
robot are that they can perform complex repetitive tasks automatically and they
can work in hazardous and uncomfortable environments that a human operator
cannot work. The disadvantage is that robots are relatively expensive.

3.5 Automated Guided Vehicles

AGVs have become very popular, especially in the past decade, and will continue
to be the dominant type of MHD in the years to come. The first system was
installed in 1953, and the technology continues to expand. AGVs can be regarded
as a type of specially designed robots. Their paths can be controlled in a number
of different ways. They can be fully automated or semiautomated. AGVs are
becoming more flexible with a wider range of applications using more diverse
vehicle types, load transfer techniques, guide path arrangements, controls, and
control interfaces. They can also be embedded into other MHDs. A sample of
AGVs and their applications are illustrated in Figure 1.9.