Ultrasonic sensors make smart transport systems safe

A new generation of AGVs from the Austrian company AGILOX Services GmbH is revolutionising logistics: The Intelligent Guided Vehicle (IGV) AGILOX is an agile, autonomous plug & play transport system that has achieved international success with new concepts for spatial navigation and swarm intelligence. Such high-tech transport systems create tremendous advantages in logistics, because they save space and reduce personnel costs. Reliable prevention of collisions between people and objects, however, requires cutting-edge, certified sensor technologies.

Little space for advanced technology

An especially challenging task in this development was to protect the blind zone of the IGV AGILOX from the fork arms in the phase immediately prior to entering the pallet. Since the installation space for sensors in this area is very small, It was difficult to find suitable sensors. In the end, the Austrian sales partner Urmet Dialog pointed AGILOX Services toward the USi® ultrasonic sensors from Mayser GmbH & Co. KG. Domiciled in Ulm and Lindenberg, the company manufactures products and system solutions for safety technology, foam technology and moulded components at six locations in Europe, Asia and the USA.

Complex echo process ensures reliable object detection

Mayser developed its USi® ultrasonic sensors especially for non-touch monitoring of three-dimensional spaces. A complex process consisting of an echo propagation time measurement and an echo amplitude measurement allows both distance measurements and non-touch object detection by the sensor. The USi® detects objects made of diverse materials and is insensitive to contamination, extraneous sound, air flows and moisture. It also features very compact, freely positionable transducers that can be positioned apart from the electronic system for increased versatility of installation – even in very tight spaces. A special new software routine provides for added safety by suppressing mutual interference if two independent transport systems meet each other.

High safety standards

Since the areas of application for the IGV AGILOX also include work areas where people move about, the USi® Safety with a special dual channel system for personnel safety was added during the course of the cooperation. AGILOX Services therefore received a technology that was even more innovative and more complex than the original requirement. Equipped with USi® and USi® Safety at the end of the integration process, the Intelligent Guided Vehicle from AGILOX Services can now operate without interruptions, which allows maximum efficiency. In addition, the IGV AGILOX is the only automated transport system on the market that is fully protected according to ISO 13849-1 Category 3 PL d – a unique selling proposition with long-term benefits for AGILOX Services.