Chapter 12: Power systems, Control and Communications

Title: Development of an AGV with a robotic arm

Author(s): A. Lakhani, I.A. Gorlach

Address: Department of Mechatronics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, North Campus, University Way, Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa | Department of Mechatronics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, North Campus, University Way, Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa

Reference: Software, Knowledge, Information Management and Applications (SKIMA 2013) pp. 549 - 555

Abstract/Summary: Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are commonly used for material handling in reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs). This paper presents the development of an AGV coupled with a robotic arm. The navigation strategy of the AGV, which is the main focus of this paper, is based on a vision system. A line-following algorithm is used to guide the AGV, and visual surface markers are used to track relative positions. The developed system provides effective motion control and machine loading/unloading tasks.

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