AGV from simple van to intelligent robots

First automatic guided vehicle, 1913 by Ford Motor Company for chassis assembly, and reflects the use of the time called AGV superiority. But then there is a rail guided. By the 20th century, the mid-1950s, in 1955 the British first removed the guide rails used on the ground floor embedding, formed to guide the electromagnetic induction simple AGVS, 1959 年 AGV used in warehouses and factories operating on automation.
1960s began to apply computer technology to AGV system management and control, AGV system from automated warehouse into flexible manufacturing system (FMS) and production systems, so that the AGV has been rapid development. Although AGV first appeared in the United States, but it is to be developed rapidly in Europe and promotion of applications, and fabrication and assembly process to become a popular material Hand pallet jacks equipment. Unified European company structure and size of the tray so that the manufacturer does not require frequent AGV according to the user's requirements change their product form. Since the AGV efficient and flexible, making the AGV system in advanced industrial countries gained widespread application. Sweden in 1969 for the first time in the logistics system uses AGV, 1973 KALMAR, Sweden VOLVO car factory in the assembly line for the extensive use of computer-controlled AGV assembly operations, the introduction of the mid-1970s unitized load handling for AGV, AGV expands The use of random device adds many features, such as additional tables, transfer device, logistics, and control information receiving and conversion components. 1983 all over Europe there are 360 ​​of 3,900 AGV AGV system at work, and 1985. AGV total number of units produced more than 10,000 units; 1985 2100 AGV system, the United States has a total of 8199 units AGV, a total of more than 30 manufacturers AGV ; first introduced in Japan in 1963, one AGV, 1976 ten years after the annual increase in the number of AGV systems, there Shinko Electric, Hirata motors, Sumitomo Heavy machine 27 major manufacturers, 1981 sales reached 6,000,000,000 yen in 1984 to 150 billion yen in 1985 rose to 20 billion yen.
Trends in today's mobile robots are gradually to intelligent direction, that is, when the mobile robot in unknown environment in a complex unpredictable action, would require not only has the AGV sensing function, but also has a certain decision-making and planning capabilities. This has the visual and tactile perception function, and can make independent decisions on movement of mobile robot, the third generation of intelligent mobile robots. Generally speaking, intelligent robot has the following three basic functions: to understand the task function, functional environmental understanding and action planning functions. Intelligent robot get through the task to understand functional job tasks and operational objectives, and functions according to the environmental gain understanding on environmental changes in the initial conditions and environmental information, through action planning function autonomously achieve the objective of making the best course of action. In order to build intelligent systems, integrated various methods is necessary, such as traditional artificial intelligence, fuzzy systems, neural networks, genetic algorithms.