Flexible Intralogistics:
Precise Navigation
for arculus AMRs

Autonome mobile Roboter millimetergenau positionieren – mit VC MIPI Cameras

The challenge: Navigating robots

Autonomous mobile robots (AMR) from arculus - a Jungheinrich company revolutionize intralogistics and manufacturing processes with their high flexibility and intelligent networking. The prerequisite for collaboration with other robot systems is the precise positioning of the AMRs in the range +/- 5 mm.

The solution: Cameras read markers on the ground

VC MIPI® camera modules read pre-measured markers on the floor and thus enable highly accurate alignment in narrow passages, such as when driving onto or under a transport rack. Thanks to the MIPI CSI-2 standard, they are optimally compatible with the NVIDIA processor platform used in the Robot Control Unit.

AMR arculee: Autonomous Mobile Robot –
arculus GmbH – a Jungheinrich company

Autonomer mobiler Roboter (AMR) Arculee - Produktansicht oben
Autonomer mobiler Roboter (AMR) Arculee - Produktansicht Ecke

The arculee brings self-driving vehicle technologies to factory floors, enabling completely new production processes. The mobile robot is available in various sizes and with transport capacities of up to a ton.

 

Revolution for intralogistics and manufacturing processes

It is hard to imagine modern intralogistics and manufacturing processes without robots. However, while individual production steps are highly automated, there is often a lack of intelligent networking of the same. This is the focus of the portfolio of arculus - a Jungheinrich company. The Munich-based company develops solutions for modular production and automated intralogistics. The core component of the modular production solutions is the arculee, an autonomous mobile robot (AMR). It brings self-driving vehicle technologies to factory floors, enabling completely new production processes. Available in various sizes and with transport capacities of up to one ton, the robot is proving its worth in the automotive production of a leading German car manufacturer, among others.

AMRs provide
flexibility

The advantage of AMRs: While production processes on linear production lines and assembly lines often come to a standstill if material is missing at a station, a machine has to be serviced or the production step is otherwise delayed, AMRs enable flexible production at decentralized stations and thus ensure a smooth and efficient process. If a production step comes to a standstill at one station, the product's path is adjusted in seconds and the AMR moves to the next free production platform. In the same way, required material is always transported by the AMRs to exactly where it is needed at the moment. The heart of the arculee is a central control unit - the Robot Control Unit (RCU).

Key Facts

Technology

Marker reading navigation

Challenge

Positioning accuracy +/- 5mm

VC Vision Solution

VC MIPI® Cameras

MIPI cameras ensure navigation

A prerequisite for maximum autonomy of the arculee fleet is reliable and precise navigation - especially when collaborating with other robot systems and when positioning and aligning in narrow passages, such as when entering or passing under a transport rack. For this, arculus relies on MIPI camera modules from Vision Components. They read pre-measured markers on the floor and thus enable a positioning accuracy of the arculee in the range of +/- 5 mm, far more precise than can be achieved with the SLAM navigation often used as an alternative. A proprietary LED array is synchronized with the VC MIPI® camera module via the RCU, providing optimal lighting conditions for marker reading while minimizing power consumption. The customer benefits from reduced charging times and smaller fleet sizes possible.

Decisive factors: industrial grade quality and long-term availability

arculus chose the camera modules from Vision Components because of their robustness for use in industrial production facilities and their guaranteed long-term availability. In addition, thanks to the MIPI CSI-2 standard, they are optimally compatible with the NVIDIA processor platform used in the Robot Control Unit. VC's MIPI modules are available in numerous sensor variants and are also characterized by their competitive price-performance ratio.

About arculus GmbH –
a Jungheinrich company

Founded in 2016, arculus is a leading provider of complete solutions for planning, implementation and management of automated logistics and modular production systems. arculus’ portfolio includes the arculee line of autonomous mobile robots, the arculus Fleet software, arculus Warehouse (goods-to-person logistics) and arculus Modular Production (dynamic product flow).

Registration

Hands-on Workshop: FPGA Programming for Embedded Vision

23.04.2024

9:30 – 17:00 Uhr

Ettlingen near Karlsruhe

149 € per participation

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