Prototyping the Integration Requirements of a Free-Path AGV System

Automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS) are gaining more attention from both academic and industrial research organizations. However, there exist some basic problems that still remain unsolved which prevent widespread installation of AGV systems. System integration is such an issue.This chapter describes an on-going research on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) at Purdue University. It is an AGV-based factory transport system composed of experimental free-path vehicles, a vehicle simulator, a transport system controller and a shop simulator. Discussions include issues related to the integration requirements of a free-path AGV system. The main focus is on the design of the control architecture, division of functions between system components, data communications considerations, etc. The concept of a virtual transport system is also presented.