Tech Briefs Magazine - December 2022 - MD2

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Compact Motorization for Automated Guided Vehicles
From autonomous e-mobility vehicles to compact automated guided vehicles (AGVs), there is an increasing need for motorized solutions
with specific designs that meet the needs of the operation. The maxon Group offers drive solutions that are specifically adapted to each stage
of the chain for increasingly faster and safer e-commerce transactions. In this interview, Biren Patel, Business Development Manager, Mobility
Solutions and Electronic Systems at maxon Group, discusses technology advancements in compact motorization.
Motion Design: We are seeing a boom in AGVs triggered by
increased digitalization, especially in e-commerce operations.
What are some of the technical constraints and challenges designers
of AGVs are facing?
Biren Patel: There are two main challenges
designers often face - space and reliability.
Some of the reasons to use an AGV in a
warehouse is to increase efficiency to do
more in a tight space. Ordering online and
getting products within 24 hours or even
the same day is now becoming the norm. To
accommodate this in a cost-effective manner,
the location of the warehouse needs to be near larger cities.
Space near larger cities is at a premium. So, these warehouses are
a lot smaller and high-rack storage solutions are used. To succeed
in this confined environment, manufacturers of AGVs
must offer compact and functional robots, which are
able to move vertically and carry heavy loads. Having
a bulky motor makes this near impossible, so it's necessary
to choose compact motorization. AGV must also
offer long-term reliability and robustness so they can
function without any need for maintenance.
Motion Design: How does compact motorization
address some of these challenges?
Patel: With design to avoid failures. I mean, failures are
still likely to happen, and they will happen with use. The
key is then how quickly can it be resolved? Having a
compact drive will help with this. There are less components
to diagnose. And once the failure is found, if it is a
compact drive, it's a much easier swap out and then you
can have that bot or that axis of motion running again
and avoid significant downtime. Another challenge that
compact motorization alleviates is cable routing. AGVs have multiple
axes and there are at least two-wheel drives on them. There are
also robotic arms if they are going out and grabbing boxes or other
items and routing all these cables becomes tricky. Having the motor
and controller, for example, in one package reduces the number of
cables that must be routed. With less cables, there are fewer open
points of failure.
Motion Design: What technology solutions does maxon offer for
AGVs?
Patel: Over the years, maxon has been known as a motor company.
This is still true to the core. We are a motor company.
However, we do offer much more. For AGVs and robotics, we
offer the maxon wheel drive. This is a modular, highly integrated
compact drive system. The standard configuration consists of a
motor, gearhead, encoder and can be individually supplemented
2
with brake, controller, and wheel as desired. We also offer compact
actuator joints. These are also modular. Standard configuration
for this actuator is comprised with motor, gearhead, encoder, and
controller. Another option we have is our IDX drives (configurable
online). The unit comes in a housing that's protected against
water and dust (IP65 rated).
Motion Design: What best practices should design engineers
keep in mind as they select integrated motor drive systems?
Patel: Keeping AGVs in mind and how they will be around humans
all over the place, I think prioritizing safety is one thing and then
basing designs on modularity as you are going to have different
axes with different requirements. Time-to-market is always key for
something that has fast delivery and then focus on ease of use and
wherever possible, choose compact motorization.
Configurable
brushless IDX compact
drive with an integrated
EPOS4 positioning controller.
Motion Design: Where do you see the most potential for compact
motorization in the next five years?
Patel: AGVs, for sure, but not just for warehouses. We will see
them more and more in our daily lives. For example, service robots
for food delivery. They will share the sidewalk with us. And
you don't want large robots there that people can see. You kind
of want them to blend into the background. Agriculture is another
one. You don't want heavy motorized vehicles going up and down
the fields. I also see it in automotive and aerospace production
areas, where you have tight spaces and you want to get products
to the assembly line quickly.
Watch the full interview with Biren Patel
Motion Design, December 2022

Tech Briefs Magazine - December 2022

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