Composite navigation + frame type controller enables the forklift AGV to move forward
"Our company was founded in 2017, but has actually entered the industry since 2015", Liu quanchao, founder of easy robot, told reporters of new strategic mobile robot all media: "easy robot team is composed of developers of robot core modules such as mechanical design, embedded software and hardware, interactive software, control algorithm and map building navigation algorithm. After three years of deep cultivation and iteration, an unmanned forklift compatible with slam and reflector navigation technology was developed in 2017."
In the field of forklift AGV, the controversy between laser reflective plate and non reflective laser navigation based on slam is very hot in recent years. Liu quanchao introduced that in terms of stability and accuracy, laser navigation with reflector has been used for many years, and based on the reference object, the deviation in the operation process is very small. As a "rising star", laser navigation without reflector is relatively immature, and there is a certain gap in stability and accuracy; However, in terms of flexibility, the AGV of reflector laser forklift needs to rely on auxiliary equipment to realize positioning and navigation. The route is relatively fixed, and long-distance handling is not conducive to the laying of reflector, and there will be mutual interference in dense storage. The non reflective laser navigation based on slam is relatively autonomous and can work without relying on auxiliary tools.
Based on this, the forklift AGV of easy robot combines slam natural environment navigation and reflector navigation, which adds more possibilities to the application scenario of AGV. At present, easy robot has forklift AGV products such as handling forklift AGV, stacking forklift AGV, forward moving stacking forklift AGV, counterweight stacking forklift AGV and cross leg stacking forklift AGV. The industrial applications cover photovoltaic, medical treatment, food, auto parts, military industry, 3C electronics and other industries.
In addition to the navigation mode, the core controller of the easy robot is also quite ingenious. "Unlike most controllers based on industrial control technology on the market, the frame embedded controller specially developed by easy robot has millimeter level positioning accuracy, and the navigation and positioning effects meet or exceed the popular navigation sensor products on the market; it also has a variety of dynamic planning and flexible obstacle avoidance, and provides point-to-point autonomous path planning and obstacle avoidance functions."
In response to the current trend of customization in AGV industry, for different mobile robots, easy robots also launch different types of controllers to give customers more convenient choices. "For example, the controller we specially developed for mobile robots has reached the shipment volume of more than 250 sets in 2020. This controller can be applied to differential driven AGVs and various service robots." Liu quanchao introduced in the interview.
However, customization is not a long-term plan for commercial deployment after all. For AGV enterprises, non-standard products are difficult to quickly improve profits, while for the application end, the long cycle generated by customization will also affect the production progress. Therefore, both AGV manufacturers and application terminals hope to standardize and generalize AGV products.
After going through the polishing of non-standard market and various projects, building several general modular mobile chassis, and then making some customized design according to the needs of specific project scenarios, taking away the characteristics, and integrating the structure and function of the whole vehicle design according to the common integrated modular products has become the trend of balancing the non-standard demand and the standardization development of products in the AGV industry. Liu quanchao said: "with the continuous efforts of the team, now our algorithm and software system have reached the standardization level, and the controllers of unmanned forklift AGV, standard chassis and mobile robot have also reached the stage of batch."
With the rapid development of the industry, what new goals does the easy robot have in the next stage to adapt to the rapid changes of technology and market?
For technology, Liu quanchao said: "Generally speaking, our focus will still be on forklift AGV. In the future, customers will only have higher and higher requirements for products and technology, so next, Yixing robot will continue to work hard on the core controller and develop more products on this basis. The specific manifestations are to improve the core algorithm, stability and performance of the core controller; and carry out modular research and development of the robot; of course, it also has the power to outdoor navigation, Plans to expand more scenes. "
In addition, as for the market planning, Liu quanchao said: "in the past few years, we have been struggling with technology and haven't made much effort in market expansion. Now our technology has gradually matured. In the near future, we will strengthen the market promotion and gain a firm foothold in the industry by strength."
In addition to the domestic market, in recent years, there are also cases of easy robot expanding the Southeast Asian market, Liu quanchao said: "compared with domestic enterprises, the Southeast Asian market still has little contact with automation and has great potential to be exploited. Although language and distance are a gap that is not easy to cross, after we train local employees and set up offices, the overseas extension is gradually on track. The projects in Thailand before the epidemic are also slowly advancing, and our plan is to focus on Thailand "Localization" expands and gradually spreads around to cover the Southeast Asian market. "
