Car manufacturer Skoda has commissioned a series of fully autonomous transport robots at its plant in Vrchlabí, Czech Republic. These are Omron's LD transport robots, which are used to transport parts between the mechanical computing centre and processing robots in the factory. What do we know about these robots?
The LD is a transport robot that can operate fully autonomously and is self-learning. The LD is available in two models: the LD-105CT with a carrying capacity of 105 kg and a maximum speed of 1.35 metres per second and the LD-130CT with a carrying capacity of 130 kg and a maximum speed of 0.9 metres per second. Skoda uses LD-130CTs. The robots are linked to docking stations, where the LDs can recharge their batteries.
Skoda's plant in Vrchlabí has a total area of 16,000 m2. Despite this large area, the LDs can reach all destinations within this plant. The LDs have been in operation at the Vrchlabí plant since June 2018. The transport robots perform about 120 trips per day with a total distance of about 35 kilometres.
Detect and avoid obstacles
The robots are equipped with sensors and laser scanners that enable them to detect vehicles, people as well as fixed objects. This data is used to calculate the speed at which the obstacle is approaching and detect whether the LD is on a collision course with the obstacle. If so, the robot automatically stops or deflects.
Unlike traditional automated transport systems, the LD does not require guidance via, for example, induction loops, magnetic strips or reflectors. As a result, the deployment of the robots requires fewer facility modifications, making the rollout cheaper. A human driver shows the robot once using a joystick or tablet the route it needs to take between different base stations, after which the robot plans its own route.
Adjusting route in real time
Autonomous transport systems have been used in Skoda factories for some time. The LD differs from these systems by, among other things, being able to directly adjust its route in real-time based on information it gathers about its surroundings. This allows the route to be adjusted without the robot having to stop, increasing its efficiency.
Does the robot regularly encounter obstacles at a certain point on its route? Then the robot automatically adjusts its fixed route to avoid these obstacles from now on. The route is thus dynamic and can be adjusted independently by the robot without human intervention.
Control via touchscreen
Operators can communicate with the robot via a 7-inch touchscreen. In addition, there are several physical buttons on the robot that the operator can use to control the LD. These include an on/off button, a button to release the brake and a button to connect or disconnect the robot from a trolley. A call button is also available that allows operators to send a robot to a specific location.
LDs can be controlled using software called MobilePlanner. Among other things, this solution can be used to develop maps to deploy mobile robots for certain applications. In addition, robots can be configured and tasks assigned through this solution.
If several LDs are operating in a facility, Enterprise Manager can be used. This network application ensures that tasks are automatically distributed among the available LDs. In addition, the solution optimises traffic flows so that LDs do not get in each other's way. Enterprise Manager also allows transport robots to be integrated with other factory systems, such as Manufacturing Execution Systems, Warehouse Management Software and Enterprise Resource Planning solutions.
Increasing work safety
Skoda reports that due to rising production numbers, it is using more and more capacity of its factories and facing more traffic in production areas. The deployment of autonomous robots is part of improvements the carmaker is implementing to increase work safety and minimise risks during operations. "It was a conscious decision to deploy the first fully autonomous robot for ŠKODA AUTO at the Vrchlabí plant. With this, we emphasise once again how important this factory is as a state-of-the-art, high-tech location," says Michael Oeljeklaus, board member for Production and Logistics at ŠKODA AUTO.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: Omron (pictured)
