How sensor fusion enables AMRs to maneuver around factory floors efficiently
D455 depth cameras also include a separate color (RGB) camera. A global shutter for up to 90 frames per second on the RGB camera, matched to the depth imager field of view (FOV), improves the correspondence between the color and depth images, enhancing the ability to understand the surroundings. D455 depth cameras integrate an IMU with six degrees of freedom that enables the depth calculation algorithm to include the rate of motion of the AMR and produce dynamic depth awareness estimates. Lighting and sounding the way Flashing lights and audible alerts for people near an AMR are important to AMR safety. The lights are usually in the form of a light tower or light strip on the sides of the AMR. They help the robot communicate its intended action(s) to people. They can also indicate status like battery charging, loading or unloading activities, intention to turn in a new direction (like the turn signals on a car), emergency conditions, and so on. There are no standards for light colors, flashing speeds, or audible alarms. They can vary
between AMR makers and are often developed to reflect the specific activities in the facility where the AMR operates. Light strips are available with and without built-in audible alert mechanisms. For example, the model TLF100PDLBGYRAQP from Banner Engineering includes a sealed audible element with 14 selectable tones and volume control (Figure 5). Figure 5: This light bar annunciator includes a sealed audible element (top black circle). (Image source: DigiKey)
Logistics support AMRs operate as part of larger operations and are often required
to integrate with enterprise resource planning (ERP),
manufacturing execution system (MES), or warehouse management system (WMS) software. The communications module on the AMR coupled with sensors like barcode and RFID readers enable AMRs to be tightly fused into enterprise systems. When a barcode reader is needed, designers can turn to the V430- F000W12M-SRP from Omron, which can decode 1D and 2D barcodes on labels or Direct Part Mark (DPM) barcodes. It includes variable distance autofocus, a wide field of view lens, a 1.2-megapixel sensor, a built-in light, and high- speed processing. The DLP-RFID2 from DLP Design is a low-cost, compact module for reading from and writing to high- frequency (HF) RFID transponder tags. It can also read the unique identifiers (UDI) of up to 15 tags at once and can be configured to use an internal or external antenna. It has an operating temperature range of 0°C to +70°C, making it suitable for use in Industry 4.0 manufacturing and logistics facilities.
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