Pittsburgh, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/01/2012 -- The feature is titled: Automated Guided Vehicles Compromise Quality: Robotic Industrial Trucks Better Solution.In the current issue of Brazil Quality magazine, supply chain best practices include a discussion that vision-guided robotic trucks are a better solution than expensive automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), according to manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, especially when you do not need all the bells and whistles.

An automated guided vehicle or automatic guided vehicle (AGV) is a mobile robot that follows markers or wires in the floor. That single fact impacts quality, costs, processes, and procedures. Robotic industrial trucks are proving to be a valid AGV alternative by providing the same quality benefits at a lower cost.

Too often the phrases are synonymous: Robotic Industrial Truck and AGV. These two technologies are NOT the same. The much more expensive AGV manufacturers insist their technologies are needed to ensure quality control processes and procedures.

In a head-to-head comparison, AGVs offered few benefits to quality versus Robotic Forklifts. Dr. Scott Friedman, CEO of Seegrid noted, “Robotic forklifts are substantially more cost-effective than AGV’s, while providing more than 90% of the same benefits. Some of the drawbacks to AGV’s, beyond price, have quality professionals at industrial warehouses, distribution centers, or manufacturing plants, conclude that more features does not drive better quality.”

Robotic Industrial Trucks are essentially a standard pallet truck or tow tractor with unmanned travel capabilities. Operators can be deployed to value-added work functions. AGVs detract from quality because, while purpose built vehicles and systems, they require an extensive pre-installation engineering process. This distinction costs more in money, time, and compromises the immediately impact on quality control.

AGVs are difficult to scale to an operation and have limited to no flexibility with very high up-front costs. Friedman shared that robotic industrial trucks are, “Easily scalable by purchasing multiple units, can easily change routes, and one operator can interface with multiple robots.”

Robotic trucks are set up in hours rather than weeks or months, unlike AGVs (which require months of planning for implementation and installation.) The additional extensive IT Integration needed for AGVs often compromises the quality and compliance among the workforce. With no IT integration required and not facility modification required, robotic industrial trucks are often the better choice.

Altered plant floors require new safety and quality documentation, process and procedure controls, and are a hidden cost rarely mentioned by AGV suppliers. Ultimately the misnamed Fork Truck AGV is a robotic industrial truck that retrieves and delivers pallets or large containers.

Tugger AGVs typically follow a cable or magnet system, whereas robotic industrial tuggers utilize vision systems, thus the name Seegrid (see the grid.)

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seegrid Corp. (www.seegrid.com) brings robotic vision-guided technology to the material handling industry. Seegrid offers solutions that optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages.

Seegrid technology can transform industrial vehicles into unmanned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without a need for wire, tape, laser or other automated guided vehicle guidance systems.