AGVs and AMRs in Automotive

AMRs and AGVs Are Reshaping the Automotive Industry

Mobile Robots like Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are reshaping the automotive production by enabling fully automated, highly flexible material flows across body shops, modular assembly, final assembly, and supplier logistics. These AGVs and AMRs transport components, subassemblies, tools, and materials precisely where and when they are needed. Seamless coordination with production robots and human operators ensures reliable just‑in‑time (JIT) and just‑in‑sequence (JIS) supply, reduces manual handling, and keeps high‑throughput manufacturing lines running efficiently.

Typical Applications of Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots in the Automotive Production are ...

• In body shops, AGVs and AMRs move components and tooling between welding, joining, and material‑handling stations. Efficient navigation across busy shop floors streamlines workflows and reduces labor‑intensive transport tasks.
• In modular assembly, AGVs and AMRs create flexible, mobile production lines, or deliver subassemblies to multiple workstations within conventional production lines, while seamlessly with people and other machines. Their reliability minimizes downtime and supports flexible production for different vehicle variants.
• In final assembly, mobile robots transport parts and tools along the last stages of vehicle production, ensuring precise timing and uninterrupted assembly flow while operating safely alongside workers.

• Beyond OEM automotive production, autonomous mobile robots are gaining importance among Tier 1 suppliers, enabling highly efficient and flexible intralogistics and production flows through the transport of components between storage, assembly, and shipping areas. Continuous, autonomous operation ensures components arrive on time, in the correct sequence, and in ideal condition, supporting stable, high quality supply chains.

   

Reliable AGV and AMR Automation Starts with a Future-Ready Energy and Safety Setup

A Reliable and Integral Energy Concept Is Essential

A reliable and intelligent energy concept is essential to ensure high system availability in fast-paced automotive intralogistics. Depending on the application, different energy strategies can be combined to achieve optimal performance and uptime. Fully autonomous systems with onboard batteries and wireless opportunity charging enable maximum flexibility and free movement, while requiring carefully synchronized charging points (opportunity / in-process charging) within the production cycle. In contrast, IPT floor-based systems provide continuous, contactless energy transfer along defined paths, enabling uninterrupted, rail-guided operation with consistently high availability. Hybrid concepts combine both approaches by using IPT floor-based systems for selected areas and battery-powered freedom for movement to extended areas, balancing flexibility and continuous energy supply. A further variant extends this approach by enabling autonomous vehicles to leave the production flow to their charging stations when required. Through intelligent energy management, system design can be optimized to match energy supply with process flow, ensuring stable and efficient operations without unnecessary downtime.

Safety Across the Entire Automotive Value Chain 

Integrated with our independent RadioSafe safety system, fleets of mobile robots like AGVs and AMRs can be safely stopped and efficiently restarted in various automotive environments. This ensures maximum uptime, reliable throughput, and stable production performance.

Tailored Solutions for You:

• Our embedded Inductive Floor System for invisible, continuous power transfer and our all-in-one inductive charging solution WirelessCharger 3.0 for opportunity charging ensure a reliable energy supply for high-throughput and flexible AGV/AMR operations.
• Our conductive charging solutions based on KontaktCharger series and Nano+ and Enduro+ charging contact series will cover all size of AGVs and AMRs at with fast rates.
• Integrated charging solutions like 0865 ChargeLine could also be provided for a dynamic charge to reduce downtime and enhance overall system efficiency.
• BatteryBlock energy storage series with advanced cycle life and fast-charging capabilities is provided plug-and-play with our charging solutions, for a safe and highly efficient operation of all kinds of AGVs/AMRs.
• The safety stop system RadioSafe enhances the safety and availability AGVs and AMRs through reliable fleet stops, immediate fleet restarts, and an integrated fleet battery saving mode.

Energy and Safety in Various Fields of Mobile Robots