Together with VisionNav Robotics, a global provider of autonomous vehicles, sensor manufacturer Sick has now combined a whole package of different solutions for automatic navigation, obstacle avoidance, and shelf recognition. And it is driving the technology forward.
The combination of VisionNav Robotics' forklift technology with Sick's intelligent sensor technology is designed to facilitate the use of forklifts in demanding environments. Not all sensors are based on the same technology as the light sensor; some employ entirely different operating principles: ultrasonic, inductive, or cable-pull encoders determine target positions and ranges depending on the application.
For example, a TiM351 2D LiDAR sensor is used in a VNE20 counterbalance forklift truck for indoor and outdoor use during loading operations. The TiM561 2D LiDAR sensor is used in a VNP15 driverless counterbalance forklift truck for transporting wire mesh containers in warehouses with limited space. It precisely detects the position of the pallets so that the forks can be inserted correctly.
In the driverless reach truck VNR14 for shelf access in the high-bay warehouse, VisionNav Robotics uses the cable pull encoder PFG19, which allows the truck to monitor the lifting height of the forks in real time.
Photos: Sick/VisionNav
Simultaneously, a Dx35 mid-range distance sensor is used to measure the lateral movement of the forks and control it with millimeter precision. The UM30 ultrasonic sensor implements the forklift's height protection function, and an inductive proximity sensor (IME) assists in target position detection. An incremental encoder DBS36/50 measures the angle of the drive unit at the wheel of a forklift equipped with it.
