klanten:

Berkvens Green Mobility

Kumatech

Until recently, the use of Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for managing and optimising internal transport was not matter of course. The required investments were too high and, in many cases, linking this system to an ERP system was too complicated. Our customers, Berkvens Greenhouse Mobility and Kumatech, wanted to change that with our  help. The aim was to take automated internal transport, crop care and harvest processing to a new and more efficient level, and to make this accessible and affordable. We succeeded.

It wasn’t a coincidence that these parties found Black Box Engineering. Around ten years ago, we developed an AGV control system for growers in the agricultural sector, in collaboration with Berkvens. Ten years later, Berkvens was looking for a way to scale up that would reduce the need for customisation at project level as much as possible. When Kumatech also wanted to utilise our expertise to introduce AGVs for ‘internal transport’, things started to move quickly. We brought the two parties together, resulting in a powerful partnership.

Modular thinking is at the heart of our approach in almost every automation process, where we invest a lot of time in the preparation and engineering. If a smart approach is applied to a process and all individual components are fine-tuned in terms of development and communication, you will benefit from this during every subsequent stage.
Whilst each component is able to function independently, because the components have been carefully attuned to one another, few actions are required for them to support one another. The logical consequence of this is that linking them (as with an ERP system) becomes much easier.

Modular AGV control
Looking at the essence of this, the use of AGVs revolves around two things: management (such as routing and executing commands) and status monitoring (such as the battery, order status and location).
One takes place in the Traffic Management System (TMS) and the other in the AGV Routing System (ARS). Both systems communicate with the AGV. We chose to attune those three crucial components to one another in such a way that only one connection is needed with your ERP system, and where open standards are used.
The communication with the ERP system only concerns order information (acceptance, completion and interim status). There is no direct communication between the ERP system and the AGVs.  
 
Determining the location and route
One of the main challenges when using AGVs is defining the route and precision with which that route is (consistently) followed by the AGV. Every disruption, however small, is a serious potential risk to safety and efficiency. For the location determination of the AGV, Berkvens opted for guidance based on induction signals and Kumatech for Accerion sensors.
In the first case, AGVs are controlled via a fixed induction network and, in the latter case, the routes of the AGVs are taught based on course recognition by means of an integrated camera. That camera technology is a revolutionary Dutch invention and we developed it in close consultation with the Venlo-based supplier.

Commands and status
Perhaps a little less exciting, but no less important: giving commands (locations, picking up, storing, lifting, battery charging, driving, etc.) and communicating a status to a central system. All possible options and variations were investigated, processed and coordinated in the control system (TMS and/or ARS).

The path we take entails: detailing, engineering, programming, testing, testing, debugging, testing, test drives, debugging, testing and, finally ….fine-tuning.

Delivery within one and a half years
Well within one and a half years of being given the green light, both Berkvens and Kumatech would deliver a very affordable and exceptionally reliable AGV solution for internal transport, crop care and harvest processing. This solution can easily be connected to an ERP system and this is possible in many cases because the control and monitoring of the AGVs takes place completely outside the ERP system.

A similar solution?
It’s almost inevitable that you are full of enthusiasm and curiosity. Would you like to use AGVs? Go to Berkvens Green Mobility or Kumatech. Would you like to industrially automate (parts of) your process? Ring or email us! (+31 492-359086 or infobbe@blackboxengineering.nl.

klanten:

Berkvens Green Mobility

Kumatech

Until recently, the use of Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for managing and optimising internal transport was not matter of course. The required investments were too high and, in many cases, linking this system to an ERP system was too complicated. Our customers, Berkvens Greenhouse Mobility and Kumatech, wanted to change that with our  help. The aim was to take automated internal transport, crop care and harvest processing to a new and more efficient level, and to make this accessible and affordable. We succeeded.

It wasn’t a coincidence that these parties found Black Box Engineering. Around ten years ago, we developed an AGV control system for growers in the agricultural sector, in collaboration with Berkvens. Ten years later, Berkvens was looking for a way to scale up that would reduce the need for customisation at project level as much as possible. When Kumatech also wanted to utilise our expertise to introduce AGVs for ‘internal transport’, things started to move quickly. We brought the two parties together, resulting in a powerful partnership.

Modular thinking is at the heart of our approach in almost every automation process, where we invest a lot of time in the preparation and engineering. If a smart approach is applied to a process and all individual components are fine-tuned in terms of development and communication, you will benefit from this during every subsequent stage.
Whilst each component is able to function independently, because the components have been carefully attuned to one another, few actions are required for them to support one another. The logical consequence of this is that linking them (as with an ERP system) becomes much easier.

Modular AGV control
Looking at the essence of this, the use of AGVs revolves around two things: management (such as routing and executing commands) and status monitoring (such as the battery, order status and location).
One takes place in the Traffic Management System (TMS) and the other in the AGV Routing System (ARS). Both systems communicate with the AGV. We chose to attune those three crucial components to one another in such a way that only one connection is needed with your ERP system, and where open standards are used.
The communication with the ERP system only concerns order information (acceptance, completion and interim status). There is no direct communication between the ERP system and the AGVs.  
 
Determining the location and route
One of the main challenges when using AGVs is defining the route and precision with which that route is (consistently) followed by the AGV. Every disruption, however small, is a serious potential risk to safety and efficiency. For the location determination of the AGV, Berkvens opted for guidance based on induction signals and Kumatech for Accerion sensors.
In the first case, AGVs are controlled via a fixed induction network and, in the latter case, the routes of the AGVs are taught based on course recognition by means of an integrated camera. That camera technology is a revolutionary Dutch invention and we developed it in close consultation with the Venlo-based supplier.

Commands and status
Perhaps a little less exciting, but no less important: giving commands (locations, picking up, storing, lifting, battery charging, driving, etc.) and communicating a status to a central system. All possible options and variations were investigated, processed and coordinated in the control system (TMS and/or ARS).

The path we take entails: detailing, engineering, programming, testing, testing, debugging, testing, test drives, debugging, testing and, finally ….fine-tuning.

Delivery within one and a half years
Well within one and a half years of being given the green light, both Berkvens and Kumatech would deliver a very affordable and exceptionally reliable AGV solution for internal transport, crop care and harvest processing. This solution can easily be connected to an ERP system and this is possible in many cases because the control and monitoring of the AGVs takes place completely outside the ERP system.

A similar solution?
It’s almost inevitable that you are full of enthusiasm and curiosity. Would you like to use AGVs? Go to Berkvens Green Mobility or Kumatech. Would you like to industrially automate (parts of) your process? Ring or email us! (+31 492-359086 or infobbe@blackboxengineering.nl.