How wide is the agv robot passageway (alley space) typically left?

AGV robots are increasingly used in modern logistics warehousing and industrial production scenarios. They can perform tasks such as material handling efficiently and accurately, greatly enhancing the efficiency of production and logistics. To ensure the efficient operation of AGVs in warehouses, production lines, or logistics centres, designing suitable AGV robot aisles (lane space) is crucial. So, how wide is the AGV robot aisle usually left to be appropriate?

Ⅰ、Factors affecting the aisle width of AGV robots

The width of the AGV aisle directly affects the operational efficiency and safety of the automated guided vehicle as well as the space utilisation of the warehouse. Reasonable aisle width not only reduces the risk of AGV collision but also improves material handling speed and reduces operating costs. Its main influencing factors include:

1. AGV size and type

AGV robots come in a variety of types and sizes with different lengths, widths and turning radii. For example, the common latent jacking AGV robots are relatively small in size, while some forward-moving AGVs and counterbalanced weight AGV robots have larger bodies. The width of the cart directly determines the basic width of the channel needs, while the turning radius affects the widening of the channel at the turn.

2. Running mode

If the AGV robot in the channel is one-way driving, then the width of the channel only needs to meet a small car through and reserve a safe distance. But if it is two-way driving, the width of the channel should consider the space needs of the two cars when the wrong car.

3. Cargo size and handling requirements

When the AGV robot is used to handle goods, the size of the goods must also be taken into account. If the cargo exceeds a certain width of the vehicle body, the channel width needs to be increased accordingly. For example, when handling palletised goods, the size of the pallet plus the width of the trolley itself, as well as the safety distance on both sides, is the reasonable width required for the channel. In addition, if the handling process has special operational requirements, such as loading and unloading of goods need to complete a part of the channel, then the channel width also needs to meet the space requirements of these operations.

4. Other factors

Conveyor belts, lifts and other equipment may occupy the channel space and need to be considered in the calculation of channel width.

Ⅱ、Reference values for the aisle width of AGV robots in different scenarios

According to industry standards, the width of AGV robot aisles is generally designed according to the following rules:

• Single vehicle channel width: For the channel of a single AGV robot, a width of at least 1.5 metres is usually required. If the width of the AGV is larger, the aisle width needs to be increased accordingly. Standard AGVs are usually between 0.7 and 1 metre wide, so at least 1.5 metres of aisle width is required to avoid collisions and to ensure sufficient operating space.‍
• Dual-vehicle aisle width: If you want two AGVs to travel in both directions in the same aisle, the width of the aisle should be between 2.5 and 3 metres. This width ensures that AGVs have enough space to avoid colliding with each other when travelling.‍
• High-density warehouses: In some high-density storage environments, if you need to maximise warehouse utilisation, you can consider a narrow aisle design, where the aisle width can be compressed to 1.2 metres, but you need to use specific narrow aisle AGVs, such as the AiTEN AM Narrow Aisle Handling Robot and the MP Robot, etc. This type of AGV is generally equipped with a more sophisticated navigation system and obstacle avoidance features.

Ⅲ、How to determine the right AGV aisle width

The following factors should be considered when determining the width of the AGV aisle:

• ‍AGV type and size: choose a suitable AGV and design the aisle according to its size.‍
• Warehouse Layout: Different warehouse layouts will affect the aisle width. If there are multiple racks or stacking areas in the warehouse, make sure the aisle has enough space to accommodate the AGVs.‍
• Operational efficiency and safety: When designing, consider both the impact of aisle width on operational efficiency and safety. Proper aisle design helps avoid collisions between AGVs and cargo or other equipment.

When determining the aisle width, it is important not to be limited to current needs, but also to consider the company's future development plans. For example, whether it is possible to introduce larger AGV robots or to handle larger goods, and whether the scale of production and logistics flows will increase. Reserving a certain amount of space for expansion can avoid large-scale renovation works due to insufficient aisle width at a later stage.

Ⅳ、Practical application considerations

In practical applications, the following factors also need to be considered when planning the width of the AGV robot aisle:

• ‍Warehouse utilisation: To improve the storage efficiency of the warehouse, the aisle width should be as narrow as possible, but at the same time to ensure that the AGV robot can operate safely and efficiently.‍
• AGV travelling speed: the faster the travelling speed, the higher the requirement for the aisle width, to ensure that the AGV can remain stable when turning and avoiding obstacles.‍
• Cargo access methods: different cargo access methods (such as manual access, forklift access, etc.) on the channel width requirements are also different.

Ⅴ、Conclusion

Reasonable aisle width design for AGV robots is not only related to the operational efficiency of automated logistics systems but also directly affects safety and cost control. The optimal aisle width is determined by comprehensively considering the size of the AGV, the warehouse layout and the operating environment to ensure that the AGV operates efficiently and safely in the warehouse. At the same time, it is also important to pay attention to the development of new technologies, such as AiTEN omnidirectional forklift trucks, which can operate flexibly in a narrower space and bring more possibilities to the warehousing and logistics industry.

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