What is AGV caster? What is the difference between it and ordinary casters?

To understand AGV casters, you first need to understand what AGVs are first.

AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) is a kind of automated guided vehicle, which can carry out autonomous guiding, handling, transportation and other tasks in industry, logistics, warehousing, etc. The research and development of AGV integrates artificial intelligence, information processing, image processing, and involves a number of disciplines, such as computers, automatic control, information and communication, mechanical design, and electronics, etc., and has become one of the hotspots in the research of logistics and automation. Automation research is one of the hotspots.

I. The concept and structure of AGV casters

AGV casters are wheels for support and travel on the bottom of AGV vehicles, usually consisting of tires, rims, axles, bearings and so on. The structure and characteristics of AGV casters vary according to different application scenarios and mission requirements. For example, AGV casters can be gear-driven, motor-driven or pneumatically-driven to meet different traveling speeds and load-carrying capacity requirements.

Second, AGV casters

As one of the core components of AGV vehicles, AGV casters have the following important functions:
Supporting the weight of the body: AGV casters need to bear the weight of the body to ensure the stability and safety of the vehicle when traveling.
Provide driving power: AGV casters need to provide enough driving power to meet the vehicle’s running needs on various road surfaces and slopes.
Control driving direction: AGV casters need to be able to accurately control the driving direction of the vehicle according to the instructions of the control system.
Achieve driving accuracy: AGV casters need to sense the position and movement status of the vehicle through sensors and other equipment to achieve accurate guidance and positioning.
Improve driving efficiency: AGV casters need to have low friction, low noise, high bearing and other characteristics, in order to improve the driving efficiency and service life of the vehicle.

Third, the difference between AGV casters and ordinary casters

Compared with ordinary casters, AGV casters have significant differences in the following aspects:
Higher precision requirements: Since AGV vehicles need to realize high-precision guidance and positioning, AGV casters need to have higher precision and stability.
Faster traveling speed: AGV vehicles need to complete the transportation task in a shorter time, so AGV casters need to have higher traveling speed and power output capacity.
Stronger durability: AGV vehicles need to run and carry weight frequently, so AGV casters need to have stronger durability and anti-wear performance.
Autonomous driving ability: Compared with ordinary casters, AGV casters need to work closely with the vehicle’s autonomous driving control system to realize autonomous guidance and obstacle avoidance functions.
With the continuous development of automation technology, AGV casters will be optimized and upgraded to meet different application scenarios and task requirements.