Open Shuttles display swarm intelligence

Featuring swarm intelligence, the free-roaming Open Shuttles communicate with each other and autonomously distribute orders among themselves. Unlike a static conveyor system, the Open Shuttles can undertake transport tasks without creating obstructions for personnel, forklift trucks and other vehicles.

KNAPP’s Open Shuttles are the next generation of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) because they manoeuvre through the warehouse without optical or physical aids. The vehicles react dynamically to obstacles and autonomously plan their paths and alternative routes. A fleet management system optimises the transport paths, co-ordinates the shuttles with each other and controls collision avoidance. Safety is ensured through the use of an innovative dimension scanner, which allows each vehicle to detect static as well as moving objects and react intuitively.

The track-free design allows fast installation and seamless integration into existing environments. The free-roaming vehicles avoid the costs of structural modifications and save space by reducing the need for static conveyors. The solution features an intuitive and user-friendly interface for monitoring operation of the vehicles. This also enables the system to be adapted quickly and easily by the customer’s own staff to meet changing logistics needs.

Open Shuttles are operating efficiently and reliably at a number of customer sites across Europe. The fastenings and tools supplier, Würth, is using Open Shuttles at two of its facilities in Germany; pallet-handling Open Shuttles are in operation at the distribution centre of the food retailer, SPAR, in Maria Saal, Austria; and the agricultural supplier, Grene, has an Open Shuttle solution at its warehouse in Skjern, Denmark.