Nowadays, more than ever, transporting volumes is a day-to-day reality for any company. Modern intralogistics require flexible and safe systems capable of operating in environments shared with people. Automating these processes adds value to the robustness and efficiency of floor operations, enabling the movement of materials and minimizing the risk of human error.
Autonomous transport systems, particularly AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots), are a differentiating tool for modern industry. Their capability to respond to a wide range of applications, with different requirements in terms of flexilibity and modularity, makes them particularly suited to the challenges of today’s production.
AMR for the factory of the future: ACTIVE Shuttle
O ACTIVE Shuttle foi desenvolvido pela Bosch Rexroth, de modo a transportar materiais de forma autónoma. Este AMR transporta cargas de até 260 kg e área de 600 x 400 mm2 a velocidades de até 1 m/s de forma robusta, eficiente e totalmente automática, garantindo especificação ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) e equipado com uma plataforma elevatória integrada. É controlado de forma transparente e intuitiva pelo ACTIVE Shuttle Management System (AMS), compatível com a interface standard VDA 5050.
As for fleet management, the ACTIVE Fleet Manager (AFM) allows users to plan routes, identify and avoid obstacles, monitor loads and autonomy, and also integrate with MES or ERP systems via VDA 5050. This makes it possible to control mixed fleets from different suppliers or even integrate with external fleet management solutions.
ACTIVE Shuttle’s artificial intelligence eases its integration into the infrastructure, as this AMR adapts its route to any objects and obstacles that may be in its path. It works through natural navigation based on the mapped environment.
O fluxo de materiais nas instalações de produção modernas é complexo, uma vez que os pontos de utilização são variados e podem encontrar-se distantes entre si. O ACTIVE Shuttle surge como uma solução inovadora para este desafio, eliminando a necessidade de transporte manual de materiais. Graças à sua navegação laser robusta e fiável e deteção de obstáculos em 3D, o ACTIVE Shuttle pode deslocar-se livremente na fábrica sem a necessidade de alterar a infraestrutura existente, automatizando assim o fluxo de materiais e mercadorias.
Each ACTIVE Shuttle unit combines a wide set of elements that ensure safe, efficient operation that is fully connected to the industrial environment. Communication is ensured via WiFi and IEEE 802.11.ac/a/b/g/n connectivity, allowing direct interaction with the network infrastructure. In addition, it has a touch screen that allows direct communication with operators in the factory, facilitating real-time monitoring and control of operations through an intuitive GUI.
The built-in laser scanners (PLd) ensure safe operating by detecting obstacles in the path and adjusting the AMR’s movement accordingly. Safety is further enhanced by a 3D object detection system using two stereo cameras, which can identify obstacles beyond the range ofg conventional laser scanners.
ROKIT: Modular Intralogistics
With the development of the ACTIVE Shuttle, Bosch Rexroth aquired a crucial expertise in the application of mobile robotics. This breakthrough allowed the company to identify a growing necessity in the industry: the demand for flexible and modular solutions. Users are increasingly seeking to develop products tailored to their specific needs, without having to invest significant resources or time in creating or adapting equipment already available on the market.
O ROKIT Modular desbloqueia novas possibilidades no âmbito da intralogística e robótica móvel. Trata-se de um kit modular de hardware e software projetado para construir AGVs ou AMRs com elevada personalização. Esta solução, integrada no ecossistema ctrlX, é constituída por três componentes: o ROKIT Locator, o ROKIT Navigator e o ROKIT Motor. Estes componentes são responsáveis, respetivamente, pelas funções de localização, navegação e locomoção, permitindo a automatização integral desses processos.
ROKIT Locator
One of the biggest challenges in mobile automation is the ability to reliably and dynamically locate vehicles, even when in constant changing environments. ROKIT Locator is a SLAM location software that maps space and locates vehicles in real time using laser sensors.
Features such as “Express Mapping” allow users to easily create complex maps, while environmental change detection systems enables automatic updating of these maps across the entire fleet. In addition, you can integrate odometry data, enable automatic sensor calibrations, and access real-time diagnostics, thereby ensuring robust and continuous operations.
This component can be applied in conjunction with the other ROKIT elements, or individually in robotic equipment with other navigation and motorization technologies, or even applied in non-robotic solutions for vehicle localization. For example, it can be implemented in vehicles with logistic purposes (such as forklifts) to monitor their routes and operations, while integrating with sensors to detect and monitor load movements.
ROKIT Navigator
To navigate through the space mapped by the ROKIT Locator, there is the ROKIT Navigator component, which uses the mapping data to transmit instructions regarding direction and speed to the motor controller in order to complete the missions commanded by the fleet management.
It can adapt the navigation to real conditions, avoid obstacles, optimize routes, enabling advanced and flexible movement planning. It also supports the VDA 5050 standard for communication with fleet management systems, ensuring fast integration with additional sensors and other location technologies.
Additionally, the ROKIT Navigator allows the development of solutions with different locomotion architectures, such as differential, Ackermann, omnidirectional configurations, among others.
ROKIT Motor
To complete the system, Bosch Rexroth has also developed the ROKIT Motor, an all-in-one module that stands out for its integration. It includes a wheel, motor, gearbox, brake, encodres and a controller, incorporating functional safety via EtherCAT and meeting the requirements of PLd/SIL2 safety.
Its plug-and-drive architecture reduces installation effort, minimizes wiring and simplifies maintenance. At the same time, it ensures high-level performance with speeds up to 2m/s and nominal torque of 30Nm (with peaks up to 70Nm).
With a robust design, IP54 protection and an estimated service life of 95.000 km, the ROKIT Motor easily adapts to different vehicles, including those powered by batteries, and it integrates seamlessly with the ctrlX AUTOMATION ecossystem.
Conclusion
Estes componentes podem conjugar-se livremente, dando origem à denominação ROKIT, que permite customizar soluções com base em módulos interoperáveis, Graças à sua arquitetura granular, o ROKIT permite criar soluções customizadas, mantendo absoluta compatibilidade com padrões abertos e facilidades de manutenção, escalabilidade e integração com o ecossistema Bosch, especialmente através do ctrlX AUTOMATION.
In summary, Bosch Rexroth’sstrategy for intralogistics combines:
- Autonomous mobile robots with easy implementation and integrated safety (ACTIVE Shuttle).
- Granular platform for creating customized solutions (ROKIT/Modular).
- Integration and unified control via open architecture (ctrlX AUTOMATION, VDA 5050).
- Natural expansion for complementary equipment (linear machines, EcoShape structures, pick-and-place systems).
This ecossystem reduces integration times, enables mixed routes, modernizes logistics and answers to the reduz tempos de integração, permite frotas mistas, moderniza a logística interna e responde aos desafios da Indústria: maior produtividade, adaptabilidade, segurança e interoperabilidade, com redução de custos e complexidade.
