Research and implementation of visual control technology with AGV

Guidance and navigation are central to the Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) research. This paper presents a visual control technology of AGV based on ultrasonic/ radio frequency (RF) for both ranging and positioning. First we install information nodes and set reference points, reference direction at the running field. So that physical coordinates can be mapped to logical ones on the master computer. Second, distances between AGV and nodes are detected and sent to the master computer. Actual coordinates are mapped to the control terminal of the master computer. Using these data and 3-D coordinates we can work out real-time coordinates for AGV. Last, planning path for AGV on master computer to realize visual control. Experimental results indicate that the method is simple design, flexible running, and high control precision and strong robustness.