VisionNav Exhibits Autonomous Forklifts at LogiMAT 2022

VisionNav Robotics showed off a range of its autonomous forklifts, including the VNP15 and the VNSL14, at LogiMAT 2022 last week in Stuttgart, Germany.

The company is a global supplier of autonomous industrial vehicles and intralogistics automation. Shenzhen, China-based VisionNav said its automated guided vehicles (AGVs) work in hundreds of facilities across the world, providing pallet storage, narrow-aisle operations, automated truck loading, multi-layer cage stacking, and other fully autonomous actions.

A closer look at the VNP15 and the VNSL14

VisionNav said the VNP15 is one of its most popular products, offering a wide range of material handling functions. With a load capacity of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb.), standard lifting height of 3 m (9.8 ft.) and an optional 4.5 m (14.7 ft.) mast, the VNP15 covers 70% of pallet moving and rack access applications, claimed VisionNav.

The VNSL14 combines the high lifting capacity of a lift truck and the flexibility of an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), the company said. The VNSL14 has a rated load capacity of 1,400 kg (3,086 lb.), a standard lifting height of 1.6 m (5.2 ft.), and an optional 3 m (9.8 ft.) mast.

Most importantly, claimed VisionNav, the VNSL14 can operate in aisles as narrow as 2.2 m. (7.2 ft.). The company said its clients choose the VNSL4 to maximize their return on investment (ROI) without needing to alter their facilities.

Equipped with proprietary positioning, sensing, and control technologies, the robots were designed to perform high-precision, high-efficiency logistics operations, according to VisionNav. The AGVs can also be equipped with a variety of clamps for handling oddly shaped materials, such as paper roll clamps, foam clamps, stringers, and carton clamps.

VisionNav focuses on collaboration, close quarters

"This time, we focused on two main issues – efficient multi-vehicle collaboration and material handling in confined scenarios," said Jason Zhang, VisonNav’s head of sales in Europe.

In an area of less than 45 sq. m (484.3 sq. ft.), the VNP15 and VNSL14 are able to communicate via the VisionNav's Robot Control system (RCS) to transport pallets from the perimeter to the stacking zone.

The company said at LogiMAT that the RCS can easily integrate into warehouse management systems (WMS) or manufacturing execution systems (MES) and ensures an effortless merger of real-time information and logistics.

"Robot collaboration is common in the manufacturing sector and allows our clients to improve space utilization," added Zhang.