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Originally Posted by Btower
If you get a chance in the next couple of years, try to get into the Bodyshop at the Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant. Materials are delivered to the line stations by robot forklifts. Unlike the AGV's of the late 80's and Early 90's (eliminated due to the fact they were slow expensive reliability problems), these self navigate based on optical targets and beacons. An empty station call, goes to a server which dispatches the next available truck. It then goes to the correct pickup station, then navigates to the correct floor station.
My personal opinion, cool but overly complex for the task. If the system was designed a couple of years later, it probably would have used a corrected GPS system. Optical in a Bodyshop is risky due to the heavy welding environment.
Sorry, a little off topic.
Ben
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In this perspective; the port of Hamburg, Germany has totally computer controlled loading, storing and unloading system. It is crazy. They have cars/trucks (not just golf-carts) and they drive around controlled by computers.
I couldn't find a webside though (only in German). So if someone finds one - Post it!