ACTIVE Shuttle, an autonomous mobile robot with advanced interactive capabilities, can greatly promote internal logistics while improving safety, efficiency and flexibility. The 3D obstacle detection system based on camera can identify objects in its path to improve the obstacle avoidance effect. With the new integrated touch screen, individual configuration and rapid fault handling operations can be performed on the mobile robot body. The updated AMS (ACTIVE Shuttle Management System) control software works seamlessly with the shop floor infrastructure and individual transportation tasks can be performed by configuring task templates.

ACTIVE Shuttle makes internal logistics more flexible and eliminates the need to revamp plant infrastructure. The robust, plug-and-play ACTIVE Shuttle automatically transports small trucks up to 260 kg across the plant.

Three-dimensional obstacle detection improves safety

Its integrated personnel protection system complies with the PLd class requirements specified in EN ISO 13849-1, allowing ACTIVE Shuttle to move freely within the plant. In addition to the safety laser scanner, the stereo depth of field camera can also conduct three-dimensional detection of the workshop, even if the object entering its path above or below the scanning surface can be accurately identified, so that the mobile robot can brake and avoid obstacles in time. The improvement of recognition ability not only improves the field protection effect, but also enables the system to be applied to the environment with narrow space, obstacles or non-standard environment with uncertain workshop area.

Touch screen: live interaction

ACTIVE Shuttle is suitable for traditional material supply and transport modes, such as circular transport or consumption-based material supply. With a new touch screen integrated into the vehicle console, the operator can interact directly and intuitively with the mobile robot, making the system more efficient. Increased transparency of task and status information also saves diagnostic and error correction time and simplifies the procedure.

More flexible and personalized mission and fleet management

ACTIVE Shuttle integrates a VDA 5050-compatible communication interface so it can be used anywhere. In fact, there are already users using it in combination with various VDA 5050-compatible management systems in internal logistics. With the ACTIVE Shuttle Management System (AMS), Bosch Rexroth offers a complete suite of software for fleet and mission management with increased application freedom. In addition to simple transportation from pick-up point to discharge point, users can also create more complex work sequences. For example, users can define whether to use reference itineraries or other advanced features. When it comes to communicating with machines, ACTIVE Shuttle can send a signal to a specific node or perform the next task after responding to the relevant signal.

Transportation tasks assigned to ACTIVE Shuttle can be done automatically from a higher level IT system (MES, ERP, etc.) or manually from a PC or tablet via a web-based operating interface. The interface with the shop floor infrastructure is also being improved to enable seamless integration between assembly and logistics. Machines, robots, and sensors (such as dashboard buttons) can communicate directly with AMS through a variety of standard interfaces (such as requesting replenishment when supplies are low).