• Caliber Interconnect Solutions has launched a new autonomous mobile robot (AMRs) designed to automate material handling processes in manufacturing, commercial and healthcare industries
• We have developed custom-built AMRs that deploy advanced features like AIML (Artificial intelligent machine learning) - based guidance systems to ensure safe and correct destination of goods

Functional Description :

• Plant overview : Users can create and modify to build complete transportation systems. It monitors CAMRs system power, Execution state of CAMRs, Acknowledgment of CAMRs, current vehicle positions and their future routes
• Operating system : It controls and manages the entire system. It takes care of common functionality that many CAMRs share, such as support for sensors, SLAM and handle track clearance
• Map generation mechanism : To create static environment map on floor plan to identify free space to create routes
• Dispatcher : Dispatch transport orders to the vehicles. Determines transport orders for a particular vehicle and manages traffic. It also takes actions on the error conditions such as low battery
• Router : Finds optimal route for all vehicles. Also compute routes for vehicles
• Driver : Manages communication between operating system and CAMRs
• Central Processing Unit : Creates a virtual environment and robot models, implement algorithms and virtual visualization of the data in real time
• Map generation mechanism : Creates static environment map on floor plan to identify free space to create routes
• Path planning & following mechanism : Follows the predefined path and creates new route plans using obstacle detection & avoidance mechanism, if any obstacles are detected on the path
• Intelligent navigation : Creates map, localizes CAMRs on map, local path planning, avoids the obstacles on path, reaches the given destination
• Localization & error handling mechanism : Live tracking and recovery in unexpected situations
• Obstacle detection & avoidance mechanism : Detects obstacles and creates alternate routes
• Motors control & error handling mechanism : Control the motors and handle the errors
• Fault monitoring & safety mechanism : Fault detection & monitoring, E-stop, warning alert sound & lights
• Battery health & power monitoring : Monitor CAMRs entire power & health indications
• RF communication : Between CAMRs and Fleet management control system

Operations

Configuration

• Operating system controls the entire process. One operator can configure and operate a maximum of 233 CAMRs
• FMCS (fleet management control system) creates new paths for CAMRs
• Simple CAMRs scheduling process

Navigation

• LIDAR (Light detection and ranging) & 9-DOF IMU (degree of freedom inertial measurement unit) sensors for localization and accurate navigation
• LIDAR-guided intelligent navigation is used for mapping the routes, detecting obstacles and avoidance
• AIML algorithms facilitate perception and intelligent navigation to reach destination

Mapping

•  Laser-based SLAM algorithm for grid mapping (like a building floor plan) from laser and pose data collected by a mobile robot

Monitoring

• Fleet manager software controls up to 233 mobile robots of different sizes, configurations and payload capacities
• The robots automatically calculate the best route for material transportation while navigating safely around people and obstacles without requiring magnetic floor tapes or other guides

Graphical User Interface (GUI) Provides:

• Plant modeling, plant visualization, and CAMRs positioning
• Track the live position of CAMRs working condition (whether it is executing a task, idle, non-functiong, future paths/routes)
• Server/client based feedback message about goal request and goal result state (pending, active, succeed, aborted, recalling, lost, preemptive) etc
• Battery status and battery health. Batteries can self-recharge at nearest available recharge points through GUI monitoring without human intervention

Safety Features

• Emergency stop switch, status indication lights and audio alert
• LIDAR & SONAR - Collision avoidance feature to run continuous multiple CAMRs on the same predefined path

Audio Alerts

• Self-fault
• Sensors/connectivity issues
• Battery recharge /low power issues
• Delivery discrepancy

Additional Features:

1. Effortless addition of new CAMRs and destination, without disrupting the existing plant model

2. Possible to add up to 233 CAMRs on fleet management control system

3. CAMRs scheduling

4. Manual tele-operable control with IR remote or keyboard in an emergency situation

5. Live CAMRs status & position tracking and future path monitoring

6. Audio alert and light indication for low power, fault detection and goal status etc

7. Various safety aspects like emergency stop button, status indication lights, audio alert, sensor connection status and BMS

8. Possible to run multiple CAMRs in same predefined route without collision

9. High accuracy destination/navigation is +/- 0.2m

10. Turning radius is +/- 0.05m ( On the spot turning)

11. Automatically selects the minimal distance route

12. Acknowledgment and re-orders in case of a vehicle’s failure

13. Travel direction is bidirectional with 0.7 m/s max, 180 deg/rad turn

14. 360° safety scanning laser used for simultaneous localization and safety functionality

15. Li-ion battery management system(BMS)

Applications

     CAMRs use in Factories:

• Movement of materials from warehouse to production/processing lines or from one process to another
• Delivery of production parts
• CAMRs deliver parts to machines and workstations based on requirements in production and real-time operations
• Finished product handling
• This requires gentle handling as products are complete and can be damaged from rough handling.  CAMRs operate with precisely controlled navigation,  acceleration and deceleration. Thus minimizing the potential for damage and making them an excellent choice for this type of application

     CAMRs use in Hospitals:

• Transport sterile supplies, drugs and other supplies
• Deliver meals and return trays / plates
• Move soiled and unsoiled linen transportation
• Move carts and trolleys and activate cart washing systems