Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
Driverless transport vehicles that follow predefined routes — floor markings, magnetic wire, QR codes, or optical lines — for reliable, repeatable material movement.
When it fits
- Standardized, unchanging transport flows with clearly defined paths
- Heavier or bulkier loads and high-reliability repetitive routes where predictability matters more than flexibility
- Facilities that can accommodate fixed guidance infrastructure and do not expect frequent layout change
When it does not
- Dynamic or frequently changing routes — AGVs follow set paths and typically stop for obstacles rather than routing around them
- Environments where the cost and maintenance of physical guidance outweigh the benefit
- Tight, mixed pedestrian traffic requiring the real-time obstacle avoidance that AMRs provide
How it pairs with equipment
- AGVs move pallets between fixed pickup/deposit points, feeding and retrieving from racking and staging.
- Fleet software can coordinate AGVs, AMRs, and manual trucks in mixed fleets.
- At route ends, forklifts and pallet trucks handle put-away, replenishment, and dock work.
Plan the supporting racking
Feeds and retrieves from selective, drive-in, and block-stack storage at fixed P&D points; commonly paired with pallet-flow or selective at induction/discharge.
Racking & warehouse design →Considerations for your site
AGVs suit SoCal operations with stable, high-repetition transport lanes (production-to-storage or long internal moves) where a fixed route is an advantage. Where flows change often, an AMR is usually the better fit — decide at scoping.
Related systems
FAQ
What is an automated guided vehicle (AGV)?
An AGV is a driverless transport vehicle that follows a predefined route guided by floor markings, magnetic wire, QR codes, or optical lines. It is designed for standardized, repeatable transport and high process reliability. Unlike an AMR, an AGV typically stops when its path is blocked rather than navigating around the obstacle.
When should a warehouse consider an AGV over an AMR?
Consider an AGV when transport routes are fixed, high-volume, and unlikely to change, and when loads or reliability requirements favor a proven predefined path. Choose an AMR when flows change frequently, when you need obstacle avoidance in mixed pedestrian traffic, or when you want faster deployment without fixed guidance.
Can AGVs and AMRs run in the same facility?
Yes. Modern fleet-management software can coordinate AGVs, AMRs, and manual industrial trucks, assigning tasks across a mixed fleet. Operations often use AGVs for stable lanes and AMRs for flexible routes in the same building.
Evaluate agv for your building
Tell us about your building and material flow. We can review system options with integration partners; performance and return depend on your site.