Author(s)
Roger V. Bostelman, Elena R. Messina
Abstract
Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) were one of the earliest applications for mobile robots. The first AGVs were deployed in the 1950's to transport materials in large facilities and warehouses. Mobile robot capabilities have advanced significantly in the past decades. This progress is due in great part to researchers at technical universities who have made tremendous strides in applying computer control and sensors to mobile platforms for uses in applications such as manufacturing, health care, military, and emergency response. As industrial vehicles gained more capabilities, the "A" in AGV began to transition from "automatic" to "automated" in informal usage. This mirrors the progress in guided vehicles, such as safety sensing and reacting. Further advancements, such as in sensing, planning, communications, and control, are paving the way for an era where the "A" stands for "autonomous." This evolution in onboard intelligence has greatly expanded the potential scope of applications for AGVs and thus raised the need for standard means of measuring performance. This edited book presents expanded versions of selected papers that were presented at a workshop aimed at convening the research and industry communities to exchange information about advancements and challenges in AGVs.
Citation
Autonomous Industrial Vehicles: From the Laboratory to the Factory Floor.
Publisher Info
ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA
Keywords
Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), performance standards, mobile robots, test methods
Citation
Bostelman, R.
and Messina, E.
(2016),
Overview to the Book "Autonomous Industrial Vehicles: From the Laboratory to the Factory Floor.”, Autonomous Industrial Vehicles: From the Laboratory to the Factory Floor., ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=919893 (Accessed April 29, 2026)
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