Convergent wireless real-time communicaiton using EtherCAT and OPC UA for AGV application with big data sets acquisition

Abstract

ptimization of delivery of goods to production stations spread on factory floors has led to creation of Automated Guided Vehicles AGV. Latter it evolved to AGVs equipped with collaborative robots implemented to automate the process of loading and unloading of the transported goods. To make the operation of AGVs efficient it is needed to exchange data with higher level system like Manufacturing Execution Systems MES and Transport Management Systems TMS. The data is needed also to increase the energy efficiency of AGVs and their availability by implementation of predictive maintenance procedures. To make it possible processing of big data sets describing the change of the state of AGV’s in time is necessary. But first, the data has to be gathered using reliable wireless communication link that are shared with real-time protocols used for integration with production stations and collaboration with them. The paper considers a solution based on EtherCAT network with application of Ethernet over EtherCAT EoE communication profile for tunneling of OPC UA traffic.