Increasing Efficiency and Process Reliability through Warehouse Navigation in Narrow Aisle Warehouses.
Jungheinrich has been producing VNA trucks with transponder systems as standard for around five years. Under this system the trucks are routed in the narrow aisle via transponders inserted in the floor. Pinpoint determination of the position, combined with the warehouse topology stored in the truck's control module, offers a high level of truck management flexibility. Examples of this include safety features such as End of Aisle Safety and lift cutouts, as well as optimum speed setting for various ground conditions. This technology has now been successfully implemented on some 5000 trucks.
The "warehouse navigation" module uses transponder technology to assist in the second stage of navigation and semi-automatic approaching of the destination. Over the last two years navigation has been further developed, emerging from an "initial approach aid" into what has now become a system fully integrated within the process. This enables throughput to increase by up to 25% while simultaneously increasing process reliability.
Semi-automatic destination approach
The approach assistant is based on the link between the narrow aisle truck and the upstream warehouse management system via WLAN and data terminal. Whereas traditional systems only provide the driver with a visual display of the destination, the warehouse navigation system transmits the coordinates directly to the truck's control module via the RS 232 port. The driver needs only to accelerate and the truck approaches the position automatically and with pinpoint precision - all in guided mode for optimum timing. Searching for pallets is now a thing of the past, and wrong turns and adjustments are avoided.
The advantages at a glance:
Pinpoint approach of the destination position along the fastest and shortest route
- Relaxed operation; full concentration on the actual picking task at hand
- Consistently high throughput throughout the entire shift
- Replacement drivers and new staff reach the level of experienced operators very quickly
The system offers a high level of flexibility in terms of connection and reduces the customer's IT costs. In many cases the operating company does not have to make any changes at all. Around 80% of our projects are now based on this software module.
