Swiss-based autonomous navigation specialist, BlueBotics has introduced SmartPass, a new function within its ANT software suite that is designed to improve the obstacle avoidance capabilities of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Configurable according to individual requirements, and available immediately for vehicles already using ANT software, SmartPass is suitable all types of automated vehicles and industrial sites.

According to BlueBotics, the function improves obstacle avoidance but has none of the drawbacks associated with traditional AMRs.

“Rather than layering basic traffic management over obstacle avoidance functionality – which AMR producers have attempted with limited results – SmartPass does the opposite,” says BlueBotics’ CEO, Nicola Tomatis.

“It adds smart, configurable obstacle avoidance to ANT navigation’s default ‘virtual path follower’ mode.”

According to Tomatis, this ensures the traffic management features of the ANT server fleet manager are also applied to SmartPass manoeuvres.

In this way, vehicles using the function move efficiently. They take the shortest route around an obstacle, move faster than traditional AMRs, and communicate effectively with other equipment.

In addition, the function is designed to help minimise deadlocks. By managing the movements of vehicles within the ANT server’s existing traffic management framework, SmartPass is designed to ensure that vehicles only avoid obstacles when there is no risk of blocking another robot.

“SmartPass doesn’t allow robots to roam freely, and it is built from the ground up on ANT server’s powerful traffic management, virtually eliminating the chance of deadlocks,” says Tomatis.