News/Notice
The world of warehouse and factory automation is evolving fast, and mobile robots are at the center of that transformation. Whether it’s a robot following a fixed path or one navigating freely using sensors, understanding the different types—AGV, AMR, AGC, and IMR—can help businesses make smarter automation choices.
Let’s break them down.
AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle)
AGVs are mobile robots that follow predefined paths using fixed infrastructure like magnetic strips, QR codes, or laser guidance systems. They do not interpret or react to their environment dynamically—instead, they rely on external signals and require infrastructure modifications for any route changes.
Typical use cases: Repetitive material transport in structured environments (e.g., warehouses with dedicated lanes).
Key limitation: No environmental awareness—collisions must be prevented through zone isolation or external controls.
AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot)
AMRs go a step further. Equipped with LiDAR, 3D cameras, and onboard SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithms, AMRs build maps of their environment and autonomously navigate through dynamic settings.
Technical edge: AMRs continuously update their surroundings, reroute in real-time, and handle unpredictable obstacles like humans or carts.
Core sensors involved:
ToF (Time-of-Flight) cameras for depth perception
LiDAR for 360-degree scanning
IMUs and odometry for position tracking
AGC (Automatic Guided Cart)
AGCs are compact, lightweight variants of AGVs, optimized for simple transport tasks. Often used in tight spaces or light-duty environments, they can follow floor tracks or be manually guided.
Notable feature: Their cost-effectiveness and simplicity make them suitable for entry-level automation in logistics and electronics assembly.
IMR (Intelligent Mobile Robot)
IMRs represent the future of mobile robotics. These units are integrated with AI-based decision-making, multi-sensor fusion, and even human-robot collaboration functions. IMRs don’t just follow commands—they make context-aware choices, handle multi-tasking, and communicate with other machines (M2M).
Advanced capabilities include:
- Object classification via AI vision
- Adaptive motion planning
- Multi-robot coordination in complex environments
Why Sensors Matter — and Where NAMUGA Comes In
For all mobile robots—especially AMRs and IMRs—perception is everything. The ability to detect depth, recognize obstacles, and build 3D spatial awareness hinges on the quality of the onboard sensing technology.
This is where NAMUGA, a global leader in camera module technology, plays a vital role.
NAMUGA develops high-precision 3D sensing camera modules, including:
Solid-State LiDAR (Stella series):
NAMUGA offers both indoor and outdoor solid-state LiDAR models in its Stella lineup.
- The indoor version is optimized for indoor robotics and automation, with compact dimensions and precise short-to-mid range scanning.
- The outdoor version supports long-range detection (up to 80m) and provides robust performance under various lighting and weather conditions, making it ideal for commercial robotics, autonomous logistics, and outdoor service robots.
Both models are built with MEMS-based beam steering and no moving parts, ensuring durability and low power consumption.
ToF-based 3D Camera Modules (Titan100, etc.):
Utilizing near-infrared (NIR) light and precise depth calculation, NAMUGA’s ToF modules offer fast, accurate distance measurements ideal for navigation, obstacle avoidance, and object detection.
Stereo & Structured Light Modules:
Supporting volumetric detection and shape recognition in logistics applications like box measurement and smart picking.
Final Thoughts
As autonomous robots become more advanced, so must the vision systems that guide them. From structured logistics environments to dynamic, AI-powered factories, perception is the key to autonomy.
With proven expertise in 3D camera modules and compact LiDAR solutions, NAMUGA is shaping the future of mobile robotics—one pixel (and photon) at a time.
No more data.
