An AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) is a driverless handling machine that moves along a fixed path set by infrastructure: buried wire, magnetic tape, floor QR codes or laser reflectors. When it encounters an obstacle, it stops and waits for the path to clear, with no ability to route around it on its own.
AGV: how it works and real-world examples
The AGV is the historical technology behind automating internal flows. The vehicle does not "see" its environment: it follows a pre-mapped circuit, which guarantees a repeatable path and stable throughput, but requires work (or at least reconfiguration) every time the layout changes.
Several guidance methods coexist. Wire guidance (a wire embedded in the floor) and LGV (laser triangulation guidance using fixed reflectors) are the most common among the major forklift makers: the Jungheinrich ERE 225a and the Toyota Autopilot LAE250, for instance, navigate by laser reflectors. Rocla (part of the Mitsubishi Logisnext group) is one of the historic European pioneers of the pallet AGV.
This approach stands in direct contrast to the AMR, which navigates with no infrastructure at all thanks to SLAM mapping and sensors such as LiDAR: the robot, for example, locates itself using 3D LiDAR and depth cameras and recalculates its own route on the fly when something unexpected happens. In practice, the technological boundary is starting to blur: some carts sold as "automated" already carry building blocks of free navigation. For a detailed comparison, see the AMR entry and the dedicated article on the AGV / AMR difference.
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FAQ
What is the difference between an AGV and an AMR?
An AGV follows a fixed path marked out by infrastructure (wire, reflectors, QR codes) and stops in front of an obstacle. An AMR navigates freely thanks to SLAM mapping and its onboard sensors, with no building fit-out, and works around unexpected obstacles on its own. The choice depends on how stable your flows are.
Does an AGV require installation work?
Yes, in most cases: laying buried wires, magnetic tape, floor QR codes or laser reflectors in the warehouse. This infrastructure sets the vehicle's path and has to be redone every time the layout changes, unlike an AMR.
Which providers offer AGVs in France?
The major forklift manufacturers (Jungheinrich, Toyota Material Handling, Fenwick-Linde) and specialists such as Rocla/Mitsubishi Logisnext offer laser-guided or wire-guided automated ranges, distributed through national dealer networks, often with sale, long-term rental and maintenance contracts covering the whole fleet.
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