Top Robotics Voice ➤ Consultant for AGVs & AMRs @ Moving Robots | We help you with your logistics automation | President at ARME | 28.000+ followers
AGV or AMR? 🤖🛠️ If you're looking into warehouse automation, chances are you've come across AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots). They’re often used interchangeably — but they’re not exactly the same. 🔍 The key difference? ▶️ AMRs navigate using SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), which lets them move freely and react to dynamic environments. ▶️ AGVs, on the other hand, follow predefined routes — usually marked by magnetic tape, QR codes, or reflectors. Reliable, but less flexible. 🧭 Beyond that? It gets blurry. With newer technologies — smarter sensors, better batteries, advanced navigation — many companies rebranded to "AMR" just to stand out. 📌 What’s the takeaway? Don’t get caught up in the acronyms. Focus on what your operation actually needs. Personally, I like to call them mobile robots — it saves a lot of arguments 😉 And if you’ve heard of LGVs (Laser Guided Vehicles)... yes, they’re AGVs that use laser reflectors. Not very common this acronym outside of Italy! ➡️ What’s your take on this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below 👇 📩 Thinking about automating your logistics? At Moving Robots, we help companies define, design, select, and supervise the best mobile robotics solutions — with a vendor-agnostic approach. Let’s talk! #innovation #technology #robots
And if it technically has the ability to avoid obstacles but uses the path following principle because of efficiency, central controlled by a sophisticated fleet manager and moves omni directional, then you call it Lowpad - Autonomous Mobile Robots 😎
AMR always for picking solutions
At our company we most simply call them "industrial mobile robots".
AGVs have been around for a long time, more then 50 years, AMRs were enabled by advances in positioning systems, safety devices advancements and other features with positioning control. I agree with Javier Miguélez both have a pace in today's warehouse automation world, and should be considered in case by case bases.
I always ask my customers, "So...tell me your definition of an AGV and an AMR?" This is the only way to know what they are truly looking for as the terms are tossed around so loosely. The LGV term is so funny. At my old company it was a dead giveaway that we were competing against E80 if the company talked about a LGV.
Interesting
Bela reflexão. Valeu, Javier!
Great meme! In my opinion AMR defines a vehicle that is capable of handling situations autonomously. Pallet badly placed? pick it up anyway. Obstacle in its way: go around it. Updating the map constantly while driving... They have some kind of intelligence on board. I see so many AGVs that are being marketed as AMRs; but that clearly are as dumb as a piece of plywood. Go from A to B on this route.
Great post! AMRs thrive in dynamic spaces, AGVs in stable ones - both have their place.