Guidelines for Implementing More Intelligent Wireless Networks for AMH Systems

Automated materials handling (AMH) systems have been designed to enhance productivity in manufacturing and warehousing settings. As indicated by a recent analysis, the AMH system market has shown continuous growth since 2010 and is projected to exceed US$70 billion by 2026. The increasing integration of AMH systems in the manufacturing sector demonstrates a growing acknowledgment among business proprietors of the advantages of intelligent systems, leading to their adoption in various factory settings. Prominent AMH systems encompass robots, conveyors, automated guided vehicles (AGV), and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). At production facilities, robots and conveyors are utilized on production lines to enhance operational effectiveness. AGVs offer exceptional mobility among AMH systems and can be observed in both manufacturing settings and warehouses for the transportation of goods between workstations. AS/RS are primarily found in warehouses and utilize moving shuttle systems for the organization and retrieval of goods from shelves.

Undoubtedly, the implementation of AMH systems can significantly boost mobility and efficiency in your production site or warehouse. Nevertheless, maintaining control and oversight of the continually moving equipment within these systems can pose a challenge. To optimize the functionalities of AMH systems, operators predominantly rely on wireless communication to supervise system conditions, enabling them to make prompt decisions from remote locations. To guarantee seamless communication for AMH systems, certain factors should be deliberated upon in the creation of a dependable wireless network.

Overcoming Hindrances in the Environment

Diverse environmental obstacles are encountered in the operational surroundings of AMH systems. These systems commonly incorporate compact equipment to maximize mobility. Consequently, devices integrated into AMH systems, like motors, PLCs, and wireless devices, necessitate a compact design to fit within confined spaces. During daily operations, AMH systems function in environments characterized by intense electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can easily disrupt power inputs and wireless signals. Wireless solutions equipped with both power and RF protection decrease the risk of unforeseen system outages due to EMI interference.

Improving the Reliability of Wireless Communication

Compared to wired networks, maintaining wireless communications is relatively intricate owing to the invisible connections. While your AMH systems strive to enhance your productivity and efficiency, operational halts due to unstable wireless communications are the last thing you need. Given the invisibility of wireless networks, which might lead to uncertainty regarding their status, several features can be considered to enhance wireless reliability. Firstly, crafting a comprehensive plan for your wireless network is crucial. Strategically deploying wireless APs can amplify wireless coverage and mitigate potential signal interference. Secondly, your wireless solutions should possess roaming capabilities. This attribute is indispensable for highly mobile AMH systems, such as AGVs, which necessitate seamless movement across various wireless APs. When selecting your wireless solution, assess if it offers roaming capabilities capable of achieving swift handover times, ensuring seamless wireless communication among APs. Lastly, wireless solutions supporting industrial protocols can be immensely advantageous. Operators can dispatch commands through wireless networks using the same protocols employed by PLCs within the AMH system, augmenting communication reliability for real-time control and on-site operations monitoring. Refer to our white paper for further insights on developing wireless networks for AGV and AS/RS systems.

An Intelligent Approach to Managing Your Wireless Devices and Networks

Efficient management of devices and networks is essential, particularly for wireless solutions entailing numerous intricate settings. While configuring one or two wireless devices might seem straightforward, deploying several wireless devices for AMH systems can be cumbersome without a proficient tool. When selecting wireless solutions for AMH systems, confirm if the solution encompasses user-friendly tools that streamline wireless device configurations with precise accuracy. Furthermore, visualize your wireless network and manage your wireless devices more intelligently. Wireless solutions featuring functionalities enabling you to survey the current network topology and device status, archive roaming histories, and establish alerts can facilitate daily operations and maintenance tasks, minimize instances of wireless network downtime, and augment troubleshooting efficiency. Explore this explanatory video to ascertain how you can optimize uptime for your wireless connection using a sophisticated management tool.

With a distinguished expertise in industrial networking, Moxa has assisted clients worldwide in developing reliable wireless communications to oversee and manage their AMH systems. Refer to our case studies to witness how other companies engineered their AMH systems with Moxa’s dependable wireless solutions.

Require assistance in selecting connectivity or networking products for your project? Refer to our E-book for insights on the essential criteria for choosing suitable products that align with your requirements.