Roboteq Publishes Free Instructions and Video for Building Magnetic Track Guided Mobile Robot

Scottsdale, AZ May 5, 2014 – Roboteq, Inc., the leading developer of motor controllers for the mobile robots industry, publishes an application note and a demonstration video showing how to build an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) using only two Roboteq components: The MGS1600 Magnetic Guide Sensor, and the MDC2230 programmable dual channel DC motor controller.

The video can be viewed at http://youtu.be/WTLu9m7z2eU

The application note can be downloaded from www.roboteq.com/agv

The AGV follows a track made of an adhesive magnetic tape affixed on the floor. The MGS1600 sensor measures how far from the center of the tape it is and provide that information to the motor controller which adjusts the steering so that the vehicle remains at the center of the track. Magnetic markers positioned on the left and right side of the track give the AGV location information that is used to speed change and fork left/right decisions.

The 3 minute video shows the AGV construction followed by a view of the AGV going around the track. The 14 page application note shows the wiring diagram and the source code of the program that runs in the motor controller.

Compared to other guiding techniques, magnetic guides are totally passive and therefore easy to lay and modify. The tape creates an invisible field that is immune to dirt and unaffected by lighting conditions. The magnetic track can be totally hidden under any non-ferrous flooring material, such as linoleum, tiles, or carpet.

Mobile Robots using Roboteq’s MGS1600 are roaming at major car manufacturing plants, including Honda, Nissan, Mercedes, Seat and Toyota,  and at many other companies and institutions.

About Roboteq

Founded in 2001 by experts in embedded computing and power electronics, Roboteq’s mission is to develop products and technologies that allows anyone to build innovative, flexible and affordable mobile robots. Roboteq controllers are now used in over 2000 original robot designs around the world.10

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