Hoffmann La Roche, a big pharmaceutical company, decided to build a completely new facility in Segrate, in the province of Milan.

The technologies used were all cutting-edge, including in terms of security and data traceability.

The pallets were made of metal alloy, and each was uniquely identified by a magnetic induction tag.

Each time the AGV picked up a pallet, it was cross-checked against the pallet in the archives.

This AGV system software, managed vehicles on multiple floors, picking bins and pallets through the various stages of powder and pharmaceutical product production.

Significant work has been done to improve mission management with regard to error recovery to minimize human intervention.

The communication protocol from the computer to the AGVs has been expanded to include automatic restart procedures (in safety conditions) following a power down.

The communication driver with the host computer was created from scratch, according to the customer’s specifications.

Later on, in 1999, this system underwent full millennium certification.

AGV navigation type: laser.

Traffic controller: HP9000/200 (Risc Machine) in hot backup, host communication via TCP/IP, with Digiboard multiserial ports, connected to all devices on the layout, DI/DO signals and infrared transreceivers to communicate with AGVs.

Charging concept: charging stations with contacts on top of the AGV, when batteries are low, the vehicle is sent there to stay and charge, as well the AGV goes on charger when there are no transports to execute.

This AGV system is working over two shifts, morning and afternoon.

Number of AGVs: 4 (2 each floor)

AGV manufacturer: Digitron.

Function: AGV traffic controller development, order handling.

Year: 1996