The master’s thesis focuses on the design and implementation of a system for coordinating multiple automated guided vehicles (AGVs). These represent autonomous robots capable of independent movement and task execution. The main objective of the thesis was to develop a prototype system that enables centralized command allocation, task synchronization, and real-time position monitoring of the robots.
To support the system, a program was developed in Python to facilitate communication with the robots, as well as their control and movement monitoring. The program incorporates algorithms for task scheduling and optimal path planning. The system was tested using Ozobot robots, which, due to their simple design and precise movement, serve as a suitable model for developing and testing concepts of automated guided vehicles.
An important part of the system is the environmental map, designed as a graph-based road network. The map represents a scaled-down model of an industrial warehouse, where robots perform material transport tasks between individual stations. Based on the map’s structure, the system uses the A* algorithm to calculate the optimal path between a selected start and target station, generating a sequence of commands that the robots execute automatically.
Robot position tracking is performed using a surveillance camera that applies computer vision techniques. The camera detects the colors of the robots’ LED lights in real time and determines their current positions. The system enables comparison between the planned and detected trajectories, thus verifying the accuracy of task execution and the effectiveness of the control algorithms.
The developed prototype was successfully tested in an experimental environment. The results demonstrated that the system establishes reliable communication with the robots and efficiently plans their routes. The system accurately tracks the positions of the robots, which perform their assigned tasks in a coordinated manner. This findings confirm the successful operation of the designed system and its potential usefulness in developing autonomous transport solutions.
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