The Research and Development of an Educational SLAM AVG Based on Modular Design Concept

As widely used industrial integrated products, automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) have gained significant attentions in the era of Industry 4.0. To meet the growing industrial market demand for AGV talents and to explore the further integration of academia and industry, China’s Haier Group and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University proposed this project. The project aims to develop an educational SLAM AGV prototype, providing students with a more accessible platform for learning AGV technology. Following the modular design approach for industrial integrated equipment, the AGV mechanical modules are divided into chassis structure and drive structure. The dimensions, assembly processes, materials, and technical parameters are meticulously designed and calculated, so are the AGV chassis, functional module boards, drive structures, and shock-absorbing structures. Additionally, FEA is used in this paper to test the designed structures performance. This ensures the AGV's industrial functionality and facilitates the students in the learning, installation, and operation of the equipment. Successful manufacturing of the AGV prototype strengthens the collaboration between academia and industry, providing university laboratories with sustainable AGV equipment for further studies. This helps students adapt quickly to the industrial sector and enhance their industry awareness in industrial integrated equipment design while efficiently reducing the employment training time.