VDL AGV for BASF
BASF
The German chemical group BASF has placed a follow-up order for 7 automated guided vehicles, more than 100 frames, charging stations, controls, infrastructure and other developments towards fully autonomous driving. These VDL AGVs will drive unmanned in a human-operated environment. The modular vehicle structure has been adapted in such a way that a certified safety level is achieved with the smart integration of computers, cameras, sensors and scanners.
"This follow-up order from BASF is a confirmation of the performance of our team, and is also essential in our next development step," says manager Karel Smits of VDL Automated Vehicles. "Thanks to the confidence of our customer, VDL is at the forefront of autonomous heavy-duty transport, enabling VDL Automated Vehicles to further strengthen its position.
Electric
The vehicles will be used autonomously and entirely electrically by BASF in Ludwigshaven Germany, and will cover routes of more than 100 kilometres at a maximum speed of 30 km/hour. Construction of the AGVs will start in January and deliveries will start in the second half of 2018.
The innovative, fully automatic vehicle from VDL Automated Vehicles is a further development of the existing VDL AGV. The 16 axle vehicle with a length of 18 meters is the first vehicle in the world where the environment no longer needs to be protected, or where a 'guard' has to drive along. Empty the AGV weighs 28 tonnes, with a maximum load of 113 tonnes. The vehicle is also innovative in a number of other areas; for example, it puts off the load itself and is built extremely low at a height of 1.15 metres. This makes it easy for the vehicle to pass under existing pipelines in the local infrastructure.