Automated Guided Vehicles

Hospital Logistics

Jena Hospital Hospital Dr. Negrin Las Palmas Bamberg Hospital

Marburg Hospital Robert-Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart Akershus University Hospital

Automated transport of supplies and equipment

Much has changed since the first automated
guided vehicles were installed in hospitals. To-
day’s vehicles are more intelligent and flexible,
using magnet or laser navigation to take lifts di-
rectly to the wards. If required, they can commu-
nicate with the control centre at any time. Also,
they are equipped with sensors to recognize and
identify loads.
This, plus improved guidance control systems,
has rekindled interest in automated guided vehi-
cles (AGV) as a transport and organisational tool
in hospitals, both for new projects and the mod-
ernization of existing facilities.
For example, at the University Clinic of the Fried-
rich-Schiller-University in Jena/Germany, an
automated guided vehicle (AGV) system moves
supplies and waste to and from various areas of
the clinic complex, often located on different
levels. The system services the wards, kitchens,
pharmacy, laundry, research departments, cafe-
teria and other areas.
The system uses 24 drive-under tractors with
lifting platform and a total of 400 roll containers
per day to transport food, medication, laundry,
sterile items, medical equipment and waste.
Each container displays a barcode that is read
by the AGV, so that the LogOS control system,
which also manages the containers, can always
track the exact location of each container.
In addition to traditional tasks such as vehicle
scheduling, traffic control and recording of pick-
up and delivery points, the MLR guidance control
systems offer new functionalities such as plan-
ning and simulation, schedule and container
management, communication manager, optimiz-
ing transport methods, energy and maintenance
management.

References: Robert-Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart • Bamberg Hospital • Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore •
Hospital Dr. Negrin Las Palmas, Gran Canaria • University Clinic Jena • University Clinic
Magdeburg • Rheinische Kliniken, Bonn • University Clinic Marburg • Akershus University
Hospital Nordbyhagen, Norway • University Clinic Düsseldorf • Hospital Leopoldina
Schweinfurt
 PC-based Guidance System
Enables Smooth Flow of Goods
New-generation control systems perform more control tasks for other relevant functional areas
including more administrative tasks than ever before.
This allows better networking and more secure and reliable data management. It also increases
availability, productivity and ease of use, and supplies precise information on load status and
system.

Simulations — an important planning tool, even after the system becomes operational
Determining the number of vehicles required
Optimizing route layouts
Testing the effects of different schedules
Testing bypass strategies
Identifying surplus capacity
Schedule management — forward-looking optimizing
Optimizing throughput
Disposition of vehicles to be provided
Disposition of containers to be transported
Definition of time windows for performing the transports
Container and resource management — additional administrative tasks
Goods Îdifferent types of container
Îdifferent treatment (washing, sterilizing, etc.)
Transport resources Îvehicles (AGV, monorail conveyor)
Îlifts, conveyors
Transport time Îschedules
Storage areas Îavailable container storage site
Îcontainer identification
Communication manager — information module for efficient signalling
Information on Îerrors, interruptions, occupancy, arrival notices, etc.
Transmission to Îtelephones, pagers, mobile phones or computers
Îvia SMS, email or voice mail
Optimizing transport methods — by concentrating control tasks
Availability of transport resources
Number of vehicles
Energy management
Number and types of containers
Lifts and conveyors
Bypass strategies
Energy management — battery monitoring system via software module
Ensuring function standby
Monitoring charge state
Optimizing battery capacity
Service management — for high availability
Managing operating time allocation
Monitoring maintenance rates

MLR System GmbH MLR System GmbH

Voithstrasse 15 Office Hamburg
71640 Ludwigsburg Germany
Germany
Phone +49 (0) 71 41 - 97 48-0
Fax +49 (0) 71 41 - 97 48-1 13 MLR System GmbH
mlr-system@mlr.de Office Alsdorf
www.mlr.de Germany