Whether you are working on Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), Automated Guided Carts (AGC), or Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR), or any of the other designations being used, robots and robotics are becoming increasingly important to the industry, moving parts, and materials in every environment from manufacturing to warehouses, to customer-facing grocery stores.

To ensure precision, it is vital that these automated machines do their jobs correctly. For that, the controllers require reliable motion feedback. And that's where British Encoder Products Company comes in.

Motion feedback functions in autonomous motion applications:

• Redundancy 
• Lift control
• Drive motor
• Steering assembly​​ 

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Lift Control

Many automated vehicles and carts lift materials and products onto and off of shelves, floors of warehouses, or other storage areas. To do that repeatedly and reliably, the machines need precise, accurate motion feedback to ensure that products and materials get where they need to go, undamaged. BEPC's draw wire solution provides reliable motion feedback to ensure that lifts stop at the correct locations, safely moving products and materials where they need to go.

Motion feedback options for lift control

Model LCX | High performance with absolute feedback option

Model LCX80 and LCX135, draw wire solutions that are excellent solutions for lift control feedback, available with incremental encoders and absolute encoders offering CANopen® communication protocol.

Drive motor feedback

As automated vehicles and carts move around warehouses and other facilities, the motors on these vehicles and carts need reliable motion feedback to ensure that they remain in designated transit corridors/areas, and to ensure accurate stopping and starting.

BEPC motion feedback devices have been providing reliable, repeatable motion feedback on motors for more than 50 years. Our engineers and encoder experts understand motor applications and how to determine the right motion feedback device for drive motor feedback.

Encoders used for drive motor feedback

Model 15T/H | Compact, high-performance encoder available in thru-bore or blind hollow bore

Model 260 | Economical, compact encoder with large thru-bore

Model 25T/H | High-performance 2.5" encoder

Models 25T and 260 incremental encoders. Also available with absolute encoders offering CANopen® communication protocol.

Absolute feedback for steering assemblies

Steering assemblies require precision to ensure the correct steering angle and drive path. The best way to ensure proper motion feedback in these applications is to use an absolute encoder. 

Absolute encoders ensure smart positioning, providing an exact location in a 360-degree rotation. 
BEPC offers a range of absolute encoder solutions that can provide motion feedback. 

Encoders used for absolute feedback

Model A36HB | Compact 36 mm blind hollow bore absolute encoder

Model A58HB | 58 mm blind hollow bore absolute encoder

Bus absolute encoder Models A36HB and A58HB in a typical steering assembly application.

Other applications related to AGVs

Encoder applications by industry:

• Material Handling

Encoder applications by function:

• Motor Feedback – Conveyors, automated guided vehicles, forklifts
• Conveying – Drive motors, head roll shafts, belt speed monitoring
• Registration Mark Timing – Automated palletizers, shrink wrappers, case packers, pick-and-place robotics
• Backstop Gauging – Gantry systems, automated palletizers
• X-Y Positioning – Pick-and-place robotics, palletizers, case packers

Talk with an Expert

BEPC knows motion feedback, and we're here to help. Our engineers and encoder experts will respond quickly to your toughest, most technical encoder questions.

You can even get same-day to expedite on many models.
Contact us for details.

(+44) 01978 262100
sales@encoder.co.uk