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October 28, 20244 min read

Vehicle Automation Mistakes to Avoid

This is a summary from the presentation of the same title by BlueBotics’ Senior Sales Manager, David Béguin, and Lead Systems Engineer, Antoine Aupée, at the Future of Electrification 2024 conference. Watch the full session here: 

In the realm of technology and mobility, vehicle automation is a topic that has been rapidly gaining attention. In a recent presentation at the Future of Electrification 2024 conference, two renowned experts in the field, David Béguin and Antoine Aupée, shared their insights on the five most common mistakes when implementing vehicle automation and how to avoid them. This blog post will summarize their key points, providing an invaluable guide for those venturing into this exciting field.

Not Knowing the Vehicle Application Well Enough

The first common pitfall in vehicle automation projects is a lack of understanding of the specific application. Each industry has its own specific requirements. As Aupée emphasized, before even reaching out to an automation partner, it is crucial to define what success looks like. Béguin elaborated on this point, noting that an AGV designed for the automotive sector, for example, will have very different functionalities compared to a hospital logistic robot. 

Many AGV projects start with the ambitious goal of sub-centimeter accuracy.  However, in applications such as warehousing, an accuracy of 1 cm is often sufficient. Selecting an AGV that is suitable for the project can lead to significant savings, impacting the project's budget and success. Companies that overlook this step, risk inadvertently introducing too much complexity, resulting in an unsuccessful project.

Not Hiring the Right People and the Right Number of People

Aupée highlighted the importance of employing a well-equipped in-house team for AGV development projects. Building a larger team diversifies knowledge and reduces the impact of individual turnover. He added that creating detailed project documentation is another valuable strategy. It can help streamline the onboarding process for future team members, ensuring project continuity.

Focusing on the Wrong Cost

While AGV development is costly, skimping on the hardware can lead to increased expenses in the long term emphasized Aupée. In a typical AGV project, hardware selection and programming consume the majority of the time but account for less than half of the total cost. Therefore, cutting corners in this area is a misguided approach.

Aupée suggested that companies should invest in robust, high-quality components, especially those that measure variables including steering angle, motor speed, and lift height. This ensures the AGV is reliable and capable of meeting performance goals.

Aupée advised against spending too much time focusing on the cost of components during the prototyping phase. Instead, companies should think long-term and select the best possible components by default. Once the application is functional, the price difference between top-shelf, standard, or even lower-quality components can be examined. There may be space for major savings, or this can highlight areas where the differences are minimal.

Automating the Wrong Vehicle

Beguin and Aupée explained that while in theory any vehicle can be automated, the reality is often different. For example, it may not be practical to automate a 25-year-old forklift since the components will likely not be reliable for an additional ten years. Before automating a vehicle, the interfaces need to be prepared for automation and may require retrofitting with additional parts and hardware. For example, a steering wheel directly connected to a driving wheel will need some adjustments. These considerations can lead to additional costs and time spent.

The best solution is to examine the project requirements and craft an adaptive solution. In some cases automating an existing manual vehicle may make sense. In other cases, the best solution is to prototype a completely new AGV.

Prioritizing Sales and Marketing in AGV Development

Beguin emphasized the significant time and financial investment required for AGV development. Prioritizing marketing and sales is the key to getting the best return on investment. It is even valuable for smaller AGV manufacturers to think beyond research and development. 

Inviting the sales staff to be part of the development right from the beginning of the project can be a strategic tactic. Their insights into customer needs can provide valuable feedback and early involvement can help to foster a sense of ownership and facilitate sales. The marketing team should also be involved, allowing them to document the entire development process from start to finish. 

Beguin also highlighted collaboration as a strategy for sucess, for example, asking a supplier to highlight the AGV on their website. Since it contains the supplier’s components it is a win-win situation, leading to sales for both parties. Another example is creating a joint press release with the supplier. Companies can also collaborate with customers, for example, beta customers can be offered discounts in exchange for permission to use their installation in marketing and advertising.

The bottom line is that for an AGV project to be successful it needs to sell. Beguin suggested considering sales and marketing as a line item from the beginning to give the project the best chance of success.

Conclusion

Beguin and Aupée believe that while developing automated vehicles is not easy, it is worthwhile. By recognizing and avoiding the common pitfalls highlighted in the presentation, companies can set themselves up for success. As the future of mobility unfolds, prioritizing these considerations will prove instrumental in achieving success.

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