With the increasing demand for automation, the huge number of traditional forklifts is gradually replaced by forklift AGV robots. According to the statistics of the new strategic Robot Industry Research Institute, after 2015, the annual sales growth of forklift AGV robots in China has maintained more than 50%. The huge market demand has attracted numerous enterprises to enter this field, including Shenzhen easy robot Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "easy robot") with composite navigation + frame controller as the core technology chip. Easy robot was established in 2017. Its products include unmanned forklift, laser navigation AGV, mobile robot, intelligent handling system and supporting operation software and hardware, and has served photovoltaic, electronics, military industry, food In automobile, medical and other industries, in order to explore the current development and future planning of easy robot, the new strategic mobile robot all media had an in-depth exchange with its founder Liu quanchao.
The function of the controller is stable and easy to use
EGO series AGV machine products are built on the basis of its core controller. Liu quanchao said that in terms of controller, easy robot performed well last year. Among them, a controller for light chassis was very popular with users, and the shipment exceeded expectations.
Liu quanchao said that compared with other enterprises, the easy robot controller has the characteristics of high efficiency, stability and low cost. "Our controllers are specially developed for a certain application scenario, so the performance is relatively stable and easy to operate
Some customers said that after taking the product of EGO robot, they can use it directly, which is very convenient. "
In addition, due to the stable and specific performance, the price of easy robot controller is very considerable. According to Liu quanchao, at present, the price of controllers in the industry is mainly focused on functional modules. The more functional modules, the more expensive the price is, and vice versa. Among them, some customers said that many functions of the seemingly incomparably "intelligent" controller are actually unavailable. The result is undoubtedly to transfer the cost to the customer and let the customer pay the bill. Therefore, in product positioning, the easy robot positions the controller as fine and specialized, that is, to create appropriate products for a certain subdivision field. Thanks to this, the easy robot controller has developed rapidly and brought a wide range of application space for the overall business.
"After the controller is developed, we can derive many forms of products to meet the different needs of customers," Liu quanchao said.
Indoor to outdoor, EGO for robot specialty
At present, EGO to operate has a series of forklift AGV products, which have been mature and applied in indoor handling scenes. On the basis of indoor application, recently, easy robot also intends to further expand the product direction and extend to outdoor application.
Compared with the booming indoor AGV, the outdoor AGV market has always been regarded as a blue ocean with great potential, but the reclamation progress is slow. The main reason is that the research and development of outdoor navigation technology is too difficult and the cost is too high.
"We are testing an outdoor navigation AGV in our own park," said Liu quanchao. The easy robot has long planned to develop outdoor navigation, and only recently began preparations. In addition, from indoor to outdoor, it is a breakthrough process, which requires clear target guidance. Therefore, the easy robot will adhere to the previous "traditional" practice, first study and improve the controller, and then make the whole machine brand.
Liu quanchao revealed that the main application scenarios of easy outdoor mobile robot are divided into two categories: one is material distribution in the park of unmanned forklift, and the other is outdoor inspection. "After our outdoor navigation controller products are tested, they will be first used on forklifts. After all, forklift AGV is our advantageous product all the time, and we also hope that outdoor forklift AGV can continue this advantage."
At present, there are two main outdoor navigation methods used by EGO robot, one is laser navigation, the other is visual navigation. Due to different technical directions, the effects are also different. For example, laser navigation is a way of using laser technology for navigation, but its cost is high and its environmental requirements are relatively harsh, so it is more suitable for unobstructed environment; Visual navigation is a way of positioning and navigation through the processing of image information. Although it has the advantages of high flexibility and wide application range, the technical maturity is relatively insufficient. Comparing the two, Liu quanchao said that at present, laser navigation is more used by easy robots, but visual navigation will be gradually used in the future.
The standardization trend superimposes the epidemic situation, and EGO Robotics business is simplified
From indoor to outdoor, ego is constantly expanding the application scope of forklift AGV, but in terms of specific business, ego intends to simplify.
"At the beginning of this year, many of our projects will no longer participate." Liu quanchao said that this is the decision made by easy robot after careful consideration, and there are two key factors: one is the gradual standardization of forklift AGV, and the other is that the frequent outbreak of the epidemic has caused great trouble to overseas business expansion.
In the past, forklift AGV on the market has generally been divided into two types: standardized and non standardized. They have their own application scenarios. However, with the development of the industry and the expansion of market scale, forklift AGV is gradually developing in the direction of standardization. Affected by this, the non standardized products of easy robot have been affected to some extent. In order to better develop, easy robot has also adjusted its business and moved closer to standardization. "Our algorithm and software system have reached the standardization level, while the AGV, standard chassis and mobile robot controller of unmanned forklift have reached the stage of batch." Liu quanchao said.
If standardization is the internal cause of ego's business streamlining, then the impact of the epidemic is the external cause of Igo's business streamlining. In the past year, easy robot has completed the layout of overseas markets and realized localized services in Southeast Asia. At present, the overseas business of ego is mainly concentrated in two sections, one is auto parts, and the other is the food industry. Due to the impact of the epidemic, the overseas business has been impacted as a whole, but it also benefits from the dispatching system of ego. The operating system is standardized and simplified. The project can be carried out after training in the early stage. At present, it is mainly carried out by local personnel.
