How to Read an AGV/AMR Specification: Parameters, Standards and What to Watch Out For

An AGV datasheet looks much the same from every manufacturer: a table with load capacity, speed and IP rating, next to a photo of the vehicle. The problem is that only a skilled reading of those numbers determines whether the robot will prove itself in your facility or become a costly misunderstanding. This guide shows how to analyse an AGV specification — the parameters, the safety standards and the warning signs that are easy to overlook when comparing quotes.

AGV or AMR — they are not the same thing

The first distinction, on which everything else depends, is the type of vehicle. A classic AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) moves along a predefined infrastructure: magnetic tape, RFID tags or reflectors. The route is fixed, and changing it means relaying the tape or reprogramming the points. An AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) navigates autonomously — it builds a map of its surroundings from sensor data and plots its own path to the destination, avoiding obstacles.

This distinction translates directly into the structure of the datasheet. In an AMR specification the section on navigation and environmental perception is extensive, whereas for a classic AGV it is the section on the guidance type and the infrastructure requirements in the plant. Many manufacturers offer both variants and clearly label the product type, because in terms of standards both belong to the same category of “industrial trucks with automated functions”. If you are only now selecting a solution, start with an overview of AGV and AMR robots, looking at whether your routes are fixed or will change.

How to read an AGV specification: the parameters that make a difference

Analysing an AGV specification starts with the mechanical parameters, but each of them has its own “small print”. Below are the most important items and what really lies behind them.

Load capacity and towing capacity

Load capacity (payload) is the maximum weight of the load on the platform, given in kilograms and always tied to the dimensions of the load area — a platform with a 250 kg load capacity has a different surface from a pallet platform rated for 1200–1500 kg. In tugger-type vehicles, which tow trolleys, the key figures are instead the towing capacity in kilograms and the drawbar pull in newtons. It is these, not the platform load capacity, that determine the length of the tugger train on a given floor gradient.

Speed — maximum versus operating

Maximum speed (typically around 2 m/s, i.e. about 7.2 km/h, and up to 4 m/s in picking robots) is a marketing figure. The actual operating speed depends on the configuration of the safety zones, the load and the route geometry — the vehicle slows down before a bend and when it detects an obstacle. A good specification also gives the speed with and without a load, as well as the permissible gradient (often up to ±5% at reduced speed).

Positioning accuracy

This parameter decides whether the robot docks precisely at a station, a rack or an assembly cell. Note the distinction: the accuracy of driving to a position with SLAM navigation is considerably lower than the accuracy of docking to a marker. When docking to a visual marker, values of around ±2–3 mm and ±0.25–0.5° of angular deviation are typical, whereas driving to a position without a marker is often measured in centimetres. If the application requires precision, ask which value the figure in the table refers to.

IP rating, battery and operating time

The IP rating indicates resistance to dust and water. IP21 only means protection against dripping water (the typical “for indoor use only”), while IP52 provides real protection against dust and water drops from different directions. In the power section, look for the battery type (most often lithium-ion), the number of full charging cycles (around 3000) and the “charging ratio” — the ratio of charging time to operating time. It is this, not the capacity alone, that lets you calculate how many robots you need with opportunistic charging.

Parameter	What it means	What to ask the supplier
Load capacity (payload)	Max. weight of the load on the platform, in kg	For what load dimensions and distribution does it apply?
Towing capacity (tugger)	Max. weight of the towed set of trolleys	What drawbar pull and at what floor gradient?
Max. speed	Upper limit in m/s (and km/h)	What is the real operating speed with a load and in the zones?
Positioning accuracy	Deviation from the target in mm and degrees	Does it refer to driving to a position or docking to a marker?
IP rating	Resistance to dust and water (e.g. IP21, IP52)	Is the rating sufficient for the humidity and dust levels in my facility?
Battery / charging ratio	Cell type, number of cycles, charging-to-operating ratio	How many robots are needed with opportunistic charging?
Gap and gradient tolerance	Threshold height and % gradient the vehicle can handle	Does it take into account the condition of my floor and the thresholds at the doors?
Temperature range / floor conditions	The vehicle’s operating environment	Must the floor be dry and free of oil?

Navigation type — the decision that sets the cost of implementation

The navigation method is one of the most important entries in the datasheet, because it determines the cost and flexibility of the system:

• Magnetic tape / markers — the cheapest and most repeatable, but changing a route means physically relaying the tape. Good for fixed, simple loops.
• LGV laser (reflectors) — the vehicle triangulates its position from reflectors placed around the facility. High accuracy, but requires the infrastructure to be installed and maintained.
• SLAM / natural navigation — the robot builds a map from natural features of its surroundings (2D/3D laser scanners, cameras). No tapes, easy route changes, but sensitivity to major changes in the facility layout.
• 3D LiDAR and hybrid systems — combine LiDAR, RFID, odometry and grid codes to achieve redundancy and higher precision at critical nodes.

In practice, many manufacturers allow techniques to be combined — natural navigation is supplemented with QR codes or markers wherever the highest accuracy is needed. The key question for the supplier is: will the solution work with the infrastructure I already have, and will it need to be extended? Drive platforms such as the EP X-Mover Full show how different guidance variants are matched to a specific process.

Safety standards: what to demand in the datasheet

The compliance section is not decoration — standards translate into specific, required parameters. The most important references to look for:

• ISO 3691-4 — the safety standard for industrial trucks with automated functions (covering both AGVs and AMRs). It is the foundation of the vehicle’s conformity assessment.
• PN-EN ISO 13849-1 — covers the safety-related parts of control systems. It defines the Performance Level (PL) and categories; for functions such as emergency stop or detecting a person in the zone, PL d or PL e is usually expected.
• ISO 13850 and ISO 12100 — emergency stop (e-stop) and general principles of risk assessment.
• EMC standards (EN 61000-6-2 / -6-4) — immunity and interference emissions in an industrial environment.

In the safety table, manufacturers state the number of safety functions (typically a dozen or more) and give an assurance that triggering any of them stops the vehicle. Check whether the vehicle has safety laser scanners creating protective fields around its entire outline (360° protection), a hardware emergency stop switch and — ideally — confirmation of assessment by an independent body (e.g. TÜV) in accordance with ISO 13849-1. A mere declaration of being “safe” without stating the standard and the PL is not enough.

VDA 5050 — a standard worth asking about

If you are planning a fleet made up of vehicles from different manufacturers, or you do not want to become dependent on a single supplier, ask about compliance with VDA 5050. It is a standard for the communication interface between an AGV/AMR and the master fleet control system, based on the MQTT protocol. Its aim is interoperability: vehicles of different brands can operate under one management system. Without a common standard, every supplier imposes its own protocol, and integrating a heterogeneous fleet becomes expensive and difficult to expand. In the communication section, also look for Wi-Fi in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, the number of digital inputs/outputs and the interfaces for integration with WMS/MES (REST API, OPC UA).

Red flags in datasheets

A few signals that should set off alarm bells when analysing a specification:

• “Up to…” parameters without measurement conditions — “speed up to 2 m/s” or “operating time up to 13 h” without stating the load and scenario are laboratory values, not operating values.
• A single accuracy figure without context — failing to distinguish driving to a position from docking to a marker usually masks a poorer result.
• No reference to standards or the PL — a “safety system” without ISO 3691-4 and ISO 13849-1 is a declaration with nothing behind it.
• Silence on floor conditions and environment — if the datasheet says nothing about the required floor cleanliness, temperature range and IP rating, ask before you calculate throughput.
• A closed communication protocol — no VDA 5050 or standard interfaces means dependence on a single supplier for years.

Summary — a checklist before you decide

Before you compare quotes, go through five points:

1. Determine the vehicle type (AGV vs AMR) and match it to whether your routes are fixed or variable.
2. For each parameter, ask about the measurement conditions — load, scenario, type of docking.
3. Verify the navigation type against your infrastructure and your plans for changing it.
4. Demand that standards (ISO 3691-4, PN-EN ISO 13849-1) and the safety level be stated, not generalities.
5. Check the openness of communication (VDA 5050) and the possibility of integrating with the systems you use.

How does an AGV differ from an AMR in practice?

An AGV runs along a fixed route defined by infrastructure (tape, reflectors, RFID) — changing the route requires rebuilding it. An AMR navigates autonomously, builds a map from its sensors and avoids obstacles by itself, so it is easier to redirect. An AGV is often cheaper and more repeatable on fixed loops; an AMR wins where the facility layout and tasks change.

What matters more — positioning accuracy or speed?

It depends on the application. When docking to racks, lifts and assembly cells, positioning accuracy is decisive, as is whether it refers to docking to a marker. Speed matters for throughput on long routes, but in practice it drops in the safety zones anyway, so it is rarely the bottleneck.

Why does VDA 5050 compliance matter?

Because it protects against dependence on a single manufacturer. A common interface standard lets you run a fleet of different brands under one control system and expand it more cheaply in the future. Without it, every subsequent delivery may mean a separate, closed protocol.