AMR vs AGV - what's the difference?
Selection Q&A Updated
AGVs follow fixed guides (magnetic tape / QR codes) - route changes mean infrastructure changes. AMRs navigate autonomously with laser SLAM, avoid obstacles and re-route freely. Flexible warehouses pick AMRs; fixed heavy routes still favour AGVs on cost.
Both move goods; the difference is navigation. AGVs follow magnetic tape, colour strips or QR grids - dependable and cheap per vehicle, but re-routing means re-working the floor. AMRs localise with LiDAR (such as a Mid-360) plus SLAM, need no floor work and re-route around people in real time.
Rule of thumb: stable heavy routes that won't change for a decade still favour AGVs on total cost; e-commerce warehouses and material delivery with shifting order mixes justify AMR flexibility many times over. KIES supplies navigation sensors and dispatch integration for both.