Advanced Models for the Simulation of AGV Communication in Industrial Environments: Model proposal and Demonstration

Abstract

Wireless communication continuously gains importance in the industrial environment. Mobile communication, for example between Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), is a particularly challenging use case. The AGVs move in the industrial environment and require a connection to a central controller by means of wireless communication technologies. Most AGVs can not move without this connection. On the other hand the AGVs mobility effects the available communication channels. Therefore mobility and communication are directly linked in this use case. Common mobility and signal propagation models are not suitable to model these links and the emerging AGV behavior. In this work a new model structure for the simulation and evaluation of mobile wireless networks in the industrial context is proposed. A newly proposed mobility model is the core of this new model structure, which enables the evaluation of the communication networks effects on the mobile systems performance and behavior.