As the use of driverless transport systems (or mobile robots) increases, regular maintenance and recurring inspections for a safe and reliable operation of the devices and systems come into focus for users. Existing guidelines for inspection and maintenance do not adequately reflect the different variants of individual vehicle types and specific requirements (for example safety devices) according to the VDMA, and therefore can only be supportive. Against this background,
the VDMA's Mobile Robots department of the Specialist Association for Conveyor Technology and Intralogistics has now published a guideline intended to provide orientation for manufacturers and users of mobile robots. A press release dated September 30 reports on this.
“As an established manufacturer of driverless transport systems, we highly value the close collaboration with the VDMA and are proud of the joint results of the working group led by
Enja Michalke. Together we were able to sensibly supplement existing standards and guidelines through this practical guideline and close important regulatory gaps. The constructive and technically excellent work of the group makes a valuable contribution to safety, transparency and the quality that our industry needs,” says Marco Bemmlotte, CCO of EK Robotics GmbH.
Extensive material for practical use
According to the VDMA, the guide is explicitly aimed at operators
of mobile robots, identifies responsibilities, and explains the key criteria for maintenance and recurring inspections. The guide also covers special requirements for rental or leasing. In addition, the publication contains an exemplary inspection list with subassemblies and components, as well as examples for a maintenance checklist and an inspection protocol.
The guide is available for free download in German and English: Maintenance and recurring inspections of mobile robots.
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