48th AGV Talk: Does the new MVO require AGV/AMR to have 3D environment recognition?

From 2027, the new Machinery Regulation (MVO) will replace our familiar Machinery Directive (MRL). Some paragraphs and formulations have led to discussions in the mobile robotics industry.

The key questions are:

Does the MVO distinguish between AGVs and AMRs, i.e. mobile robots with and without autonomous functions?

And:

Does the MVO require AGVs and/or AMRs to have merged 3D sensor systems for the detection of specific objects?

These questions have been the subject of lively discussion in recent weeks in the VDI AGV Technical Committee and the AGV Forum, as well as among many manufacturers and operators. It is also a matter of preparing the ongoing work in the standards committees so that the necessary C standards correspond to what the MVO wants and what is technically feasible.

As always, there are different interests at stake, but the discussions were fair nonetheless! Rolf Schumacher and I will report on the status of our considerations in the AGV Talk. We will also be available for questions and comments!

I look forward to the discussion!