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Mobile Robot Terminology

Mobile robotics comes with a dense vocabulary. This page explains the key terms in context — what they mean, how they differ, and how they apply to the J1600. For short definitions of every term, see the glossary.

AGV, AMR, and the tier in between​

An AGV (automated guided vehicle) is the conventional automation category: vehicles that follow predefined guidance and typically require expert configuration, controlled processes, and integration work. An AMR (autonomous mobile robot) is the broader label for robots that navigate by sensing the environment rather than following fixed guidance; it is also used for the J1600 and comparable machines.

The J1600 occupies a tier between manual pallet jacks and classic AGVs: a dual-mode vehicle that runs as a familiar manual tool and as a self-driving robot. Immediate human takeover is central to the category — see human-in-the-loop automation.

Pallet jacks and lowlifters​

A pallet jack (pallet truck) moves palletized loads at or near floor level. Lowlifter is the warehouse-truck class the J1600 competed in as an IFOY applicant — trucks that lift loads for transport rather than for high-bay stacking. The J1600 picks and drops manually up to 1,600 mm and delivers autonomously at floor level.

SLAM, LiDAR, and navigation​

LiDAR is a laser ranging sensor. SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) is the technique of building a map while simultaneously tracking the vehicle's position in it. The J1600 uses 3D LiDAR SLAM on an industrial NVIDIA Jetson AI computer: it learns the environment continuously while an operator drives, then localizes and plans routes to saved destinations without tracks, wires, or reflectors.

Navigation sensing and safety sensing are distinct. The 3D LiDAR and RGB AI camera belong to the navigation stack; personnel protection uses two separate 2D safety LiDARs, certified components, and a safety controller.

Protective fields and Performance Levels​

A protective field (safety field) is the monitored zone around the vehicle in which detected persons or obstacles trigger a safe reaction. The J1600's field covers 360 degrees and expands with speed. A Performance Level (PL), from EN ISO 13849-1, grades a safety function's reliability from PL a to PL e; J1600 safety functions range from PL b to PL d. See how J1600 safety works.

Teach and repeat​

Teach and repeat means an operator demonstrates destinations by driving to them and saving them, and the robot then repeats the travel autonomously — no code, no configuration project. It is the J1600's standard task-creation method; see teach and repeat.

Fleet managers, VDA 5050, and WMS​

A fleet manager orchestrates multiple robots: assigning missions, coordinating traffic, and managing charging. VDA 5050 is the interoperability interface that lets robots from different vendors run under one compatible fleet layer — see VDA 5050 explained. A WMS (warehouse management system) manages inventory and warehouse processes; full automation projects typically integrate WMS, fleet manager, and robots, while basic J1600 use requires none of them.

Brownfield and greenfield​

A brownfield site is an existing facility whose layout and processes were not designed around new automation — the opposite of a purpose-built greenfield site. The J1600 targets brownfield use: 3D mapping handles changing layouts, and human takeover absorbs the exceptions that would otherwise require engineering.

Dig deeper​

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