Navigation and Mapping
Common questions about how the J1600 finds its way, how you teach it locations, and where it can drive.
How does the J1600 navigate?
With 3D LiDAR SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) processed by an industrial NVIDIA Jetson AI computer. The robot builds and continuously updates a three-dimensional map of the facility while an operator drives it, then localizes itself in that map and plans routes to saved destinations. It scans environmental structures at heights reaching up to 70 m above the vehicle, and its 3D mapping is designed for greater precision and reliability than traditional 2D navigation in complex or changing environments.
Do I need to install tracks, wires, reflectors, or markers?
No. The J1600 needs no fixed tracks, wires, reflectors, or building modifications. It maps the facility as it is.
How do I create the map?
Drive the robot manually through the facility with the tiller. It learns and updates its understanding of the environment continuously while you drive — there is no separate mapping procedure to run.
How do I add a destination?
Drive manually to the desired floor-drop point, tap Save location on the touchscreen, and name it. Repeat for every destination you need. Operators add locations themselves; no automation expert or IT involvement is needed.
How many locations can I save?
There is no software limit on the number of saved locations. Practical limits come from the available warehouse space.
Do I have to teach every route?
No. Locations can be recombined freely. The robot navigates from wherever it is to any saved point — you do not demonstrate every possible origin-to-destination combination. This makes multi-point flows such as cross-docking practical. See Pallets and loads for what it carries on those routes.
How does it handle obstacles and people?
The J1600 detects and avoids obstacles in dynamic environments and routes around people and objects using its continuously updated 3D map. Personnel protection is handled by a separate, certified 2D safety stack — two 2D safety LiDAR scanners and an independent safety controller — distinct from the navigation sensors. See Safety and How J1600 safety works.
Can I control where it prefers to drive?
Yes. Preferred travel zones can be defined for safer routing through production areas.
Does it work in brownfield sites and changing layouts?
Yes. The J1600 is designed for brownfield facilities and changing layouts: 3D mapping handles dynamic environments, the robot drives around obstacles in its way, and operators re-teach or add locations in minutes when the layout changes.
What floor and environment conditions does it need?
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Gradeability, automatic mode | 0° / 0% — level floors only |
| Gradeability, manual mode | 2.86° / 5% without load; 1.72° / 3% at full load |
| Maximum traversable bump | 25 mm / 1 in |
| Maximum traversable gap | 20 mm / 0.8 in |
| Floor flatness/levelness | TR34 FM3 (FF 25 / FL 20) |
| Operating temperature | 5–40 °C / 41–104 °F |
| Relative humidity | 20–80%, non-condensing |
| Ingress protection | IP21 — indoor use |
Autonomous driving is an indoor, level-floor application. Steep dock plates and slopes remain manual tasks.
What are the navigation sensors, exactly?
A 3D LiDAR and an RGB AI camera feed the navigation and control stack, which runs on the NVIDIA Jetson industrial PC. No values are published for exact sensor geometry, range, accuracy, minimum aisle width, localization tolerance, or obstacle classes. See the technical specifications for the full hardware list.