I work here in Hagerstown at the Mack/Volvo truck plant as Application support for the Assembly lines. We build all the diesel engines that go into the Mack trucks and most of the ones that go into the Volvo trucks.

Well today they finally turned on the Automated Guided Vehicles.

http://www.fmcsgvs.com/content/produ...raph_reach.htm

These guys are responsible for moving all the parts from the rack to the assembly lines. They use a type of gps system with in the plant. So there is no rail for them to follow. When a part is order the kick on head over to the rack and pull it out and then it’s off to the line. Pretty cool stuff.

I get to support the application that runs these interesting toys. I love technology.

We also have AGV's that each engine rides on down an assembly line. The Agvs follow a guild wire in the floor though. They move from station to station to complete various stages of the build process for the engine.

Interesting things going on here at Mack/Volvo truck. Kind of fun being in IT here lately.

Later
Todd

 

Here is a pic of the AGV that carries the engines around the line.

 

thats cool as hell i would totally play around with those in my free time

 

They are alot of fun to just sit back and watch. Its like a bunch of very large yellow ants running around. The get the job done well.

The AGV the engine rides on is like a big Surf board with out the engine. You can stand on the plate and control where you go with the handheld controller

Todd

 

The Rise of the Machines is upon us!!!

 

Do you guys sell heavy duty tractors? I need a loader with 8-10ft long forks

 

We dont have any trucks here. All this plant does is build the engine and transmissions. Once they are built tested and painted they are shipped over to the truck plant. Most of the engines built here go into the Dump and Over the Road trucks.

Todd

 

swap it in the Z!

 

Well i would have a crazy amount of TQ ( 1600- 2000 ) But then lies the problem of fitting the beast in the car. Lets just say, if i stand beside one of these engines it come up to my sholders and they are between 5 and 6 feet long

I dont think it would be to balanced with the install, just a little front heavy. You should see the size of these turbos though

Todd

 

You should make the robots battle!

 

That would be a very expensive battle.

They run 90k a piece for the fork truck and 120k for the engine carrier. Not very cheap....

We have 9 fork trucks SGV's and 44 engine carrier AGV's.

Lots of money wrapped up in these robots

Todd

 

Money, schmoney. Nothing passes time like a good ol' fassioned robot battle...

 

Yeah, back in the day i was big into watching battlebots on tv.

http://www.battlebots.com/

I have not watched that show in some time.

 

You should "borrow" one of the AGVs and convert it into a battlebot.