The automotive industry is currently in a phase of deep energy transition and rapid product iteration. Market competition has become white-hot, and the product iteration cycle has drastically accelerated from the 5-7 years of the internal combustion engine (ICE) era to a fast pace of "a facelift every six months and a new generation every year."
This unprecedented speed poses a severe challenge to the stability-focused discipline of Manufacturing Engineering (ME). When planning general assembly lines, we face a core paradox:
On one hand, the process layout must possess high flexibility to cope with future, uncertain model changes and capacity adjustments.
On the other hand, traditional chassis assembly line solutions (such as friction carriers or EMS lifting carriers) require us to build extensive steel structures and fixed track systems, which greatly increases the difficulty of future process modifications.
This conflict between the need for fast-paced, high flexibility and the constraints of current rigid processes is the key to an industry breakthrough.
Targeting the aforementioned "rigid" constraints of traditional chassis assembly lines, AE (China Automotive Engineering) has leveraged its deep understanding of the general assembly process to propose a targeted, innovative solution: the AE Intelligent Chassis AGV.
The positioning of the AE Intelligent Chassis AGV is to replace the traditional overhead EMS carrier system, liberating body transport from the "air" to the "ground" and achieving true flexibility.
AE-General Assembly
The fundamental difference between the Intelligent Chassis AGV solution and the traditional EMS solution is that it completely decouples process "flexibility" from "infrastructure."
|
Comparison Dimension |
Traditional Carrier Solution |
AE Intelligent Chassis AGV Solution |
|
Construction Threshold |
High: Reliant on equipment steel structures. High requirements for factory building load. Higher civil engineering costs. |
Low: No steel structure required. No special requirements for building load. Significantly reduces civil engineering costs. |
|
Time-to-Production |
Long: Construction process is "bottlenecked" by steel structure installation. Machinery & Equipment installation and commissioning must be delayed. |
Short: AGVs can be pre-commissioned and can enter the site during the late or concurrent phases of civil construction. The construction cycle is drastically compressed, accelerating production launch. |
|
Long-Term Flexibility |
"Zero" Flexibility: Steel structures and tracks are fixed. Later modifications are difficult, costly, and time-consuming. |
Ultimate Flexibility: Ground paths can be adjusted at any time. Easily adapts to process changes and modification iterations. |
|
Process Space |
Restricted: Overhead structures and ground columns obstruct logistics and maintenance access. |
Open: Completely liberates overhead and ground-level space, facilitating process optimization and automation integration. |
The core value of this solution lies in transforming the assembly line from "fixed real estate" into a "reconfigurable, flexible asset." It breaks free from the reliance on steel structures, thereby optimizing initial investment and avoiding the building load challenges of existing factory retrofits; concurrently, the decoupling of the construction flow drastically shortens the time-to-production, accelerating the project's return on investment; and its ground-level flexibility provides the capability for long-term adaptability, allowing for efficient execution of any model iterations or process changes.
将产线从“不动产”变为“可重构的柔性资产”
AE-General Assembly
✓ Structure: Gantry-style structure, four-wheel steering drive.
✓ Dimensions: 6m (L) x 5m (W) x 4.4m (H).
✓ Payload Capacity: Effective payload of 3 tons or more.
✓ Movement Performance: Max operating speed 30m/min, omni-directional movement capability, small turning radius.
✓ Navigation Mode: Supports SLAM, magnetic stripe navigation, or hybrid navigation.
✓ Safety Protection: Equipped with 4 safety radars on inner/outer diagonals for 2D comprehensive safety protection.
✓ Communication Standard: Supports VDA5050.
✓ Optional Expandability: Highly customizable, with optional lighting, fans, power sockets, and smart ANDON screens.
AE-General Assembly
In response to the rapid changes in the industry, market, and consumer demands, the requirements for manufacturing systems are evolving from rigid "high-volume" production to intelligent, flexible, and adaptive "multi-variable" production systems.
The AE Intelligent Chassis AGV is one of the keys enabling technologies that AE provides to achieve this goal. AE always maintains a deep insight into industry development needs and core characteristics. We are willing to work hand-in-hand with our clients and industry partners, leveraging our deep cultivation in both technology and service, to jointly explore and build high-value, flexible production solutions.
AE looks forward to collaborating
with industry partners
in building more landmark projects
through innovative technologies!
