Features

The following are the main features of NavWiz:

Navigation

NavWiz supports two modes of navigation, namely natural feature navigation (trackless mode) and magnetic tape following navigation (tracked mode).

In trackless mode, there are no (or minimal) changes required to be made to the facilities. The AMR uses the lidar to scan the existing features in the building such as walls and pillars, in order to compute its own position in the map. NavWiz allows the user to draw the virtual path in the map, and the AMR will follow the connected path to its destination.

In tracked mode, the AMR follows the magnetic tape on the floor as its guided path. NavWiz is intelligent enough to recognize a junction or a branch on the path, and to compute the maneuver required to reach a destination.

Dynamic Path Planning

In trackless mode, NavWiz can also utilize the lidar sensors and depth cameras to perform dynamic obstacle avoidance. With this feature, the AMRs can deviate from its original path in order to bypass some obstacles that are blocking its way.

Kinematics

The types of kinematics models supported include differential drive, tricycle drive, and omni-directional drive.

Safety features

Various safety features are supported by NavWiz. Laser sensors, depth cameras and ultrasonic sensors (virtual bumpers) can detect obstacles lying ahead and stop the AMR before collision.

Hardware Abstraction Layer

NavWiz supports integrations with various types of AMRs hardware and sensors through the hardware plugin feature, which is a piece of software to translate the message between NavWiz and the hardware devices.