ResGreen Group International Inc. announced it signed a contract with a top automotive supplier to manufacture, integrate and install its BigBuddy AGV and BotWay traffic management software. BigBuddy will deliver full pods on a customized load handling frame from an assembly line station to the staging area. It will then return an empty pod to the station.

Currently, workers manually move the carts to and from assembly stations and staging areas. BigBuddy will automate this process, reducing non-valued-added tasks and creating a safer environment. The bidirectional BigBuddy is one of the most robust AGVs in the industry that can move loads up to 5,000 pounds.

In the automated system, when a pod is full, an associate pushes ResGreen's wireless button, signaling that a full cart needs to be picked up. Next, BotWay directs BigBuddy to where the full load is located. When BigBuddy reaches the staging area, BotWay updates the staging software to alert a fork truck driver that there is a full pod.

The driver then exchanges the full pod on BigBuddy with an empty pod and updates the status on BotWay using a mobile tablet.