General Motors operates hundreds of manufacturing facilities across the world and produces millions of vehicles annually. GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant—one of its most complex manufacturing assembly facilities—employs about 1,800 workers in its 4.1-million-square-foot warehouse. In search of a flexible solution to increase throughput and optimize workflow, the company deployed industrial self-driving vehicles that improved efficiency and productivity.
Currently, more than 75 automated vehicles (Seegrid) operate within the facility. The vehicles move materials throughout the plant, primarily delivering bulk body shop and general-assembly materials. Relying exclusively on cameras for navigation, the vehicles create a 360-degree map of the facility when in route training. As the vehicles navigate, they use the stored images to compare with their current surroundings to avoid unexpected obstacles.