Warehouse Automation Renting Ceiling-Mounted APs for AGV and Scanner Rollouts

Warehouse automation renting ceiling-mounted APs for AGV and scanner rollouts are a popular solution for companies looking to launch pilot projects on warehouse automation. High wireless performance plays a vital role when deploying the automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Have the flexibility to support pilot programs without investing in a full-scale wireless network build with a rental of a temporary access point. This post takes a closer look at how renting ceiling-mounted AP technology for your WM series, for example, can support warehouse automation by addressing common RF issues, ensuring optimal mounting and antennas, providing uninterrupted roaming, gauging pilot success and expanding or returning the equipment for rent.

RF Challenges in Warehouses

It’s a challenging environment for wireless signals in warehouses. And they are filled with metal racks, boxes and moving machinery, all of which interfere and block signals. Automated guided vehicles and scanners require uninterrupted, constant Wi-Fi to communicate and operate effectively.

Common RF issues include:

• Reflection signals from metallic surfaces and thereby multi-path interference
• Attenuation and loss in a stacks of dense films
• Unforeseen obstacles in the form of sliding shelves or machinery
• Interference caused by other wireless networks or devices

These difficulties require meticulous consideration of where to place the Access Points and what their signal patterns should be like. If you choose the wrong APs or mount them poorly, you can end up with dead zones, dropped connections and pauses in your automation sequence.

AP Mounting and Antenna Choice

And, in warehouses, ceiling-mounted APs are often the best option. High-mounting APs will mean signals can reach more places, and helps avoid inventory obscuring the signal. But smart antenna designs are still necessary even for ceiling installations.

Consider these points:

• Consider dual band APs with 2.4 and 5 GHz to cater for different device requirements.
• Select APs with direction antennas, or with an adjustable antenna, to concentrate coverage only where you need it is another method.
• Avoid placing APs near metallic HVAC pipes or other large metallic objects.
• Make sure that APs support the latest Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6, for example) for better speed and capacity.
• You could try out different antennas/coverage locations without the investment if you actually don’t end up buying.

Seamless Roaming

Travelling the warehouse are AGVs and scanners. The WLAN infrastructure must be able to provide for transparent roaming in order to maintain connectivity for devices.

Key things to keep in mind:

• Choose commercial APs that can do fast roaming (e.g., 802.11r).
• Your wireless controller or management system must be able to handle smooth AP handoffs.
• Test roaming performance from day one during your pilot to catch weak spots or handoff delays.
• Rent temporary APs to test roaming deployments without significant upfront costs.

Pilot Metrics

Identifying the success of pilot projects is very dependent on the type of metrics gathered. It’s easy with temp AP rentals since you can tweak environments and monitor without having to invest in the solution.

Track these metrics:

• Reliability of connection : frequency of loss of connection or interconnection with poor quality.
• Throughput: speed of data on the warehouse floor
• Latency: response time is important for real-time AGV control
• Device density support: how many devices at once
• Battery drain (dependant on signal strength) for Everybody Wizard Devices

Study these numbers and do the math to make intelligent choices in network design and justify budget for permanent install.

Scale Up or Return

Upon completion of the pilot, you’re forced with the choice: rent again to grow the solution or remove equipment and invest in permanent answers. Second, renting ceiling-mounted APs is no ordinary rental:

Advantages of continuing rentals:

• Ramp up coverage as automation increases
• Easily upgrade AP models to new standards and features
• Eliminates large initial capital investments
• Minimize maintenance overhead with rental provider assistance

When to return:

• Pilot metrics demonstrate permanent installation is feasible
• Network design complete and vendors chosen
• Funding secured for the procurement of the devices

Rentals give you the ability to avoid rush decisions, get ready, and confidently deploy automation hardware. Never lose your agility – Here’s the beauty of it: you remain agile without compromising your cybersecurity perimeter – to play on familiar ground, with security in mode, because in many instances, the rental APs are pre-configured with the latest security protocols.

Warehouse Automation Renting Ceiling-Mounted APs for AGV and Scanner Rollouts with Agility and Xirrus

By eliminating the installation, cabling and costs of traditional APs for this temporary warehouse pilot, Agility by Xirrus offers an optimized solution. It also overcomes RF problems, idealizes mounting, seamlessly roams, gives insightful pilot data, and financially flexes to scale intelligently.

Gain competitive advantage with targeted investments in automation. Use short-term AP rentals strategically to expedite your automation journey with less risk and all the control you need.