Aalborg University Hospital
Transport hospital beds safely and autonomously using AGVs.In a world where efficiency and patient care go hand in hand, automation is playing an increasingly important role, even in hospitals. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are now being used to transport hospital beds safely and autonomously.
Project: Aalborg University Hospital
The Challenge
Hospital beds are in constant use and must be cleaned and prepared after each patient. In Aalborg, the bed washing facility is located on a different floor from the bed storage area. This means that there is a constant flow of dirty and clean beds through the building, making efficiency and separation between “dirty” and “clean” crucial.In addition, the central storage area for all beds is located in the hospital basement, where beds are delivered and removed via multiple lifts. Reliable, error-free and automated logistics were essential.
The solution
An integrated system was set up in the basement where the storage, transport and status management of beds is largely automated. WEWO supplied a fleet of seven autonomous “Bedmover” AGVs, based on a pallet mover vehicle equipped with a specially developed clamp for hospital beds. These AGVs move both clean and dirty beds between lifts, storage positions and transport zones.
The AGVs collaborate with::
- Static buffer positions, waar de AGVs en of medewerkers bedden kunnen plaatsen of ophalen.
- Dynamic buffer stations, that automatically place beds in lifts or remove them.
- HMI-interfaces, where operators can monitor the entire system.
- Een centraal WMS, this ensures communication between the logistics system, the AGVs and the automation in the basement.
The result
The New Aalborg University Hospital now has an innovative, scalable logistics ecosystem in which:
- The availability of beds has improved dramatically.
- Manual operations are kept to a minimum.
- The logistics flow is completely reliable and transparent in real time.
The fleet of autonomous Bedmovers is an essential part of this automation and contributes daily to safe, efficient and hygienic hospital operations.
