AGV users have long been frustrated by the time-consuming and costly process of making a layout or design change in the software running an AGV system.

Q-CAN, a new software program from Siemens Dematic (616-913-6200, www.rapistan.com), may solve that problem for users of the company's full line of tow, unit load and fork AGV vehicles.

The program allows an operator working on a standard PC program to design, demonstrate and implement an AGV system in a matter of days.

"The system allows users to reconfigure an AGV system themselves with no additional software," says Gary Koff, AGVS technology manager for Siemens Dematic. "It's almost as easy as drawing a layout on a PC screen."

After the layout has been designed, the user can test a system's operations on screen. The program will highlight bottlenecks or other potential shortcomings that can limit the systems' overall performance.

When the system is ready to go, the user exports the file to a floppy disk, and then loads it onto the AGV on the floor. The changes have now been made.

The program requires no CAD or software experience, and uses a Windows-like operating system that is easy to learn and operate.