Automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS) are in-house, floor-supported materials handling systems comprising automatically controlled vehicles whose primary task is materials transport rather than the transport of passengers. They are used inside and outside of buildings and essentially consist of the following components:

• One or several automated guided vehicles
• A guidance control system
• Devices for position determination and localisation
• Data transmission equipment
• Infrastructure and peripherals

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are floor-supported, self-propelled means of transport which are controlled automatically and guided by a non-contact guidance system. Automated
guided vehicles are used for materials transport, i.e. for the pulling and/or carrying of goods to be conveyed by means of active or passive load handling devices. Typical applications include internal logistics systems for piece goods manufacturers, assembly lines in serial production, as well as logistics systems in hospitals and commercial ports.

The above definitions are an excerpt from VDI Guideline 2510 "Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS)".

For a general description of automated guided vehicle systems, please refer to WIKIPEDIA.

AGVS in operation