TUG

DESCRIPTION

TUG is a Delivery-Robots from Aethon. It is built for Intralogistics, Material-Handling, Delivery. Key figures: 600 min runtime, 454 kg payload.

TUG is Aethon's original autonomous mobile robot for hospital logistics, built in Pittsburgh and in service in hospitals from the mid-2000s. It is a low, motorised tug that rolls under a cart, lifts it on a stainless-steel platform and tows it through corridors and lifts to the point of use: medications and lab specimens in biometric- and PIN-secured drawer and door carts, meal trays, clean and dirty linen, and trash or regulated waste. TUG keeps a map of the hospital in memory and uses a scanning laser plus 27 infrared and ultrasonic sensors to model its surroundings in real time, hold its position and avoid obstacles. It talks to the hospital's wireless network to call lifts, open doors and react to fire alarms, speaks as it travels, and returns to its charging dock after each delivery. Aethon's command centre in Pittsburgh monitors every TUG around the clock and can take over remotely. It tows up to 1,000 lb (about 454 kg) and runs about 10 hours with intermittent charging. Unlike an AGV it needs no tracks, wires or beacons, so most installations went into existing buildings. The classic TUG has since been replaced in Aethon's line-up by the T3 cart-transport robot and the Zena and Zena RX delivery robots.

FEATURES