AGV vs AMR — what's the difference and which to pick
Two classes of mobile robots that often get conflated. Navigation, flexibility and market maturity, explained.
AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) are different classes of warehouse robots. Vendors sometimes call them the same thing, marketers blur the line, and the result is the client buys the wrong category.
In short: AGVs follow pre-marked routes; AMRs decide their own path. This drives price, deployment speed, flexibility and limits.
TL;DR
- AGVs are cheaper and simpler — but need markings and don't like changes in the environment.
- AMRs cost more and integrate harder, but adapt to layout changes.
- Static warehouse with fixed flows — AGV. Growing warehouse with frequent changes — AMR.
What an AGV is
AGV is a robot that moves along pre-set routes. Routes are defined by magnetic tape, optical markers, more rarely floor lines or QR codes.
Upside — simplicity and predictability. Downside — any rack rearrangement or new zone requires physically remarking. If something blocks the route, the AGV stops and waits.
What an AMR is
AMR uses SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping) — it scans the environment with lidar, builds a warehouse map and decides on its own how to go from A to B.
Upside — flexibility: a new zone is added by mapping, not by remarking. Obstacles are routed around. Downside — higher navigation requirements, pricier hardware, harder WMS integration.
When to pick which
AGVs are a good fit for static warehouses with predictable flows: e-commerce fulfilment with fixed topology, conveyor links between zones, intra-plant transport in manufacturing.
AMRs make sense where topology shifts: growing warehouses, seasonal rearrangements, multi-purpose sites where SKUs change. AMRs are also the choice for goods-to-person picking, where the robot must plan a path to a specific shelf.
What to know before buying
Many clients think “AMR is more modern, so it's better”. That's a simplification. If your environment is 90% static, paying extra for SLAM may never pay back. On the other hand, if expansion is planned or the site is being piloted — picking AGV locks you into the current configuration.
A practical rule: layout changes once a year or less — AGV. More often — AMR. Either way, treat WMS integration as a separate project, not a free bonus.
Want a concrete estimate for your case?
The guide answers “how” and “why”. Concrete “how much and how long” is a separate conversation. Start with the 2-minute audit or just write to us.