NCJ Number
123812
Journal
American Jails Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (May/June 1990) Pages: 14-19
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Alameda County (Calif.) Jail is now using robots to transport food, laundry, trash, supplies, and commissary items to its more than 3,000 inmates.
Abstract
The Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) system consists of a central control system, 19 vehicles, and more than 2 miles of guide path. Inmates and deputies need little training to operate the system. After every 20-minute round trip, the vehicle pulls into the parking and battery area and automatically recharges in just 3 minutes. The system also uses gates that operate semiautomatically. The system's advantages include decreased staffing, increased security, increased cart and facility life, a reduced number of carts, improved food quality, a short payback period, reduced liability, and operation 24 hours a day. Such a system could be useful in other types of correctional facilities. Design considerations should include safety, security, simplicity, redundancy, a minimal number of vehicles, and minimal manual cart movements. Photographs.