Leapting launches autonomous forklift for solar module transport

China’s Leapting, a developer of robotic automation solutions for the PV industry, has unveiled a new autonomous forklift for utility-scale solar construction sites.

Dubbed Auto-Navigation Forklift Robot (AFR), the system can transport pallets of solar modules weighing up to 3,000 kg from laydown yards to installation rows without a human operator.

“The AFR combines GPS-RTK, laser-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and 3D computer vision to locate pallets, identify fork-hole coordinates in real time, and auto-plan insertion paths,” the company said in a statement. “It further features 360-degree multi-line LiDAR, intelligent obstacle avoidance, and a three-tier braking system.”

The navigation system combines high-precision GNSS-RTK positioning with SLAM for local perception and positioning corrections. According to the manufacturer, the system can identify pallet locations, orientation angles and the three-dimensional coordinates of fork openings in real time. It then automatically calculates insertion and extraction paths and adjusts the mast and forks for pallet handling.

The company said the system can also detect whether pallets contain materials and recognize common pallet standards, including European EUR/EPAL and Japanese JIS specifications.

The AFR measures 4.8 m × 1.8 m × 2.15 m and weighs 5,500 kg. It has a standard load center distance of 600 mm and a maximum lifting height of 3 m. Its two-stage, full-free-lift mast features laterally adjustable forks for precise pallet alignment, the company said.

The forklift uses a tracked chassis with two independently driven 4 kW motors. It reaches a maximum speed of 3 km/h when fully loaded and 4 km/h when unloaded, with adjustable driving speeds. Differential track steering allows the machine to rotate on the spot.

“High-strength engineering-grade steel tracks, with low ground contact pressure, are suitable for diverse complex road conditions and provide stable loads,” the company said.

According to the technical datasheet, the AFR can negotiate gradients of at least 30 degrees on hard surfaces and has a maximum wading depth of 0.3 m. It also supports a maximum forward inclination angle of 4 degrees and a maximum pitch angle of 11 degrees. The manufacturer said the machine is suitable for hard roads, desert terrain, gravel surfaces and lightly uneven or muddy ground.

The AFR is powered by a 48 V, 400 Ah lithium battery, providing a nominal energy capacity of 19.2 kWh and at least eight hours of operation under standard conditions. It supports automatic charging and manual fast charging, with AC 220 V and AC 380 V charging connections. In addition to fully autonomous operation, users can select semi-automatic or manual remote-control modes.

For safety, the forklift incorporates multi-line LiDAR sensors for 360-degree obstacle detection, along with audible and visual warnings. Its three-tier braking system combines electronic, mechanical and parking brakes. Emergency stop buttons are installed at several points on the vehicle exterior.

An integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU) continuously monitors the vehicle’s tilt angle and triggers an alarm and automatic stop if a preset threshold is exceeded.

The AFR offers an IP67 ingress protection rating, depending on the configuration. The company specifies an operating temperature range of -10 C to 50 C and a storage temperature range of -20 C to 60 C.