Researchers in Germany are developing robotic vehicles for transporting goods around a warehouse that organise themselves like a swarm of insects. The autonomous Multishuttle Moves vehicles, developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) in Dortmund, operate without the need for a central controller to allocate tasks and give precise instructions. When the warehouse receives an order, the shuttles communicate with one another via a wireless internet connection and the closest free vehicle takes over and completes the task.
Researchers are operating 50 shuttles developed with material-handling and logistics automation company Dematic in a 1,000 m2 replica warehouse comprising storage shelves for 600 small-part carriers and eight picking stations. The vehicles move around the warehouse without external instruction using a hybrid sensor concept based on radio signals, distance and acceleration sensors and laser scanners to work out the shortest route to any destination and avoid collisions. The autonomous system is considerably more flexible and scalable than conventional technology with roller tracks.
More information:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/automotive/news/robots-to-organise-themselves-like-a-swarm-of-insects/1012101.article
More information:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/automotive/news/robots-to-organise-themselves-like-a-swarm-of-insects/1012101.article