World’s largest engine manufacturer employed a driverless transport system to improve its logistics

Generally when we are conversing about logistics we consider ships, planes and vehicles travelling between big warehouses and factories. Having said that, logistic functions inside of big industrial plants are not significantly a lot easier, since journeys of different factors and finished products and solutions want to be planned really exactly. That is why the world’s major engine manufacturer had to utilize an revolutionary solution to its inside logistics.

Driverless transport automobile in the engine generation plant in Audi Hungaria. Impression credit: Audi

It may perhaps come to you as a surprise that Audi Hungaria is the world’s major engine manufacturer, but it is the central engine provider of many brand names of the Volkswagen Group. And whilst the automotive marketplace could be going in direction of electrical cars, engines are nevertheless really important. This signifies that if Audi Hungaria is not doing work to its highest effectiveness, the complete Volkswagen Group operation in Europe may perhaps start off to battle. That is why Audi Hungaria partnered with Jungheinrich to utilize six driverless transport cars to automate logistics in the 2.-litre four-cylinder Otto engine generation.

The new robots, called FTFs, are doing work on a 1,000 metres prolonged journey, which has fifty seven stations – fifty of them are ideal up coming to the generation line. As you could consider, these robots are providing different factors – a single of them can carry 5,000 tonnes of goods. FTFs are geared up with the most up-to-date navigation technological know-how and protection features, since they function really near to people. On their way back to the logistics place these robots acquire packaging materials.

The new robots in Audi Hungaria have an exciting navigation technological know-how. They use lasers, which bounce back from reflective surfaces set up on objects along the FTF’s route. These reflective surfaces, mounted on cabinets, walls, and columns, make it possible for the autonomous procedure to recognize its posture and steer clear of get hold of with immovable objects with millimetre-amount precision. These robots conserve time and effort and hard work, making the complete inner logistics course of action in the Audi Hungaria that significantly a lot more efficient.

Robert Buttenhauser, Member of the Board of Administration responsible for engine generation at Audi Hungaria, said: “In addition to “smart” options made use of in generation, we are also doing work on introducing electronic options in the subject of logistics. Automation of our logistics procedures is an important action in this place, which contributes to expanding our effectiveness and boosting our competitiveness”.

Audi Hungaria now uses a total of 60 driverless transport cars. They considerably improve effectiveness, whilst owning no compromises on protection. No tracks or embedded magnets wanted – these robots only function. And it is probably that in the potential there will be even a lot more autonomous robots in automotive plants and a whole lot of them will have human coworkers.

Supply: Audi