 
The FM 14i is completely computer controlled; its navigation is achieved by lasers sensing the surroundings.
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The Hamburg company, STILL GmbH, will be presenting technology of tomorrow at the world’s most important logistics exhibition - CeMat. Using the FM 14i reach truck as an example, this leading supplier in the intelligent control for Intralogistics is demonstrating an important future option. In the future, more widespread automation of warehouses can be expected - right up to a continuous fully self-automated organisation. The prerequisite for this though is autonomous equipment. The FM 14i is completely computer controlled; its navigation is achieved by lasers sensing the surroundings. STILL is co-operating with the University of Hanover in the development of this. The mast and fork position is directed with the aid of a special sensor system through the integral height control.
The possibilities for an autonomous forklift truck are enormous. On the one hand the transition between manual and automated operation can be optimised. On the other hand any transport processes can be reproduced – even those with high care needed when positioning. Even the autonomous unloading of lorries is achievable. The overriding aim is a reduction in costs by the use of flexible automated materials handling vehicles both in the warehouse and also in production. In addition, the risk of accidents drops considerably. No changes to the infrastructure (such as reflector marks or track guides) are necessary for the introduction of autonomous systems.
Many advantages from direct truck communications.
STILL is already working on concepts which enable co-operation between several autonomous trucks. This would result in improved utilisation of travel runs, avoidance of obstacles and a reduced waiting time for lorries. A high-level utilisation of truck reserves could be achieved by integration into STILL’s own Material-flow Management System (MMS). Orders from the MMS could be passed on directly to the autonomous fleet and the most suitable truck in each case would carry out the order.
At CeMat 2005, STILL wants to sound out the response to the project by trade visitors and discuss possibilities for use, any constraints present and also the necessary peripheral conditions. In this way focal points can be derived for further development. To make the demonstration as close to reality as possible, STILL is showing the interaction between the FM 14i and an order picking truck, the STILL MX-X, which undertakes the work in an implied high bay warehouse. In this way the transfer interface will be visualised at the same time.
In the future the linkage of autonomous industrial trucks and RFID based goods recognition will enable a further rounding out of unattended Intralogistics processes. |
