“We already have a wide range of assistance systems, cameras, and sensors in use,” explained Rolf  Huber at the Innovation Day of forklift manufacturer Still to an audience of experts, customers, and visitors in Otelfingen. Now, AI is perfecting the whole system, using new LiDAR scanners and preferably in real time.

"Every project is different."»

“Logistics planning will change dramatically in the coming years,” says the Vice President of Kion ITS EMEA Switzerland. The reason: Faster computer rendering creates replacing the previously valuable services of AutoCAD in representing static warehouse layouts a dynamic image of the warehouse environment, , precise laser distance measurement is added, bringing the entire scenario to life in real time . “We’re flying through the 3D landscape,” says Huber.

Real-time on the screen. Photos: klk.

The LiDAR point cloud provides the data, which is no longer static but  sets the model and the digital twin in motion. Warehouse environments can thus be depicted much more realistically, and, above all, tested "live" by adding more vehicles and changing variations. Huber: "This is important – because every project is different and requires an individual approach."

Testing interfaces

Artificial intelligence provides sufficient computing power to test the interfaces of material flow components, industrial trucks, and combinations in real time. It's a veritable "grab bag" that, through international development cooperation with the under the Kion umbrella  , is clearly bearing fruit

A. Heimburger, R. Huber

At Kion – and in this case at Still with Switzerland CEO Alexander Heimburger and his team in Otelfingen – everyone is admittedly still “learning”.

While AI offers virtually endless possibilities and solutions, it also has its limitations, Huber explained to the interested audience at Innovation Day. Of course, not everything happens automatically as if by magic. Clearly, "There also has to be a sound business case, a meaningful use case," Huber stated.

On this day, there is ample opportunity in the outdoor area of ​​the site on Industriestrasse in Otelfingen to get hands-on with the latest forklift models,as well as to inspect the most important assistance systems in the Service & Safety area inside.

Well-attended customer day

Sister company Dematic is on hand with automation examples; autonomous driving is  demonstrated non-destructively in a separate hall using a reach truck on the high-bay racking and the automated EXV 16 high-lift truck. The  robotic vehicles operate in the familiar safety mode and with their full arsenal of safetyfunctions at a constant walking pace, but with the 24/7 option, ensuring highly reliable progress in the material flow process.

Leisurely but 24/7

The inner workings of these robotic vehicles are complex, but they don't serve an end in themselves or the aesthetic appeal of the modern workplace. Instead, they are designed to simulate processes more quickly in real-world scenarios, which  are then optimized with the help of AI and ultimately presented more simply and efficiently on-site. Huber: "Who knows what our business will look like in ten or twenty years..."

Who knows...

For basic human needs and to meet calorie requirements, catering is still available for attendees, visitors, and customers who gather in a pleasant environment to exchange experiences and network. This represents a successful implementation of knowledge transfer regarding new approaches and methods, which still require explanation on-site to be meaningfully applied.

www.still.ch