Getting a grip on automation
Autonomous vehicles and robots will play a significant role in shaping the future of the air freight industry, particularly in the light of a shortage of skilled workers.
The “Evobot", which was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, now gave a foretaste of this future: the robot with gripper arms and reliably balanced on two wheels mastered an initial practical test in the freight terminal and on the apron of Munich Airport.
The transport robot can take on a variety of tasks (handling hazardous goods, assisting with the loading and unloading of aircraft, etc.). Operating either alone or in a swarm, the robot can reach a maximum speed of up to 60 km/h and transport a payload of up to 100 kg.
The digital testbed air cargo (Dtac), which provided the framework for the current test, and the initial development of the Evobot are funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV). (cj)