Drones and Automated Guided Vehicles in Logistics

Human-machine-interaction at the research centre at the Innovationlab of the Chair of Materials Handling and Warehousing at the TU Dortmund University.

Numerous autonomous actors are combined to create temporary formations that are controlled ad-hoc and decentrally in order to perform logistics services together. Autonomous transport systems and decentralized logistics control are becoming increasingly important in logistics. The swarm of drones in the research centre of the Innovationlab navigates in a three-dimensional space and recognizes the correct flight path as well as potential obstacles independently. The drones are located by the motion capturing system.

In the demonstrator, a person in a motion capturing suit moves through the swarm of drones. The swarm adapts its position to the human activity: the drones avoid contact with human beings, go around them and then find their way back to their actual position. The aim is to make cooperation between drones and humans in production and intralogistics more efficient.

Video from the visit of federal minister of Education Anja Karliczek at our facilities on July 10th 2018.