Dennis Schuethe, the Project Leader of ARIBIC at STILL’s Department of Technology and Innovation, recently discussed how the ARIBIC project utilizes Google Cloud’s AI to revolutionize warehouse logistics. The ARIBIC project, which stands for Artificial Intelligence-Based Indoor Cartography, focuses on developing a live digital twin for warehouses. This innovative approach continuously collects and analyzes telemetry data, paving the way for the next generation of autonomous and intelligent warehouses.
“We use AI to create a digital twin of the warehouse and enrich it with semantic information,” Schuethe explained. This enriched map serves as a foundation for building various applications for customers, enhancing both on-truck and off-truck logistics processes. “AI will take a big role in the future of warehouse logistics also in the truck,” he went on, stressing the role of AI in creating more autonomy for warehouse trucks and optimizing overall processes.
The semantic information added to the digital twin allows for significant improvements in warehouse operations. Schuethe noted: “As we add semantic information to the map, we know what is, for example, a pallet, and we can get rid of these pallets and then do factory replanning.” This capability enables dynamic reorganization and optimization within the warehouse, making processes more efficient. “We can track the load where it was in the past, where it will be in the future, and reorder if the pallet goes to be empty,” added Schuethe.
A practical example of this technology in action is the iGo neo OPX, an autonomous truck that follows the operator around the warehouse.
“The operator can step off, and the truck will follow automatically,” said Schuethe. The truck is equipped with a sensor setup, including a camera system and a lidar scanner, to build and maintain the digital twin. “We collect the data and upload the data via a 5G network into the cloud,” continued Schuethe, showcasing the seamless integration of advanced sensory technology and cloud computing in modern warehouse management.
Through the ARIBIC project, STILL is not only enhancing current warehouse operations but also laying the groundwork for a future where warehouses operate with unprecedented efficiency and intelligence.
