Swarm transport system carries 40 tons

Production machines are getting on in years or need to be replaced due to changing requirements. Due to the heavy weight and often limited space in production facilities, it is very time-consuming to assemble and disassemble or reposition large machines. This is often still done by hand with the help of armored rollers. However, scientists have now developed an alternative.

"Our system consists of a large number of separately driven vehicles that can lift a weight of up to 40 tons from the ground and move it semi-automatically," says Dr. Maximilian Hochstein from the Institute of Materials Handling and Logistics Systems (IFL) at KIT. Transporting such heavy loads is possible by linking up to 15 vehicles. "These are connected by radio and equipped with cameras so that they coordinate themselves and act synchronously," says Hochstein.

Joystick control

"Machines, systems and goods of various sizes and weights can be lifted comfortably and safely by a single person and moved remotely," explains Dr. Benedikt Klee from the wbk Institute for Production Technology at KIT. The control system, a joystick, still has to be operated manually, but the commands are followed automatically. "The load is lifted from the ground and then moved in a highly flexible manner," says Klee. "A combination of three vehicles is enough to transport a typical production machine in the manufacturing industry."

The swarm concept itself is innovative, as are the mechanics of the individual vehicles and finally the control software, explains Tommi Kivelä from IFL. Theoretically, even more than 15 vehicles could be coupled and thus move even heavier loads, "but there are still limits to this due to the safety control system."

The Formic founders particularly want to address service providers for plant and machine relocations and companies that frequently have to make internal layout changes or transport machines. Manufacturers of large machines such as machine tools are also among the target group, as clocked flow production can be realized in the manufacture of even heavy machines.

Formic is supported by the Exist-Gründungsstipendium, a funding program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection for start-ups from science and supported by the KIT-Gründerschmiede.