The "Autonomous and Connected Logistics" research project, on which BMW is working together with three partner companies from Bavaria and supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, officially started in September 2019 and is now entering the practical phase. Several production technologies from the field of Industry 4.0 are being brought together in an overall concept and tested under real conditions at the BMW plant in Dingolfing. This is based on the vision of fully networked production in which autonomous transport systems, logistics robots and mobile devices can communicate smoothly with each other and the control system.

In recent years, several logistics solutions have been piloted independently of each other in the BMW production network and were awarded the German Logistics Prize in 2019. The research project now aims to drive forward the further development and maximum networking of the individual logistics solutions and their integration into the BMW production system. BMW is contributing around 4.8 million euros to the project costs, while the Bavarian State Ministry is contributing around 3.23 million euros.

The research project officially started in September 2019 and is now entering the practical phase. © BMW

5G testbed as a driver
The networking of logistics solutions is intended to create additional transparency about material and machine movements and to research how the potential of fully networked production can best be used for the company, explains Dr. Thomas Irrenhauser, responsible for innovation and Industry 4.0 in the Logistics division and head of the project.

The testing of 5G wireless technology, which is to be set up as a test network, a so-called testbed, at the BMW plant in Dingolfing in the further course of the project, plays a decisive role in the networking of the various logistics solutions. The new mobile communications standard allows large amounts of data to be transmitted in the shortest possible time. 5G thus enables the real-time networking of machines and systems. In the BMW production network, the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture has already equipped all three plants with the 5G mobile network across the board. The long-term goal is to establish a 5G network at all plant locations worldwide.

As part of the "Autonomous and Connected Logistics" research project, BMW in Dingolfing is exploring the possibilities of an intelligent factory in the field of logistics. © BMW

Other sub-projects are researching the use of logistics robots, mobile devices and digital displays in the logistics process and testing the networking of the various systems. Peter Kiermaier, Head of Logistics Planning at the BMW plant in Dingolfing: "With the help of the new technologies, we also want to increase transparency in conventional processes and enable the smooth coupling of manual and autonomous technologies.

In addition to BMW, the research consortium is made up of three other Bavarian companies: m3connect from Rosenheim is working on the provision of a private 5G network at the plant, while Stäubli WFT from Sulzbach is developing and producing transport solutions that can maneuver autonomously through the logistics areas. The project is being scientifically supported by the Institute for Engineering Design of Mechatronic Systems & MPLM e.V. - IEDMS e.V.