Brussels Airport conducts drone trials

Brussels Airport and skeyes have been testing the operational use of drones at and around the airport this week. In a secure environment, an innovative safety drone is deployed, which can be controlled from a large distance to find out how drones can increase the safety, security and efficiency of airport operations. In addition, a drone detection system is being tested to detect unwanted drones, as these are not allowed in normal circumstances at and around the airport.

Drones and aircraft are not a good combination, which is why drones are prohibited at and around the airport. A stray drone can create very dangerous situations for air traffic. The only exception is the safety drone that Brussels Airport and skeyes are testing in close cooperation. During two test days on 31 March and 1 April the possibilities and operational procedures of such a safety drone have been investigated.

Given the large surface area of the airport, a drone can be a means of quickly gaining a unique perspective of the situation at a particular location on the airport grounds. In cooperation with Citymesh, drone operator and partner for the private 5G network at the airport, a safety drone was tested for the first time at Brussels Airport.

The special feature of this drone is that it can be controlled from a very large distance through the private 5G network at the airport. For this test the Citymesh drone pilot was not on site, but in West Flanders (Bruges). They controlled the drone via 5G “beyond visual line of sight”, which is a first for an airport!

Variety of evaluation activities

There are various activities at the airport for which drones could provide added value. During the test days, it was investigated how the drone can be used for inspection rounds on the grounds and for monitoring the airport area, where the drone can function as remote binoculars in addition to physical inspections.

A second simulation concerns an aircraft incident where a drone can arrive very quickly to get a first impression of the situation and to be able to already pass on important information to the emergency services. A drone could also be used for animal-related inspections, such as for birds or rabbits, at the airport, as these animals can be dangerous to aircraft taking off or landing.

Arnaud Feist, Brussels Airport CEO: “It is important for our airport to continue to focus on innovation. Although drones and aviation do not initially seem like a good combination, this is a new reality, the possibilities of which must be explored. Today, thanks to our private 5G network, we managed to control a drone remotely, which is an innovative first together with our partners. Drones can be additional tools in our operations, and these tests will give us more insight into the possibilities.”

Johan Decuyper, skeyes CEO: “skeyes has been building drone-related expertise for a long time. We often work on real-life test projects. This was a first test in our ‘natural habitat’: an airport environment. These test days have already shown that drones can also be put to very good use here. We want to explore the possibilities as much as possible together with our airport partners. But of course always with our first concern in mind: the safety of the whole of all air traffic.”

Drone detection system in practice

A drone is not allowed in the vicinity of the airport. Signs indicating a “no drone zone” can be found around the airport for the safety of air traffic. Because drones are becoming more and more common, the second objective of the test days was to find out whether drones could be detected in the vicinity of the airport using a combination of various technologies.

This allows for the detection of both cooperative drones, the flight of which is authorised and which share their location, and non-cooperative drones. Several drones will be used during the test to subsequently identify them.

A drone operator must contact the regulator to request their flight in advance. During the test, it is checked whether the flight authorisation data correspond to the flight actually performed. In addition to visual observation by pilots, airport security or air traffic controllers, detection via high-tech systems is the only way of quickly discovering non-authorised flights.

On the drone traffic management platform of SkeyDrone, a subsidiary of skeyes, the data from the drone detections and flight authorisations are compared, processed and visualised. Based on these results, it is now possible to further investigate which technologies can offer the greatest added value.

Safe environment

These tests have been prepared for a long time in advance. Obviously, they must not jeopardise air traffic and they may disrupt regular airport operations as little as possible. The test moments were coordinated with the air traffic, taking into account the weather conditions. Part of the runways were closed off for this purpose. Activities on and around the runways were kept to a minimum so that the drones could always keep enough distance from people, buildings and aircraft. Everything happens in close cooperation between the air traffic controllers in the tower and the Airport Operations Centre of Brussels Airport.

Since the entry into force of the new European legislation on drones, skeyes is responsible for authorising drone flights in the airspace around Belgian airports. Drone pilots who want to fly their drones around an airport have to apply for flight authorisation with skeyes via the DSA (Drone Service Application), a tool especially developed for this purpose by SkeyDrone. Through the DSA application, both the pilot and skeyes can follow the flight in real time. All test flights that have been taking place this week were planned in coordination with the air traffic controllers.

Brussels Airport conducts drone trials

Brussels Airport and skeyes have been testing the operational use of drones at and around the airport this week. In a secure environment, an innovative safety drone is deployed, which can be controlled from a large distance to find out how drones can increase the safety, security and efficiency of airport operations. In addition, a drone detection system is being tested to detect unwanted drones, as these are not allowed in normal circumstances at and around the airport.

Drones and aircraft are not a good combination, which is why drones are prohibited at and around the airport. A stray drone can create very dangerous situations for air traffic. The only exception is the safety drone that Brussels Airport and skeyes are testing in close cooperation. During two test days on 31 March and 1 April the possibilities and operational procedures of such a safety drone have been investigated.

Given the large surface area of the airport, a drone can be a means of quickly gaining a unique perspective of the situation at a particular location on the airport grounds. In cooperation with Citymesh, drone operator and partner for the private 5G network at the airport, a safety drone was tested for the first time at Brussels Airport.

The special feature of this drone is that it can be controlled from a very large distance through the private 5G network at the airport. For this test the Citymesh drone pilot was not on site, but in West Flanders (Bruges). They controlled the drone via 5G “beyond visual line of sight”, which is a first for an airport!

Variety of evaluation activities

There are various activities at the airport for which drones could provide added value. During the test days, it was investigated how the drone can be used for inspection rounds on the grounds and for monitoring the airport area, where the drone can function as remote binoculars in addition to physical inspections.

A second simulation concerns an aircraft incident where a drone can arrive very quickly to get a first impression of the situation and to be able to already pass on important information to the emergency services. A drone could also be used for animal-related inspections, such as for birds or rabbits, at the airport, as these animals can be dangerous to aircraft taking off or landing.

Arnaud Feist, Brussels Airport CEO: “It is important for our airport to continue to focus on innovation. Although drones and aviation do not initially seem like a good combination, this is a new reality, the possibilities of which must be explored. Today, thanks to our private 5G network, we managed to control a drone remotely, which is an innovative first together with our partners. Drones can be additional tools in our operations, and these tests will give us more insight into the possibilities.”

Johan Decuyper, skeyes CEO: “skeyes has been building drone-related expertise for a long time. We often work on real-life test projects. This was a first test in our ‘natural habitat’: an airport environment. These test days have already shown that drones can also be put to very good use here. We want to explore the possibilities as much as possible together with our airport partners. But of course always with our first concern in mind: the safety of the whole of all air traffic.”

Drone detection system in practice

A drone is not allowed in the vicinity of the airport. Signs indicating a “no drone zone” can be found around the airport for the safety of air traffic. Because drones are becoming more and more common, the second objective of the test days was to find out whether drones could be detected in the vicinity of the airport using a combination of various technologies.

This allows for the detection of both cooperative drones, the flight of which is authorised and which share their location, and non-cooperative drones. Several drones will be used during the test to subsequently identify them.

A drone operator must contact the regulator to request their flight in advance. During the test, it is checked whether the flight authorisation data correspond to the flight actually performed. In addition to visual observation by pilots, airport security or air traffic controllers, detection via high-tech systems is the only way of quickly discovering non-authorised flights.

On the drone traffic management platform of SkeyDrone, a subsidiary of skeyes, the data from the drone detections and flight authorisations are compared, processed and visualised. Based on these results, it is now possible to further investigate which technologies can offer the greatest added value.

Safe environment

These tests have been prepared for a long time in advance. Obviously, they must not jeopardise air traffic and they may disrupt regular airport operations as little as possible. The test moments were coordinated with the air traffic, taking into account the weather conditions. Part of the runways were closed off for this purpose. Activities on and around the runways were kept to a minimum so that the drones could always keep enough distance from people, buildings and aircraft. Everything happens in close cooperation between the air traffic controllers in the tower and the Airport Operations Centre of Brussels Airport.

Since the entry into force of the new European legislation on drones, skeyes is responsible for authorising drone flights in the airspace around Belgian airports. Drone pilots who want to fly their drones around an airport have to apply for flight authorisation with skeyes via the DSA (Drone Service Application), a tool especially developed for this purpose by SkeyDrone. Through the DSA application, both the pilot and skeyes can follow the flight in real time. All test flights that have been taking place this week were planned in coordination with the air traffic controllers.

FLTA: Safety is a journey, not a destination

The Fork Lift Truck Association, part of UKMHA, is once again reminding businesses around the UK to take a hard look at safety on site, and asks: Are you doing as well as you should be?

Creating a lasting safety culture — where best practice behaviours and actions are embedded in day-to-day operations — should be the top priority of any site.

UKMHA Chief Executive Tim Waples explains: “Safety requires commitment. It’s that simple. If management is seen to act, and implement change, a workforce will be reassured and inspired to do the same.

“Investing in safety is an investment in the business and its future. You are more likely to see financial gains if you have a strong safety culture in place. Safety is not just common sense, it’s good business sense.

“A prime example is our 2019 FLTA Safe Site Award winners Kellogg’s. They invested hugely in making an old and complex site safer, but recognised that toolbox talks, staff meetings and constant engagement were what really made the difference.”

Here are just a few suggestions and tips for kickstarting a journey towards a better safety culture:

Set positive goals: Instead of focussing on lagging indicators, i.e. what businesses don’t want to see, think about leading indicators, which are the things a company wants to see more of. Set targets then make them happen.

Don’t be complacent: Smart organisations look for areas of improvement and risk, then put controls in place to resolve issues before serious problems occur.

Involve and inform staff: In great safety cultures, every employee has a working knowledge of health and safety topics, and they know their roles and responsibilities.

Have an open-door policy for reporting issues: Create an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed, and where reporting is not merely guilt-free but praised. No-one should fear they will be ignored or — worse still — punished for coming forward, and nothing should be swept under the carpet.

Continue to communicate: Keep safety alive through every channel available and make sure that safety is top of the agenda when new recruits are inducted. Achieving high participation rates will provide encouragement and momentum for future initiatives.

To support the industry in improving safety standards, the FLTA created the Safe User Group. Members receive access to invaluable tools, exclusive resources, case studies with actionable tips, and advice on easy, affordable site improvements. For more information on joining SUG visit www.fork-truck.org.uk/safe-user-group

FLTA: Safety is a journey, not a destination

The Fork Lift Truck Association, part of UKMHA, is once again reminding businesses around the UK to take a hard look at safety on site, and asks: Are you doing as well as you should be?

Creating a lasting safety culture — where best practice behaviours and actions are embedded in day-to-day operations — should be the top priority of any site.

UKMHA Chief Executive Tim Waples explains: “Safety requires commitment. It’s that simple. If management is seen to act, and implement change, a workforce will be reassured and inspired to do the same.

“Investing in safety is an investment in the business and its future. You are more likely to see financial gains if you have a strong safety culture in place. Safety is not just common sense, it’s good business sense.

“A prime example is our 2019 FLTA Safe Site Award winners Kellogg’s. They invested hugely in making an old and complex site safer, but recognised that toolbox talks, staff meetings and constant engagement were what really made the difference.”

Here are just a few suggestions and tips for kickstarting a journey towards a better safety culture:

Set positive goals: Instead of focussing on lagging indicators, i.e. what businesses don’t want to see, think about leading indicators, which are the things a company wants to see more of. Set targets then make them happen.

Don’t be complacent: Smart organisations look for areas of improvement and risk, then put controls in place to resolve issues before serious problems occur.

Involve and inform staff: In great safety cultures, every employee has a working knowledge of health and safety topics, and they know their roles and responsibilities.

Have an open-door policy for reporting issues: Create an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed, and where reporting is not merely guilt-free but praised. No-one should fear they will be ignored or — worse still — punished for coming forward, and nothing should be swept under the carpet.

Continue to communicate: Keep safety alive through every channel available and make sure that safety is top of the agenda when new recruits are inducted. Achieving high participation rates will provide encouragement and momentum for future initiatives.

To support the industry in improving safety standards, the FLTA created the Safe User Group. Members receive access to invaluable tools, exclusive resources, case studies with actionable tips, and advice on easy, affordable site improvements. For more information on joining SUG visit www.fork-truck.org.uk/safe-user-group

Sicilian terminal expands mobile harbour crane fleet

The port terminal operator SERMI in Pozzallo (Sicily), has ordered an eco-efficient Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane to improve its overall capacity in container, general cargo and bulk handling. The order highlights Konecranes’ commitment to the growth and transformation of customers and industries so they run more efficiently, sustainably and safely.

SERMI has decided to enlarge its fleet of mobile harbour cranes at its facility in the Port of Pozzallo, a major Mediterranean harbour handling containers shipped worldwide. SERMI ordered a Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 crane, which will increase the handling performance and reduce the operator’s overall carbon footprint thanks to the crane’s diesel-electric drive, raising the terminal to a new level of efficiency. It will be delivered in May 2021.

“For many years, we’ve provided the best industry services for our clients, who include some major local shipping lines. Our new Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour crane will help us to continue meeting increasing customer demand for the traffic of containers worldwide at the highest level of quality, and in a more sustainable way,” said Vincenzo Venniro, owner and CEO of SERMI.

“The advanced electric drive at the heart of our cranes and the high performance that results perfectly fit the productivity and sustainability needs of SERMI. This agreement builds on years of good cooperation and we look forward to continuing on this path into the future,” says Gino Gherri, Regional Sales Manager for Konecranes Port Solutions.

The new crane is a Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane in the G HMK 6507 variant. With a maximum radius of 51 m, it can service container vessels up to post-Panamax class. A full range of smart crane features combined with a maximum lifting capacity of 125t makes it ideal for general cargo and bulk handling as well. Remote monitoring will allow SERMI to follow the performance of its new purchase and plan maintenance more easily. The crane will have built-in readiness for an external power supply, so conversion to electric operation will be easy when resources allow.

Sicilian terminal expands mobile harbour crane fleet

The port terminal operator SERMI in Pozzallo (Sicily), has ordered an eco-efficient Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane to improve its overall capacity in container, general cargo and bulk handling. The order highlights Konecranes’ commitment to the growth and transformation of customers and industries so they run more efficiently, sustainably and safely.

SERMI has decided to enlarge its fleet of mobile harbour cranes at its facility in the Port of Pozzallo, a major Mediterranean harbour handling containers shipped worldwide. SERMI ordered a Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 crane, which will increase the handling performance and reduce the operator’s overall carbon footprint thanks to the crane’s diesel-electric drive, raising the terminal to a new level of efficiency. It will be delivered in May 2021.

“For many years, we’ve provided the best industry services for our clients, who include some major local shipping lines. Our new Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour crane will help us to continue meeting increasing customer demand for the traffic of containers worldwide at the highest level of quality, and in a more sustainable way,” said Vincenzo Venniro, owner and CEO of SERMI.

“The advanced electric drive at the heart of our cranes and the high performance that results perfectly fit the productivity and sustainability needs of SERMI. This agreement builds on years of good cooperation and we look forward to continuing on this path into the future,” says Gino Gherri, Regional Sales Manager for Konecranes Port Solutions.

The new crane is a Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane in the G HMK 6507 variant. With a maximum radius of 51 m, it can service container vessels up to post-Panamax class. A full range of smart crane features combined with a maximum lifting capacity of 125t makes it ideal for general cargo and bulk handling as well. Remote monitoring will allow SERMI to follow the performance of its new purchase and plan maintenance more easily. The crane will have built-in readiness for an external power supply, so conversion to electric operation will be easy when resources allow.

Sherpa deploys robot fleet at French plant

Sherpa Mobile Robotics has announced its first installation with fleet management at a French industrial engine-building plant. For a several weeks now, six SHERPA-B AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) have been co-working in total safety amidst humans, AGVs, forklifts and other industrial machines at FPT Industrial.

The FPT Industrial plant in Bourbon-Lancy, in the Saône-et-Loire region, assembles 35,000 high-powered gas and diesel engines per year, destined for agricultural machinery, buses and trucks.

These parts are large and heavy, and with the specific tools needed for their assembly, the pallets were taking up too much space in the assembly line. Parts flow management and operator movements were not optimised. “We wanted to improve the logistics flow and the working conditions of our operators,” explains Ms. Faivre, Logistics Product Manager at FPT.

To achieve its objectives, FPT called on Sherpa Mobile Robotics and its mobile and collaborative robots. Unlike AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), these AMRs do not rely on dedicated paths. They are programmable to be able to adapt to their environment with its constraints and constant evolution. SMR proposed a complete reorganisation of the assembly line with the support of a fleet of six robots managed by its Fleet Management System software.

Objective: one piece flow

The assembly was reorganised into two parallel lines separated by a central aisle. One line is dedicated to the preparation of the sub-assemblies and the other to the assembly of the 150 engines to be produced each day, working in two shifts. The six robots are deployed in twos, two each for the three assembly stations for motor supports, motor flywheels and basins. At the robot’s departure point, one person prepares the parts. When the robot arrives at the assembly line, another person is there to receive the parts. The robots have three programmed missions for each of the assembly stations. Each robot brings a prepared and assembled sub-assembly from the preparation area to the assembly area and then returns.

Central to this organisation is line-side management that is both automated and mobile. The operators stay in their work area. The Sherpa robots come to them, carrying the parts and specific tools. The parts are prepared elsewhere, in the preparation line, where they are unpacked and laid out ready for assembly, along with the necessary tools. “The robot arrives at the right time with the right part,” explains Damien Winling, Technical Director at SMR. Using this fleet makes assembly tasks less arduous and reduces the risks associated with transporting loads. Because the flow is managed more smoothly, this increases productivity. The robots are used 20 hours a day. In total, 450 robot missions are carried out daily.“

“By increasing our productivity and getting closer to one piece flow, these robots are fully in line with our 4.0 strategy,” says Faivre.

Flexible paths thanks to AMR technology

The advantage of Sherpa robots is that they can move about amidst operators, trucks and AGVs. The AMRs do not use laser guidance or ground markers but rely on their intelligence and ability to create maps of the space and predefined routes, unlike AGVs which do not deviate from their routes. They offer maximum safety with regard to people, obstacles, and transported material. Each robot is equipped with a Lidar (360° laser navigation sensor), a robust and reliable localisation system and safety sensors to detect obstacles on the ground. The sensitive edges stop the robot if it touches an obstacle. Their safety electronics provide the means of verifying that the various instructions given to the external elements (motors, sensors, etc.) are correct.

“Because of their ease of use, these robots were readily accepted by the operators,” says Ms. Forat, WCM logistics coordinator at FPT.

“Their intuitive interface and controls are made easier by the Follow Me mode, where the robot moves in interaction with the operator,” adds Mr. Figueira, Logistics Method Technician.

An advanced fleet management assistant from Sherpa

Sherpa Mobile Robotics has developed its own Fleet Management System (FMS). The software offers a mapped view of the work area showing the robots’ movements, with mission indicators (time, movement, charge, etc.) for each robot along with their battery status. A Shercom module indicates the traffic in the area of the robots.

The FMS communicates with each robot which has previously defined mission. The operator on the preparation side dispatches the robot when it is loaded and ready. The FMS is notified when the operator indicates the end of the mission on the robot screen (HMI). The FMS manages the sequence of the robots and can put them on hold in a dedicated area.

The same principle applies to the assembly side: the FMS is informed when an assembly is completed, it returns the robot to the preparation area and inserts it into the next sequence.

Managing the fleet of Sherpa robots meant that they had be able to operate in the midst of an existing flow of AGV robots. For this purpose, SMR developed a barrier system with virtual doors which open or close depending on the AGV traffic. When the AGV has passed, and with the help of reliable communications, it opens the door again to the SHERPA robots which continue their mission.

Customers can always change the configuration of the robots themselves or change their missions. The FMS functions in alternation with Follow Me mode: when the robot is in the assembly area, it switches to Follow Me mode and follows the operator’s movements thanks to the on-board sensors. The fleet manager is a hardware independent system, which works with all the robots in the SHERPA range. The robots and the FMS are plug-and-play modules – they do not require any modification to the client’s infrastructure or IT.

“Integrating these six robots has allowed us to acquire substantial experience of fleet management in an existing environment. We will be able to deploy these new skills at other customers looking for this type of technology,” concludes Damien Winling, Project Manager at SMR.

Sherpa deploys robot fleet at French plant

Sherpa Mobile Robotics has announced its first installation with fleet management at a French industrial engine-building plant. For a several weeks now, six SHERPA-B AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) have been co-working in total safety amidst humans, AGVs, forklifts and other industrial machines at FPT Industrial.

The FPT Industrial plant in Bourbon-Lancy, in the Saône-et-Loire region, assembles 35,000 high-powered gas and diesel engines per year, destined for agricultural machinery, buses and trucks.

These parts are large and heavy, and with the specific tools needed for their assembly, the pallets were taking up too much space in the assembly line. Parts flow management and operator movements were not optimised. “We wanted to improve the logistics flow and the working conditions of our operators,” explains Ms. Faivre, Logistics Product Manager at FPT.

To achieve its objectives, FPT called on Sherpa Mobile Robotics and its mobile and collaborative robots. Unlike AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), these AMRs do not rely on dedicated paths. They are programmable to be able to adapt to their environment with its constraints and constant evolution. SMR proposed a complete reorganisation of the assembly line with the support of a fleet of six robots managed by its Fleet Management System software.

Objective: one piece flow

The assembly was reorganised into two parallel lines separated by a central aisle. One line is dedicated to the preparation of the sub-assemblies and the other to the assembly of the 150 engines to be produced each day, working in two shifts. The six robots are deployed in twos, two each for the three assembly stations for motor supports, motor flywheels and basins. At the robot’s departure point, one person prepares the parts. When the robot arrives at the assembly line, another person is there to receive the parts. The robots have three programmed missions for each of the assembly stations. Each robot brings a prepared and assembled sub-assembly from the preparation area to the assembly area and then returns.

Central to this organisation is line-side management that is both automated and mobile. The operators stay in their work area. The Sherpa robots come to them, carrying the parts and specific tools. The parts are prepared elsewhere, in the preparation line, where they are unpacked and laid out ready for assembly, along with the necessary tools. “The robot arrives at the right time with the right part,” explains Damien Winling, Technical Director at SMR. Using this fleet makes assembly tasks less arduous and reduces the risks associated with transporting loads. Because the flow is managed more smoothly, this increases productivity. The robots are used 20 hours a day. In total, 450 robot missions are carried out daily.“

“By increasing our productivity and getting closer to one piece flow, these robots are fully in line with our 4.0 strategy,” says Faivre.

Flexible paths thanks to AMR technology

The advantage of Sherpa robots is that they can move about amidst operators, trucks and AGVs. The AMRs do not use laser guidance or ground markers but rely on their intelligence and ability to create maps of the space and predefined routes, unlike AGVs which do not deviate from their routes. They offer maximum safety with regard to people, obstacles, and transported material. Each robot is equipped with a Lidar (360° laser navigation sensor), a robust and reliable localisation system and safety sensors to detect obstacles on the ground. The sensitive edges stop the robot if it touches an obstacle. Their safety electronics provide the means of verifying that the various instructions given to the external elements (motors, sensors, etc.) are correct.

“Because of their ease of use, these robots were readily accepted by the operators,” says Ms. Forat, WCM logistics coordinator at FPT.

“Their intuitive interface and controls are made easier by the Follow Me mode, where the robot moves in interaction with the operator,” adds Mr. Figueira, Logistics Method Technician.

An advanced fleet management assistant from Sherpa

Sherpa Mobile Robotics has developed its own Fleet Management System (FMS). The software offers a mapped view of the work area showing the robots’ movements, with mission indicators (time, movement, charge, etc.) for each robot along with their battery status. A Shercom module indicates the traffic in the area of the robots.

The FMS communicates with each robot which has previously defined mission. The operator on the preparation side dispatches the robot when it is loaded and ready. The FMS is notified when the operator indicates the end of the mission on the robot screen (HMI). The FMS manages the sequence of the robots and can put them on hold in a dedicated area.

The same principle applies to the assembly side: the FMS is informed when an assembly is completed, it returns the robot to the preparation area and inserts it into the next sequence.

Managing the fleet of Sherpa robots meant that they had be able to operate in the midst of an existing flow of AGV robots. For this purpose, SMR developed a barrier system with virtual doors which open or close depending on the AGV traffic. When the AGV has passed, and with the help of reliable communications, it opens the door again to the SHERPA robots which continue their mission.

Customers can always change the configuration of the robots themselves or change their missions. The FMS functions in alternation with Follow Me mode: when the robot is in the assembly area, it switches to Follow Me mode and follows the operator’s movements thanks to the on-board sensors. The fleet manager is a hardware independent system, which works with all the robots in the SHERPA range. The robots and the FMS are plug-and-play modules – they do not require any modification to the client’s infrastructure or IT.

“Integrating these six robots has allowed us to acquire substantial experience of fleet management in an existing environment. We will be able to deploy these new skills at other customers looking for this type of technology,” concludes Damien Winling, Project Manager at SMR.

AGVs help Austrian insulating panel firm with upstream logistics

At its production site in Pinkafeld, Austria, Austrotherm produces energy-saving insulating panels. An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) system from DS Automation with four driverless Amadeus Grip forklifts takes care of the transport, storage and retrieval of the upstream product, Styrofoam blocks as big as 5 sq m. This enabled Austrotherm to optimise internal procedures, enhance process stability and mobilise capacity reserves, as well as reassign former transport workers to perform more demanding tasks.

Austrotherm GmbH is a leading European manufacturer of energy-saving building insulation made of expanded polystyrene (EPS; Styrofoam) and extruded polystyrene foam (XPS). In its Pinkafeld plant near the Hungarian border, the company mainly produces EPS panels.

The upstream products – Styrofoam blocks measuring 4080 by 1040 by max. 1290mm – need to be left to dry for several days before they can be cut into panels and bundled into packs. Up to 90 blocks per hour need to be moved in a three-shift operation, around the clock every day of the year. This requires observing the required drying periods. Transport by hand pallet truck limits reached capacity limits and workers were less than enthusiastic about this work. Using manual lists for storage management also hampered production planning optimisation.

Following a suggestion by Fraunhofer Austria Research, a co-operation partner for logistics and production management, Austrotherm automated the transport and storage management of the Styrofoam blocks utilising an AGV solution from DS Automation. This Austrian manufacturer, which boasts more than 35 years of experience in developing and manufacturing AGVs, implemented a system that ensures particularly economic operations at low investment costs.

Four driverless Amadeus Grip forklifts equipped with bracket-shaped lifting gear each transport two hard foam blocks. The vehicles need to use single lane aisles in controlled bi-directional traffic, share traffic zones with manned forklifts and cross fire doors. As laser navigation is not an option for transporting 4.08m tall EPS blocks in a hall with 4.30m headroom, the vehicles utilise magnetic reference points in the floor for free navigation.

The DS Navios AGV control software optimises storing and retrieving the blocks, taking the required drying periods into account. As a step towards the smart factory, the DS Automation AGV system is deeply integrated with Austrotherm’s enterprise IT. In close co-operation with DS Automation, the Austrotherm IT department created the software interfaces across which machines and transfer stations communicate with DS Navios and the AGVs.

“The tireless Amadeus Grip have become an indispensable part of our production facility and the former transport workers are now performing more demanding and more attractive tasks,” says Dr. Heimo Pascher, Technical Director Austria at Austrotherm. “We are therefore planning to automate the upstream products intralogistics using DS Automation AGVs in other production facilities as well.”

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