IFOY Audit
Finalists undergo the three-stage IFOY Audit as part of the IFOY Audit, which takes place during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. This consists of the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY Test and the jury test.
Indoor localization
Jungheinrich AG
Product name and company
Indoor localization – Jungheinrich AG
Category
Special of the Year
Description
Innovations
Market relevance
Customer benefits
Test report
Jungheinrich’s Indoor Positioning offers warehouse managers a Web application with different analysis options for in-plant transport operations, thereby enabling them to optimise their fleet and further increase safety levels.
The add-on product is available for all truck types and makes. It consists of multiple components: the hardware used includes Bluetooth beacons and industrial smartphones that are fixed to the truck with the help of special brackets.
The Bluetooth beacons that lay a radio map over the warehouse are available in different versions – with special IP classes, for example, or also for use in Ex environments. The smartphones determine their location with the help of the radio map and transmit their position to the central software. On average, one Bluetooth beacon is sufficient for an area of 30 square metres. According to Jungheinrich, the battery in the current beacons guarantees an average service life of two years, and the battery can be changed by the user.
As this concept uses smartphones and Bluetooth technology, not only can it be used anywhere but it is also flexible and fast and can be implemented or adapted at low cost – when for example the warehouse layout is modified, for example. The usual drawbacks of other technologies, such as high costs or sensitivity to dirt, do not apply in this case.
The use of Bluetooth also means that it is possible to transmit data outside the WLAN network of a customer. There is no need to intervene in existing systems, and this is a major benefit for many customers.
The system is constantly proactively monitored by the software. If one of the beacons fails, for example, or if there are gaps in the radio map, this is reported automatically.
The Web-based software is intuitive and provides the user with the desired overview at all times as well as the option of making adjustments.
This is an area in which Jungheinrich has initially identified four application options: TruckFinder, RouteOptimizer, ZoneGuard and SpeedZoning.
TruckFinder is the basic setting for the localisation of vehicles. RouteOptimizer is used to analyse driving routes, to identify problems and to initiate possible improvements. ZoneGuard assigns trucks to different departments. As soon as a truck leaves its zone, an e-mail is sent to the warehouse manager. Last but not least, SpeedZoning gives a warning if the speed limit is exceeded, for example, or if trucks are incorrectly parked
The warning first appears only on the smartphone of the driver and as an e-mail to the warehouse manager, but there is not yet an intervention in the control of trucks – to automatically reduce the speed, for example.
The data can be shown for each truck as well as for the entire fleet.
IFOY test verdict
With its Indoor Positioning concept, Jungheinrich provides a well-structured and user-friendly system that can be used to monitor the truck fleet in real time and easily assign different vehicles to their correct, allotted tasks.
IFOY Innovation Check
Market Relevance
Jungheinrich’s Indoor Localisation system is based on an existing model in the consumer sector. For the purpose of positional determination, devices (in this case smartphones with Bluetooth function) are used on the vehicles and so-called beacons at different points in the warehouse. The beacons send a Bluetooth signal that is received by the smartphone. Based on the strength of the signals and the superimposition of the beacon signals, it is possible to determine the position of the smartphone or vehicle with an accuracy of up to 3 metres. The data are then transmitted to the system.
The design of the system is extremely simple and therefore cost-efficient. In addition, the system can be used with vehicle types from different manufacturers. It can be employed in halls of different sizes, and all these properties give it a very high market relevance.
Customer Benefit
Four different modules are available, each for a different purpose. Customers can decide for themselves which functions they need. The options include TruckFinder to rapidly locate trucks and ZoneGuard to limit the use of specific vehicles to predefined zones. Then there is RouteOptimizer to visualise movement data via heatmaps and to identify excessive loads and collision risks, and SpeedZoning to define speed zones (also temporarily and at short notice). The localisation concept helps the warehouse manager to collect data which can then be used to implement optimisation measures. This system is particularly suitable for use over large areas and with a high number of vehicles.
The different modules meet different requirements and can be of benefit to a high number of users, which is why the customer benefit is to be assessed as “very good”.
Degree of Novelty
Indoor positioning systems are already available, but they are generally associated with high installation workload and high costs. The easy-to-operate and cost-efficient concept from Jungheinrich with Bluetooth beacons and smartphones is therefore a meaningful simplification compared to current systems. As a comparable system is not yet widely available in the market, the degree of innovation is also to be described as “good”.
Functionality / Type of Implementation
The way the smartphone is encapsulated on the truck makes a robust impression, even though it is always prone to damage in tough warehouse conditions as a component that protrudes beyond the confines of the vehicle. The control elements – both the smartphone on the truck and on the management console – are intuitively laid out and easy to use. Overall, the implementation of the familiar beacon technology in an integrated system can be seen as a useful tool for the warehouse management of large truck fleets.
| Functionality / type of implementation | + |
| Novelty / Innovation | + |
| Customer benefits | ++ |
| Market relevance | ++ |
| ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available | |
Videos
Playlist
1 Videos
Playlist
2 Videos
Image/video credits: Jungheinrich AG
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Statutes
In den Statuten sind die Grundwerte und die Standards des IFOY AWARD festgelegt, nach denen die Organisation handelt. Dazu gehören unter anderem Gremien, Wahlomodus, Bewertungskriterien sowie der Code of Conduct.
Committees
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year has three bodies: Jury, sponsors, and advisory board.