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.
Locator – Laser Localization Software
Bosch Rexroth
The laser localization provides a key technology for autonomous vehicles in intralogistics and production environments, which automatically maps the environment by using a laser sensor and determines the position as well as orientation of the vehicle. The software solution enables a fastest and easiest set-up process – one click mapping, instant localization and automatic map update – neither changes of the infrastructure nor rework of the map nor expert knowledge necessary.
Product name and company
Locator – Laser Localization Software – Bosch Rexroth
Category
Intralogistics Software
Description
The laser localization software is the basis for autonomous driving in intralogistics and production environments. Using a laser sensor (incl. safety laser scanners), the software component automatically maps the environment and determines a precise & robust position as well as orientation of the vehicle.
The software component enables AGV/AMR OEMs, forklift OEMs and system integrators to build autonomous vehicles or develop services, such as fleet optimization. By using the Bosch Rexroth laser localization software, the system will reliably operate in dynamic production environments or in flexible warehouse processes. Thus, the software component enables a variety of Industry 4.0 applications, such as autonomous navigation or tracking of goods.
By providing a software solution high flexibility regarding system design of OEMs is ensured. Simple and versatile interfaces reduce the implementation effort in the system architecture.
Key technical data:
- Mapping in real-time
- Plug & Go: easy integration into system architecture; intuitive software & user interfaces; modular system
- Supports a large variety of laser scanners (incl. safety lasers)
- Fast update rate: 20-50 Hz
- Accuracy: up to 1 cm
- Optional fusion with wheel odometry or inertial measurement unit possible
Innovations
The laser localization component is a software product based on a highly innovative mapping & localization algorithm.
Known solutions on the market require a time consuming and cost-intensive set-up process as well as operation supported by experts at the end user.
This process mainly consists of:
- Infrastructure changes e.g. reflectors
- Mapping of the environment by experts
- Reworking of map during set-up process as well as operation due to changing environment
The rising demand of service robots requires an automation of these process steps. The laser localization software by Bosch Rexroth offers a solution empowering the fastest and easiest set-up process as well as operation – one click mapping, instant localization and automatic map update:
- No infrastructure changes
- No expert knowledge for mapping
- No reworking of map – neither during set-up nor in operation due to automatic map update – required.
The optimization towards best user experience and automation of complex processes reduces effort (time & cost) of users.
Market relevance
Target group:
AGV/AMR OEMs, forklift OEMs, system integrators, laser manufacturer as well as Automation-Kit supplier
Sectors:
Primarily intralogistics and production, furthermore applications in other sectors like professional cleaning, hospital logistics, harbour, airport, PR and many more are conceivable.
In each mobile platform, which is supposed to be automated the laser localization software could be potentially integrated.
Market potential intralogistics and production: ca. 818,000 units
Market volume intralogistics and production (laser/LiDAR, laser/LiDAR + other sensors): ca. 75,000 units
Customer benefits
Main customer (OEMs as well as end user) benefits – from integration to operation:
- High user friendliness enables to reduce development effort (time & cost) of our customers (OEMs)
- Minimal integration effort: platform independent & flexible laser positions supported (OEMs)
- Fast & easy setup process: one click mapping – no infrastructure changes & no expert knowledge required
- Reliable operation: instant localization & high robustness
- Flexible adaption to typical intralogistics and production environments: automatic map update shared across the entire fleet
IFOY Innovation Check
Market relevance
The market for driverless transport systems/ automated guided vehicles (AGV) continues to develop well. The product is of interest to both the automation of standard industrial trucks and to manufacturers of special solutions, as it decouples them from the development of expertise in the field of environment-based localization when companies decide to use this relatively new procedure, which is free of installation costs. For these reasons, the market relevance is considered to be high.
Customer benefit
The Locator enables new manufacturers of AGVs to easily enter the market. The producer can concentrate on his core competence of vehicle construction and/or automation of standard industrial trucks. Time and cost advantages also arise when commissioning individual vehicles at a customer’s premises, as the environment-based localisation does not require any set-up and measuring work. Supported by the software, a map of the area of application is generated and the relevant points can be localized.
Novelty
With the Locator, Bosch Rexroth is introducing a product that performs the software function of environment-based localization based on laser distance measurement. The software is designed to work with various laser distance measurement sensors. This implementation of environment-based localisation, which is strictly limited as a product, is not fundamentally innovative. However, the systems available on the market so far still require considerable adaptation and calibration effort and require expert knowledge. Bosch Rexroth has anticipated this engineering work for many applications and environmental factors and integrated the adaptation functions into the software. The innovation therefore lies in the tailoring and design of the product, which is specifically tailored to current market requirements.
Functionality / type of implementation
The Locator is offered both as software for implementation on an already existing vehicle computer and on a separate computer with defined interfaces for the sensors for laser distance measurement and the output of the localization data. Technologically, the solution is up to date with freely available and commercial solutions. The complete integration of all operating principles and functions in one system relieves the automation specialist from the work of map creation and updating as well as localization within the map. He can concentrate on automating the driving of the respective industrial truck. In addition, if the characteristics of the environment permit, he can also access localization information when the vehicle is reinitialized.
| Functionality / type of implementation | ++ |
| Novelty / Innovation | Ø |
| Customer benefits | + |
| Market relevance | + |
| ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available | |
Videos
Playlist
1 Videos
Playlist
2 Videos
Image/video credits: Bosch Rexroth
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Statutes
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Committees
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year has three bodies: Jury, sponsors, and advisory board.