MAN says Self-driving HGVs make combined road and rail freight transport more efficient 03/10/23
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Self-driving HGVs can make combined road and rail freight transport 40% more efficient, states MAN as the company has achieved ANITA project goals: successfully developed, digitally integrated and field tested an autonomous lorry in container handling at DB IS depot and DUSS terminal in Ulm.
MAN Truck & Bus, Deutsche Bahn, Hochschule Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and Götting KG have announced groundbreaking research results in the use of an autonomous lorry in container logistics. As part of the research project “Autonomous Innovation in Terminal Operations” (ANITA), they successfully demonstrated how self-driving HGVs with the appropriate integration into the infrastructure can make combined road and rail freight transport more efficient, more plannable, and at the same time more flexible in the future.
The project entailed the development of an autonomously operating lorry capable of autonomously handling container shipments from road to rail, aided by digital mission planning. Spanning three years, with approximately six months of practical testing at the DB Intermodal Services Container Depot and DUSS Container Terminal in Ulm, the project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.
Dr. Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research & Development at MAN Truck & Bus, emphasized the project’s focus on tangible logistics applications and customer benefits.
He stated:
“When developing autonomous driving systems, concrete logistics applications and customer benefits are our focus from the very beginning.”
Dr. Zohm added that ANITA provides the groundwork for deploying autonomous HGVs in transport operations between logistics hubs, such as Ulm, starting from 2030.
Photo credits @ MAN Trucks and Buses
The extensive testing phase, which involved safety drivers and development engineers, not only provided valuable insights for refining the autonomous driving function and its integration with mission planning but also prepared the terminals for the incorporation of this technology.
Dr. Martina Niemann, DB Cargo AG Board Member for Finance, Controlling, and Supply Management, highlighted the significance of automation and digitization in optimizing terminal processes for the growth of combined transport.
She stated:
“the completion of the ANITA project today impressively demonstrated what the future could look like in the terminals,” emphasizing that the autonomous truck effectively operates within real terminal operations and plays a pivotal role in the future viability of combined transport.
Photo credits @ MAN Trucks & Buses
For the ANITA project’s autonomous HGV to seamlessly perform container handling tasks, it must communicate effectively with the infrastructure at the DB IS depot and the DUSS terminal. The scientists at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences analyzed on-site processes, procedures, and interactions between personnel and machines during the initial project phase.
These insights were then translated into a digital set of rules, utilizing Deon Digital’s Contract Specification Language (CSL) as a common communication platform for all systems involved. The outcome is a comprehensive mission planning system that links the vehicle and IT systems of DB IS-Depot and DUSS-Terminal.
Prof. Dr. Christian T. Haas, Director of the Institute for Complex Systems Research at Hochschule Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, explained, “we have here a communication-intensive multi-agent system,” where different actors, including lorry drivers, crane operators, and forklift drivers, employ various forms of communication.
The solution acts as a universal interpreter, enabling the autonomous truck to navigate the container handling process smoothly.
In addition to MAN’s expertise, Götting KG contributed its knowledge of object location and environment detection to the project. This collaboration aimed to facilitate the transferability of the technology to other logistics hubs and expand its usability for various deployment scenarios. Hans-Heinrich Götting, Managing Director of Götting KG, underscored their commitment to enhancing obstacle detection for driverless vehicles, making them even more appealing for extended ranges and higher speeds.