As the integration of autonomous machines transforms industries, researching collaboration between humans and robots becomes increasingly vital. It’s an exciting time for Navitec Systems to be a part of the co-innovation research project “Mixed Fleet” funded by Business Finland, to gain insights into the future of productivity, innovation, and the evolving human role in an automated world.
This research covers important topics, such as optimizing workflow and ensuring how autonomous machines and humans can safely operate in a mixed fleet environment.
The partners on this research project are FIMA – Forum for Intelligent Machines Ry, Konecranes, Mitsubishi Logisnext Europe, Atostek, Tampere University, VTT, DIMECC Oy and Vamos Ecosystem for Autonomous Mobility in Smart Spaces. We are very happy to be a part of this great group of experts!
Thanks to the research project, we are exploring innovative topics that will drive ongoing product development. Looking ahead to 2025, we will introduce the ability to track manual vehicles inside Navithor Fleet Control using a real-time locating system (RTLS). This feature will provide great benefits to our customers operating mixed fleets. It will not only enhance the safety of the mixed fleet system but also open new opportunities for optimizing the workflow between autonomous and manual vehicles.
There are many different technologies for tracking manual vehicles. The goal of Navitec Systems is to develop an easy-to-use API for providing the position data for our Navithor Fleet Control. This ensures that while the tracking technologies evolve at a fast pace, it will be always easy to integrate the latest sensor technology to be used together with Navithor Fleet Control.
Another important research topic in the Mixed Fleet project is the safe remote control of an automated machine. Here at Navitec, we want to especially study the area of how to safely recover from the most common error scenarios that might happen on the factory floor or in a warehouse.
It is essential that the operator has a clear view of the situation around the machine that is being controlled. During the Mixed Fleet project, we will be researching and prototyping a concept that integrates a live video stream from an onboard AGV camera directly into the Navithor Web Client. This feature will provide operators with a powerful new tool for monitoring the fleet in real-time.
Stay tuned for more news related to Mixed Fleet project during 2025!