In the new building of the Fraunhofer CML, a versatile laboratory is being created on an area of approx. 250 sqm. The components of the laboratory include mobile robots, various sensors, a motion capture system for precise object location and a control station system for data analysis. The robots, some equipped with gripper arms, replicate the material handling system in port terminals by autonomously navigating, handling and transporting cargo items. The aforementioned laboratory components form an expandable test and development system that serves to design robotics applications, study human-robot collaboration, and explore automation potential in the port environment.
The test and development system is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2023. With the commissioning of the laboratory, the Fraunhofer CML will receive a modern research infrastructure for customized project processing through the use of powerful technologies.