Autor: Wolfgang Echelmeyer

Particularly the logistics branch is subject to constant change - the competitive pressure is steadily increasing. The prevailing challenge for research and development in the area of logistics is to detect and satisfy potentials of improvement regarding long-sighted and long-lasting aspects. The concept of the Logistic Factory of the Future includes needs and major fields of action for the development of innovative product solutions. The area Automation as part of the Logistic Factory of the Future and the implementation using the example of the Parcel Robot are presented in this paper.

Due to the increasing globalization of commodity flow a growth of mass good transportation is perceptible. Therefore automatic unloading of goods and their automatic transfer to logistic systems is one of the technical challenges. Opportunities arising from automatic goods unloading are explored in [1]. A system for unloading cubic goods automatically was developed and its introduction to market started last year. Changing environments and various operational areas are the motivation for research on a cognitive system for unloading goods. Hence, a concept for a cognitive system for unloading containers is introduced in this article. The components for such a system are image processing, robot control handling system and kinematics. For each of these components cognitive methods and technologies are proposed to be integrated in an overall system.

Continuity and reliability in the fully automated unloading process are the greatest strengths of the new “portal robot”, a logistics system worldwide unique. Its task is unloading cubic goods out of containers or swap bodies. The robot is working with a stable process safety and high process speed. It may be used in combination with various logistic systems. When integrated early, possibly in the stadium of planning new centres of distribution, the realisation can become yet more profitable.

Organizational Learning offers a good possibility for enterprises to compete with the dynamics of the market. Under certain conditions, process integrated education not only leads to process optimization in firms, but also to the beginning of organizational learning. This is of great importance particularly to small and medium sized enterprises, since they normally lack appropriate structures.

Professional on the job training, the continuous lifelong learning in the companies, requires as prerequisite, an ever increasing orientation toward more applications. Activities and situations pertaining to the organisation and to work processes are gaining in importance. The research project “PALME” offers a new approach to enterprise specific training. PALME follows up on an enterprise integrated education concept consisting of studying in a decentra- lized system and using computer support.