Last week, vertical transportation giant thyssenkrupp debuted a novel technology that could transform its parts and materials supply chain in dense urban environments.
As part of a U.S. Senate Field Hearing on automotive innovation, January 24 at the Washington (D.C.) Auto Show 2018, thyssenkrupp showcased its newly developed self-driving delivery robot. Co-developed by software maker TeleRetail, the system is designed to transport spare parts and materials to field technicians working in busy, congested urban markets.
During elevator and escalator servicing sessions, spare parts are needed quickly, and a technician either has to drive back to base in his or her service vehicle or have it delivered by a colleague. With increased traffic clogging up city streets, the pressure on the supply chains is rapidly increasing, according to thyssenkrupp.
Xenia Scholl of TeleRetail poses with the delivery robot at the Washington (D.C.) Auto Show 2018. Photo courtesy thyssenkrupp
“This is a major urbanization challenge that our service technicians are already experiencing today,” said Ivo Siebers, Senior Vice President of Global Logistics, thyssenkrupp Elevator. “With driverless delivery robots, we could fill a gap and get spare parts from our warehouses to the jobsite faster, more efficiently, and with less impact on the environment.”
Measuring 33 inches wide, the delivery robots can travel on sidewalks and can carry payloads weighing up to 77 lbs. An online logistics platform allows technicians and the operations center to track the progress of deliveries in real time.
“Fast-growing American metropolitan areas need intelligent solutions to cover the last mile in delivering spare parts to our technicians,” added Siebers. “In connection with TeleRetail, we are testing autonomous vehicles to solve this growing logistical problem.”
Related Stories
| Jun 11, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: ‘AEC can has Blockchains?’
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), HOK’s Greg Schleusner explores how the AEC industry could adapt the best ideas from other industries (banking, manufacturing, tech) to modernize inefficient design and construction processes.
| Jun 11, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: How advanced digital fabrication techniques are driving design innovation
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), SOM’s Lucas Tryggestad and Kyle Vansice present the firm’s 3D-printed building project and explore how digital fabrication is pushing design innovation.
| May 30, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Seven technologies that restore glory to the master builder
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), AEC technophile Rohit Arora outlines emerging innovations that are poised to transform how we design and build structures in the near future.
| May 30, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Why the AEC industry must adapt to the Internet of Things boom
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), building systems expert Jeff Carpenter explores established and emerging IoT applications for commercial and institutional buildings, and offers a technology roadmap for navigating the IoT landscape.
| May 24, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: The rise of multi-user virtual reality
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), two of CannonDesign's tech leaders present their early findings from pilot testing multi-user VR technology for AEC project coordination.
Sponsored | AEC Tech | Apr 3, 2018
4 reasons to take a closer look at your project metrics
We've all heard that data is important, but what role does it really play in your business?
AEC Tech | Mar 7, 2018
Interoperability for the building industry – More wicked problems
This article is a follow up to Nathan Miller's 2016 article “The Wicked Problem of Interoperability”.
AEC Tech | Feb 28, 2018
Nine tips to bridge the cybernetic design gap
Unlike other technologies we have seen, augmented and virtual reality are looking to have staying power in a truly disruptive way.
AEC Tech | Jan 25, 2018
Four high-tech solutions to mitigate theft on the jobsite
Geo-fencing and drone surveillance are among the tech solutions for protecting jobsites from asset loss.
BD+C University Course | Jan 2, 2018
The art and science of rendering: Visualization that sells architecture [AIA course]
3D artist Ramy Hanna offers guidelines and tricks-of-the-trade to ensure that project artwork is a stunning depiction of the unbuilt space.