An integrated software system for modeling, simulating and controlling driverless transport systems.

Automated guided vehicles can already be found in numerous production plants, logistics facilities and hospitals. There, they are used to transport food, medicines or laundry. Current trends such as Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory will create enormous opportunities in the coming years, but also completely new challenges.

More than 20 years ago, DS Automotion – a provider based in Linz and an international leader in its field – commissioned RISC Software GmbH to develop integrated planning, simulation and control software. The aim of the development was to drastically reduce the implementation and commissioning times of driverless transport systems for specific plants.

Comprehensively configurable control technology software

The control technology software was developed as a flexibly configurable standard system. It contains powerful algorithms for scheduling orders, for collision-free control of vehicles and for avoiding or resolving deadlock situations. Generic interfaces also enable the connection of system-specific expansion components. This allows the system to be easily adapted to specific requirements and connected to external applications.

Integrated simulation environment

A central concept of the software system is the integrated simulation environment. This can automatically generate a realistic simulation model for a specific system from the route design. At the same time, the control technology software uses the same control module for both real and simulated vehicles. This means that an up-to-date simulation model is available at any time during the planning phase. It is used for time- and cost-saving “virtual commissioning” and for checking subsequent adaptations or extensions.

Tried and tested in practical use

The software system developed is now being used successfully in many plants around the world. It already meets numerous requirements that are now considered standard for Industry 4.0 solutions. In addition, the long-standing cooperation between DS Automotion and RISC Software GmbH has resulted in numerous innovations. These have been developed and successfully tested in several joint research projects.

Global coordination, local autonomy

The enormous progress made in the field of robotics in recent years will open up completely new possibilities for driverless transport systems in the future: On the one hand, small, agile, highly autonomous robot-like systems for service and transportation activities (small loads) will be used more and more frequently. On the other hand, sophisticated, cost-effective sensor solutions and tried-and-tested, efficient algorithms from the field of robotics will be integrated into driverless transportation systems. One of the upcoming challenges to be solved is therefore the networking and coordination of local and global intelligence to create a functioning, optimally coordinated overall solution.

Project partners

Project details

• Project short title: EuroTrans
• Project long title: –
• Project partners:
  • DS Automotion
• Duration: ongoing

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Project management

DI Bruno Bliem

Senior Project Manager