Intralogistics benefits from the "ant principle"

On April 2, 2025, the employers' association Südwestmetall honored nine young scientists from Baden-Württemberg's state universities. Prizes were awarded for dissertations that are of particular importance for the industrial world of work and its socio-political framework conditions. "With their outstanding dissertations, the award winners provide a direct and diverse insight into the research achievements at Baden-Württemberg's state universities," said Südwestmetall Chairman Dr. Joachim Schulz at the award ceremony.

Among this year's winners is once again a scientist who earned her doctorate at the University of Stuttgart: Dr. Carolin Brenner was awarded the 5,000 EUR prize for her outstanding dissertation at the Institute of Mechanical Handling and Logistics.  Carolin Brenner's work is characterized by a high degree of practical relevance. The dissertation is a successful example of how research can lead to concrete solutions and bring direct benefits for industry. "Congratulations on receiving the Südwestmetall Award," says Prof. Manfred Bischoff, Vice Rector for Research and Sustainable Development at the University of Stuttgart.

„Interoperabilität beliebiger fahrerloser Transportfahrzeuge durch eine einheitliche Bewegungskoordination für die zukünftige vernetzte Intralogistik“ (Interoperability of any automated transport vehicles through uniform movement coordination for future networked intralogistics) is the title of Brenner's award-winning dissertation. Her project was funded by the Innovation Campus Mobility of the Future (ICM). "In times of skilled labor shortages, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) help conserve valuable human resources in production facilities and warehouses, particularly for routine tasks," says Brenner. A large number of AGVs are often in use within a company. These fulfill different tasks and requirements and have different navigation, steering and driving systems.

"My dissertation is inspired by the animal kingdom. Ants transport heavy loads by working together in a targeted manner. Based on this model, different types of automated transport vehicles, adapted to the size of a load, could in future transport heavy loads in a coordinated manner as a group."

To make this possible, Brenner developed a standardized control method for various AGVs. To this end, it introduced omni-curve parameters (OKP), which enable vehicle geometry-independent control and improve cooperation between different AGV systems. The study explores how motion coordination and interoperability can be optimized using this standardized interface, while also considering the dynamic limitations of the vehicles. Finally, implementations and evaluations of the developed concepts on real and simulated vehicles were presented.

“The control system developed as part of my dissertation can be operated easily and intuitively, just like a joystick,” says Brenner. The demand from the industry is evident, as reflected in numerous inquiries about the project. “If AGVs can perform a wider range of tasks individually or together thanks to the uniform control system, this increases flexibility and saves costs, so companies need to use fewer specialized vehicles.”

“The Südwestmetall Award shows once again that the idea behind my work is going in the right direction. "I am truly honored by this recognition," says Brenner, who is continuing her academic career as a postdoc at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).