Start of the FlexTools research project
The joint project “Modular toolbox for flexible robotics of small and medium-sized automotive suppliers” (FlexTools) started in September 2023 and will run for three years. FlexTools aims to make the introduction of autonomous mobile robotics (AMR) in brownfield environments easier and more efficient for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive industry. The results of the project offer SMEs a great opportunity to benefit from the use of AMR in the future to counter the shortage of skilled labour and thus maintain and expand their competitiveness.
Currently, the introduction and use in brownfield environments faces various challenges with regard to the restrictions of the physical and digital infrastructure, a lack of expertise and high costs for simulation. In order to meet these challenges and compile a modular toolbox, the project partners are working closely together on the overarching topics of robot technology, IT systems & algorithms and management & implementation. The toolbox will cover all relevant areas and be specifically tailored to the needs of SMEs.
On the research side, the consortium consists of the Chair of Corporate Logistics (LFO) at the Technical University of Dortmund, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and the FZI Research Centre for Information Technology. The research perspective is complemented by the companies Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbH, ProLog Automation GmbH & Co. KG and SimPlan AG, which are contributing their many years of technology, automation and simulation expertise. The industrial companies HEO Coating and TE Connectivity are providing two representative use cases for the targeted design and evaluation of the toolbox. In addition, the associated project partners Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Soest GmbH, Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH, Forum-FTS GmbH and Trumpf Sachsen GmbH are contributing their expertise.
André Tünkers from Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbH is responsible for the consortium management and project management. The scientific project coordination is carried out by Univ.-Prof. Dr habil. Dr h. c. Michael Henke and Dipl.-Logist. Natalia Straub (both TU Dortmund University) and Prof. Dr Anne Meyer (KIT). The FlexTools project is being supervised by the project management organisation VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH in Düsseldorf. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMWK) and the European Union as part of NextGenerationEU with a total funding volume of 4.9 million euros as part of the “Digitalisation of the vehicle manufacturer and supplier industry” funding guideline.
