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    Long-term test in the automotive factory: outdoor tugger train puts to the test

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    Long-term test in the automotive factory: outdoor tugger train puts to the test

    Autonomous outdoor tugger train undergoing long-term testing at a automobile manufacturer.

    3 months in a wide variety of weather conditions.

    Transport of 8 tons of material in up to 6 trailers.

    Autonomous outdoor solutions have to overcome special challenges, such as dealing with changing environmental conditions and navigating complex terrain. The autonomous outdoor tugger train from 4am Robotics has now proven its performance over several months in an extensive endurance test. The focus was on the smooth transportation of materials.

     


    When driving autonomously outdoors, it is important to ensure that sensors and safety scanners always function optimally, even under the influence of weather and road dirt.

    A scanner cover, specially developed for outdoor use, protects the integrated safety scanners not only from mechanical damage, but also from direct rainfall. With its specially developed sensor cleaning system, which automatically cleans the sensors when required, the 4am Robotics ATo-H can also perform outdoors. 

    The system uses compressed air to blow away dirt, dust and water droplets that have accumulated on the sensors, ensuring that they continue to provide accurate data to the system. In addition, a heating system is installed to prevent the formation of condensation and a splash water system to prevent a salt crust in winter, for example.

    However, a solution also had to be found for high temperatures in summer, which pose a problem for the electronics of automated vehicles. The components of 4am's outdoor route trains are protected from overheating with special air conditioning units and a double switch cabinet cover.  

    This allows the ATo-H to easily transport 8 tons of material in up to 6 trailers over long distances and, for example, realize an autonomous outdoor material flow between different halls. 

     

    The customer's logistics team was able to see the reliability of the 4am system for themselves during the endurance test: they were satisfied with the ATo-H's performance.  

    "We are working together with our technology partner on the right things and are gradually getting closer to our goal of also using automated vehicles in outdoor areas. The knowledge gained from the pilots is extremely important for this."

    Said an employee from the vehicle manufacturer's automation planning department. 

     

    Interested in further test situations? Discover the technical capabilities of our innovative autonomous robots now!

     

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