MFTBC conducts verification of Autonomous Intelligent Tugger (AIT)

at Kawasaki Plant

• Driverless outdoor operation of AIT between buildings verified for vehicle engine delivery
• Helps alleviate manpower shortage and workload
• Part of “Factory of the Future” project to enhance productivity and safety with state-of-the-art technologies

Kawasaki, Japan – Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (Headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Karl Deppen, hereafter: MFTBC) has conducted a verification of an Autonomous Intelligent Tugger (AIT) to deliver vehicle components in the outdoor areas of its Kawasaki Plant in October and November 2022.

The verification took place with the AIT running along a 900 meter route between the engine manufacturing building and the vehicle assembly lines. Expected to be used mostly for engine transport, the AIT was tested to see if it could safely move according to the predetermined route without causing production delays or collisions.

The AIT is mainly used for delivering cargo in large areas with few obstacles, such as airports. In Japan, there are not many examples of AIT operation in places such as manufacturing plants, where things are irregularly concentrated. This time, “TractEasy” of EasyMile SAS (Headquarters: Toulouse, France and Singapore; CEO: Gilbert Gagnaire) was selected to verify its application in a truck manufacturing environment. TractEasy’s AIT is in the process of deployment at the Woerth Plant of Daimler Truck, the parent company of MFTBC. With a load capacity of 25 tons, the TractEasy AIT uses a range of sensors and cameras with real-time processing for autonomous hauling. This includes centimeter-precise localization at any moment, wide-range perception to handle obstacles, and enhanced navigation including vehicle to infrastructure (V2X) communication, predictive control, and decisions at intersections and pedestrian crossings. Powered by electricity, it will also contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions at production operations.

Through the verification, MFTBC confirmed the AIT was able to reliably prevent potential risks associated with autonomous driving technology, and stably perform at the maximum speed of 11km/hour* on site. To minimize service delays of the AIT due to obstacles, the “X-Area Remote” remote monitoring and teleoperation system of Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Head office: Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director, President, Group Chief Executive Officer: Yuki Kusumi) was used. It was confirmed that a remote operator could seamlessly take control and move the AIT around obstacles, quickly resuming autonomous service.

*TractEasy’s maximum speed is 15km/h.

MFTBC started the “Factory of the Future” project in 2017 to improve efficiency and safety at its plant using the latest technologies. One of the main focus areas is the transportation of goods such as components, which requires a lot of manpower. MFTBC has already begun use of autonomous transportation vehicles for indoor delivery of components. However, outdoor delivery between buildings is more difficult due to weather factors and increased complexity and risk due to randomly placed objects and moving people. The AIT was chosen for verification by MFTBC as a potential solution to these challenges.

MFTBC will continue to consider cutting-edge solutions under the “Factory of the Future” program to maximize productivity and safety at its plants.

TractEasy

Remote controlling

Remote Monitoring and Teleoperation System

About the “Factory of the Future” project

Beginning in 2017, the “Factory of the Future” initiative was set up to invest in automation, robotics and IT systems in further steering the plant towards Industry 4.0. This project uses cutting-edge technology to improve safety and efficiency in the production process, alleviate labor shortages, reduce production costs, and improve productivity and work environment. Initiatives such as digital end-of-line inspection and predictive maintenance using sensors on critical machines are just some of the examples of the improvements that have already been made. MFTBC is always dedicated to generating new ideas to further increase effectiveness and efficiency.

MFTBC at a Glance

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, with 89.29% of its shares owned by Daimler Truck AG and 10.71% by various Mitsubishi group companies. An icon in the Japanese commercial vehicle industry with a longstanding history of 90 years with its FUSO brand, MFTBC manufactures a range of commercial vehicles including light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses, and industrial engines for over 170 markets worldwide. In 2017, MFTBC introduced the eCanter, the first all-electric light-duty truck in series-production and in 2019, the Super Great – Japan’s first heavy-duty truck fitted with Level 2 Automated Driving Support Technology, a benchmark in the Japanese commercial vehicle market. MFTBC operates under the umbrella of Daimler Truck Asia, together with its partner organization Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) in India. This strategic unit allows the entities to collaborate on areas such as product development, parts sourcing and production to provide the best value to customers.