An eight-member consortium - consisting of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, AGCO Hohenmölsen GmbH, Dögel GmbH, Wegard Trail GmbH, Innok Robotics GmbH, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, the Institute for Automation and Communication e.V. and FIAtec GmbH - has been conducting joint research on the implementation of a self-driving tugger train for transporting goods and people since November 1, 2024. This is to be used in outdoor industrial environments.
In the period up to 31.07.2027, the participants will develop an automated tugger train. It will be used on the AGCO Hohenmölsen GmbH factory premises. Various use cases are to be adopted there, with the focus on the combination of goods and passenger transport.
Steps for implementing the tugger train system
In the first step, the various transport processes at AGCO Hohenmölsen GmbH will be analyzed by process analysis experts from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and then adapted for the use of a tugger train. Innok Robotics GmbH specializes in autonomous mobile robot solutions for outdoor use and is developing an autonomous towing vehicle for the tugger train. The project involves modifying and automating a conventional tractor with an electric drive to meet the requirements. As a specialist company for modular tugger train systems, Wegard Trail GmbH takes care of the trailers and containers for the tugger train. FIAtec GmbH, in turn, links the tugger train with the trailers and ensures the flow of information and energy. In order to make the tugger train system as robust as possible, the Institute for Automation and Communication is digitizing the infrastructure of the operating site and testing radio networks and intelligent communication infrastructure. Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg is developing and testing a real-time-capable operations control center to monitor and support the automated tugger train. To enable communication between all systems, Dögel GmbH's task is to link this multitude of systems into an overall system and to design the data interfaces and transmission options.
About the location of the use case
AGCO Hohenmölsen GmbH is a metal processing production site and is part of the AGCO Group. Numerous components for agricultural machinery are manufactured at the Hohenmölsen site, as well as the Fendt brand products Katana (forage harvester) and Rogator (field sprayer).
About the funding and the mFUND funding program of the BMDV
The project with the acronym IBATOUR(Intelligent Business Areafor Autonomyin Transport, Organizationand Handlingvia Route Trains) is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport with a total of 2,771,018 euros as part of the mFUND innovation initiative.
As part of the mFUND innovation initiative, the BMDV is funding data-based research and development projects for the digital and networked mobility of the future. The project funding is supplemented by active professional networking between players from politics, business, administration and research and by the provision of open data on the "Mobilithek" portal. Further information can be found at www.mfund.de and www.daten.plus.
