STILL shows its multi-functional logistics vehicle solution CubeXX

The cubeXX acts as a low-lift truck as well.
Photo by STILL GmbH

Visitors saw the first ‘concept vehicle’ cubeXX live in action at the STILL pavilion P35 at CeMAT 2014 in Hanover, Germany. The multi-functional vehicle was developed based on logistics megatrends and has been presented as a concept study as early as 2011. Its flexibility makes it part of the shared research project “Hub2Move” with the Fraunhofer Institute for material flow and logistics (IML), in the scope of the EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr, which is promoted by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research.

Fully automated warehouses are fairly inflexible and barely adaptable. When processes or goods change, elaborate planning is necessary to develop new solutions; old plants/parts may need to be removed and new systems installed and taken into operation. For this reason, companies with hard-to-plan or very volatile businesses must employ numerous staff and conventional shelves/block storage areas in order to balance out capacity fluctuations or changes in item or order structure.

The future hub (a movable handling centre) is to be easily adjusted to changing requirements. Handling, conveyor and storage technology in the hub should be adaptable to new requirements within a few days. A compete hub should also be able to run at a new site within a few weeks. The project “Hub2Move” is a cooperation of STILL GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for material flow and logistics (IML), as well as four other industrial partners, to develop this ‘hub of the future’. The initial focus was on the requirements of this kind of handling centre. For this, the researchers visited and analysed logistics hubs and then determined the needs this adaptable technology needed to meet. In the next few months, the project partners worked intensively on specific questions, e.g. decentralisation of conveyor technology, IT support or transport order management and traffic control. Important elements of technology development in the project also include cellular transport systems and autonomous vehicles to implement the main task of conveying in different versions with requirement compatible functionality and reduced complexity. STILL GmbH from Hamburg, a leading provider for customized solutions for intralogistics worldwide, is participating in the research project with their cubeXX concept study and is presenting their first results as early as CeMAT 2014: a functional prototype that proves its flexibility in use.

“Logistics of the future must be able to adjust faster and faster to changing requirements. For this, our logistics networks and distribution centres and their technical equipment also have to become flexible enough to take over new tasks very quickly, or even change their site. The cubeXX is a flexible system like this. It presents the future adaptability of industrial trucks,” Prof. Dr. Michael ten Hompel, managing institute director of the Fraunhofer institute for material flow and logistics (IML), emphasises. The cubeXX combines six vehicles in one: tugger train, low lift pallet truck, counterbalance truck, high lift pallet truck, double decker pallet truck and oder picker. A cubeXX model has already drawn great attention at the last CeMAT 2011. With the concept vehicle, completed just in time for the trade fair, STILL once again proves its innovation power and shows what today’s technologies, and particularly sensors, can already do. The electrically-powered cubeXX can be used as a mobile autonomous robot or as a manually operated stacker or tractor.

“Our customers’ demand for flexibility is rapidly increasing. The possibility of simply taking a vehicle into operation autonomously or operating it manually offers enormous potential for optimisation. Flexibility and adaptability will become a key skill for companies in future,” comments Bert-Jan Knoef, chairman of STILL’s management board.

STILL already offers system adaptability with its fully and semi-automatic iGo solutions. The cubeXX is a consistent development which also meets this trend. This flexible automation, and the machine-machine communication when used as an automated guided vehicle (AGV), also corresponds to the concept of Industry 4.0.

STILL presented the cubeXX in semi-automatic operation at CeMAT. The user can control it with a remote control or by iPad and unfold the forks, extend the load supports, the lifting mast or the driver’s cabin, use the tugger train function or dock the additional counterbalance. In spite of its many functions, the machine is built extremely compactly and much like a pocket-knife-shaped multifunctional tool, only the tool currently needed is unfolded. The required energy is provided by an easily accessible lithium-ion battery which provides enough energy for all-day use of the vehicle with interim charging, in contrast to conventional lead-acid batteries. This is due to its smaller installation space with the same usable energy content. Additionally, the lithium-ion battery can be recharged much faster. The drive unit comes from the horizontal picking serial vehicle CX and has already proven its worth many times in the past.

The telescoping mast made of the high-tech material Carbon is a novelty. It has two essential benefits: on the one hand, its low weight requires less mass in the tail weight. On the other hand, it resists permanent strain better, since it does not deform.

To ensure lateral movement of the cubeXX (even with extended load supports and when handing over pallets) the front load supports have a ball instead of a wheel. This leads to outstanding turning behaviour around the front axle and makes 90, 180° and even complete 360° turns.

The LED lighting concept is according to the latest ergonomic and safety technical insights. The cubeXX has four daylight running lights on the load side, searching headlights, lateral lamps, headlights, rear lights and daylight running lights on the drive side. The lamps can light up red (reversing), light red (braking) and white (forward movement), depending on the driving direction and function. The T-Frame design implemented here is to be used for all vehicle generations in future. The new LTX-tractor is the first serial vehicle with this new lighting concept and T-Frame design. The cubeXX also has a firmly installed light source in its roof as an indicator system when in fully automatic use. It emits a pulsating blue light circulating around the rotating laser.

The load side also contains a communication screen that indicates the current functions, such as driving direction, lifting conditions (mast moves up-down), running mode (manual, automatic), cubeXX-mode (high lifting, low lifting, tugger train, etc.), battery charge and location in the warehouse. This view is also reflected on the iPad ensuring intuitive operation from afar.

The load side also contains a communication screen that indicates the current functions, such as driving direction, lifting conditions (mast moves up-down), running mode (manual, automatic), cubeXX-mode (high lifting, low lifting, tugger train, etc.), battery charge and location in the warehouse. This view is also reflected on the iPad ensuring intuitive operation from afar.
STILL has installed a camera for automatic pallet lifting that moves with the fork carrier and sends the data via W-LAN to other autonomous vehicles, employees (with an iPad) or warehouse management. Safe automatic operation is ensured by the electrically connected person protection attachment at the front and rear and the load-side manual emergency off switch installed at the rear left and right of the load side. The vehicle is controlled via a CAN bus with interfaces for control, drive and lifting frame. Among other things the unit controls the speed synchronisation of all drives, the convertibility of the vehicle configurations and controlled movement to lifting height and cabin positions.

For more information, please visit http://www.still.de.

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