We look forward to the personal exchange, exciting discussions and new impulses on the topics of logistics, digitalization and innovation. Get to know our projects and services, discover the latest developments in the Logistics & IT Management Center – and become part of our growing community!

Am 26. November laden wir in den Digital Hub Logistics Dortmund ein, um gemeinsam das Jahr in gemütlicher Atmosphäre ausklingen zu lassen. Freut euch auf Glühwein/Kinderpunsch, Snacks und gute Gespräche – die perfekte Gelegenheit, alte Bekannte wiederzutreffen, neue Kontakte zu knüpfen und sich in entspannter Runde auszutauschen.

Freuen dürft ihr euch auch auf einen kurzen Impulsvortrag zum Thema:

Elektromobilität im Wirtschaftsverkehr – Chancen für geräuscharme Logistik in unseren Städten
Arnd Bernsmann & Andreas Gade – Fraunhofer IML

Mit dem neu entwickelten SNAP-Tool (Silent Night Analysis and Planning) lassen sich Potenziale und geeignete Gebiete für Nachtlogistik identifizieren lassen – ein praxisrelevantes Werkzeug für Unternehmen, die leise Lieferkonzepte umsetzen möchten

Employees from the Clan “Cognitive Ergonomics” of the Center of Excellence compare the performance of test participants in a simulated picking task in the laboratory. The test participants walk or stand on a treadmill, receive instructions for solving mental tasks via the headset or data glasses and react by pressing a button on joysticks. The study focuses on the effects of gait and smart devices on mental factors such as cognitive flexibility and selective attention, both of which are highly relevant for finding items on the shelf.

Initial results show that subjects using the headset are less cognitively flexible, i.e. less able to switch back and forth between different tasks, but generally react more quickly and accurately. Although test subjects are more cognitively flexible with data glasses, they show a loss of selective attention.

The preferred use of a Smart Device therefore depends on the type of work task and the environment: In confusing storage areas, the presentation of information via the data glasses when walking may pose a potential safety risk. However, if the work is primarily done standing up, the use of data glasses has advantages over the headset.

An interview with Dr. Magali Kreutzfeldt on this topic can be found in the current issue of “Betriebliche Prävention”: https://www.beprdigital.de/ce/interview-smart-devices-unterstuetzung-oder-belastung/detail.html

Photo: Leibniz-Institut für Arbeitsforschung (IfADo)

The human being is still of great importance in picking, because the use of robots is not yet efficient enough. “The assembly of articles requires a high level of concentration in order to avoid mistakes, a high level of motor precision in order to be able to pick even small articles with the most varied shapes, and good fitness, as far more than 10,000 steps have to be taken per shift. ” explains Dr. Johanna Renker. Smarte Technologien sollen hier den Mitarbeiter unterstützen, damit kürzere Wege gewählt und Fehler vermieden werden. Are these technologies really supportive or are they overstretching?

Dr. Johanna Renker from IfADo and her colleague Dr. Veronika Kretschmer from IML interviewed picking employees from different companies who used different picking methods such as pick-by-voice, pick-by-light or pick-by-scan. The evaluation of 88 employees showed that it is not the type of technology that is most relevant, but that it works flawlessly. “Nothing is more frustrating for employees than a device that doesn’t work properly, crashes all the time, or displays something wrong,” says Dr. Johanna Renker. The pick-by-voice system, which allows information to be heard via headphones and confirmations to be made via voice input, is doing particularly well. Your hands are free to grasp the items and you can concentrate visually on your surroundings.

However, the study also shows that good social contacts and good leadership quality are decisive for high employee satisfaction. “No matter how good the new technologies are, they cannot replace interpersonal relationships or compensate for the inadequate leadership qualities of superiors,” explains Dr. Johanna Renker.

Photo: Leibniz-Institut für Arbeitsforschung (IfADo)

What is the “Emili” project all about?

Thomas Kirks: “Emili” is the abbreviation for “ergonomic, mobile, interactive load carrier for intralogistics”, developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML). It is the first autonomous driverless transport vehicle that enables intuitive communication with people. “Emili” can be controlled, beckoned and waved away by using gestures – which means it interacts directly with the people in its environment.

Jana Jost:Since the first presentation of “Emili” in 2017, we have been continuously developing the system further. We not only address technological issues, but also topics such as user-friendliness, i.e: How can we optimize the system with people in mind?

What added value did the Center of Excellence Logistics and IT provide for this work?

Thomas Kirks: The Center of Excellence Logistics and IT bundles the research expertise of various institutions at the science location of Dortmund. Among them is the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the TU Dortmund (IfADo). The staff there focus on investigations into the performance and resilience of human information processing processes. This is exactly the know-how we need for our project – to optimize “Emili’s” interaction with humans.

Jana Jost: In designing questionnaires for laboratory tests, we were able to draw on existing knowledge and ultimately share the evaluation with IfADo. This procedure saves resources and increases the quality not only of our research work, but of research in general.

Which formats of the Center of Excellence were of particular benefit for “Emili’s” further development?

Jana Jost: The regular discussions between the research clans mean that new research potential can always be leveraged and specific innovations can be generated. The “Researchers’ BBQs” also make an important contribution to helping us drive our projects forward more quickly. At one of the recent events, representatives of the research clans presented their infrastructures and core expertise in more detail. Subsequently, new partners were found via speed dating. Together with the research clan for “Digital Business Engineering” we will now work intensively on business models which will use “Emili” in various fields of application.

Thomas Kirks: The uncomplicated use of the research infrastructure across all the participating institutions in Dortmund is also a decisive factor for success. For a further study on “Emili”, for example, we can use the research centre at the Chair of Materials Handling and Warehousing at the TU Dortmund and, together with staff from the Chair and the IfADo, we will implement a test set-up in virtual reality there. We are investigating the question of how close people and technology can or must get in order to work together efficiently and in a spirit of trust. We will then continue the experiment in the Research Hall for Cellular Conveying Technology at the Fraunhofer IML.