Fraunhofer looks to bring autonomous tech to air cargo

Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics is developing algorithms and predictive analytics to support IATA’s ONE Record data-sharing standard while expanding AI and autonomous robot technology in the air cargo sector. Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow (IML) conducts research through its Digital Testbed Air Cargo program, focusing on aviation logistics, passenger operations, ground support equipment, luggage systems and flight crew management. The research on autonomous robotics concepts and designs could support air cargo handling at airports. [caption id="attachment_57295981" align="aligncenter" width="1079"] The evoBOT can work together with robotic dog Spot. (Courtesy/Fraunhofer IML)[/caption] Cargo Facts caught up with Manuel Wehner, project manager and research associate for aviation logistics and airport automation at the company, last week at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Lima, Peru. “We have one major project running at the moment, funded by the German government with a bit less than $16.2 million (€14 million),” Wehner told Cargo Facts . Air cargo handling challenges There are multiple factors to consider when integrating autonomous robotics into daily operations at an airport. Airport warehouse space is limited, and each airline has different procedures, just-in-time consolidation processes and aircraft types, creating a dynamic that is uncontrolled, Wehner said. “It's difficult to introduce existing solutions … so we are researching new functionalities for these automation solutions,” he said. Incorporating autonomous robotics into airport ramp operations presents challenges, as it must be able to safely navigate the carefully orchestrated traffic surrounding aircraft and ground support equipment. evoBOT and Spot Autonomous technology in the air cargo industry is still in the introductory phase, with only sixty-seven case studies across various countries since 2017, Wehner said. Fraunhofer IML added another use case in 2024 with its self-balancing, two-wheeled robot called evoBOT and a robotic dog called Spot, developed by Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary Boston Dynamics. Fraunhofer selected Boston Dynamics’ Spot for its research and development program and used the robotic dog as part of its initial autonomous technology demonstration at Munich Airport (MUC) in May 2024, according to a Sept. 10, 2024, press release. “We added some more hardware and software to Spot, enabling it with an AI-based object detection algorithm to identify and gather information about where pallets are in the warehouse, and [how to] read the barcodes and forward the information to an overall control system, which directs other robots, such as a self-driving retrofit forklift, to go to these locations and pick up the pallets,” he said. Fraunhofer’s evoBOT design is based on the physical principle of an inverted pendulum and can carry individual packages of different sizes, Wehner added. Fraunhofer IML used automotive industry communication protocols in its open-source control system software, enabling seamless integration of robots from multiple manufacturers and providing flexibility to add or modify automated technology without relinquishing data ownership, he said. “We don’t see it as beneficial for airports, handlers or airlines to go with one vendor,” Wehner added. “[They could] run into a vendor lock-in, eventually give up their data, and then end up with an even more scattered and fragmented process.” Fraunhofer IML is part of the Fraunhofer Society, Europe’s largest nonprofit research organization, which has 32,000 employees aiding research and development across multiple industries. Cargo Facts will present four invaluable events for airfreight professionals in 2026, the next of which is <a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://cargofactsevents.com/asia/?utm_campaign=22235567-CF%20Asia%202026&utm_source=Editorial&utm_medium=article%20event%20footer&utm_term=CF%20website&utm_content=Learn%20More&utm_source=Weekly+Update+-+Cargo+Facts&utm_campaign=fbe548904b-CF+Update_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_621baa6827-fbe548904b-40083601&mc_cid=fbe548904b&mc_eid=adbe8bb0b4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Cargo Facts Asia on March 23-25. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

Fraunhofer looks to bring autonomous tech to air cargo

IATA World Cargo Symposium 2026

FedEx MD-11F grounding impact lower than expected as Q3 results remain strong

Chinese fleet surpasses 300 freighters

Related Posts

Cyber Aviation Global Forum to explore advancing cybersecurity risks in aviation

More data scientists needed for increasingly digital industry

Alaska Air undertakes tech upgrades after painful outages

Chinese fleet surpasses 300 freighters

Cargo Facts Free Newsletters

Cargo Facts Connect Podcast

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password