Hyundai Wia is set to supply fully autonomous forklifts for use in manufacturing environments.
On September 7, Hyundai Wia announced that it will provide forklifts capable of fully automated loading and unloading. The first application of these autonomous forklifts will be at Kia's AutoLand plant in Hwaseong in May 2027. These forklifts will autonomously navigate the factory, transporting goods loaded on pallets and performing loading and unloading tasks. The technology builds on Hyundai Wia's experience in developing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) currently in mass production.
The forklifts utilize lidar sensors, vision sensors, and safety scanners to navigate the workspace and transport items. They also employ 'digital twin' technology, which replicates the factory environment in a virtual space, allowing the forklifts to generate optimal travel routes.
Hyundai Wia has focused on enhancing the key loading and unloading capabilities of the forklifts. Using vision sensors, the forklifts can accurately recognize the position of pallets and adjust for factors such as the truck's condition and the settling of vehicles during the loading process, as well as the movement of pallets based on ground conditions.
Additionally, the forklifts incorporate a real-time data optimization technology using iterative closest point (ICP) algorithms. This allows them to recognize when a pallet has moved up to 250 millimeters from its target position or has tilted more than 10 degrees. The forklifts also feature an automatic posture correction function to adjust to the slope of container entry and exit points.
The maximum load capacity of the autonomous forklifts is 4 tons, comparable to that of medium-sized forklifts commonly used in manufacturing. They are designed to operate at a maximum speed of approximately 6.5 kilometers per hour, prioritizing safety within the factory. Each side of the forklift is equipped with safety scanners to detect obstacles and halt operations in case of potential hazards.
Hyundai Wia plans to expand its business globally by establishing a total solution for mobile robots, which includes the autonomous forklifts, currently commercialized AMRs, and parking robots.
A Hyundai Wia representative stated, "By supplying autonomous forklifts, we can further diversify our lineup of industrial robots used in manufacturing environments."
Meanwhile, the global market for autonomous forklifts is rapidly growing due to increasing automation demands in manufacturing and logistics. According to market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global autonomous forklift market is expected to expand from $3.17 billion this year to $6.07 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 9.7%.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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