Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
PACE Lab: research and development of autonomous systems
Localization, motion capturing, and communication for autonomous systems
Autonomous systems are essential on the road to fully flexible logistics. The PACE Lab, based at the Fraunhofer IML, offers a globally unique research environment and infrastructure for high-precision positioning, radio communication, and the development of autonomous systems in industrial environments. The word PACE stands for “Positioning Accuracy Communication Evaluation.” Equipped with various sensor technologies, PACE Lab enables real-time data acquisition with live visualization and a perfect digital image of reality with sub-millimeter accuracy.
The real-time data acquisition lab offers around 1,000 square meters of space, providing the ideal environment for experimenting with innovative developments in an industrial context. In addition to the agile development of autonomous systems, PACE Lab offers companies a reference system for testing sensors, localization systems, communication systems, mobile robots, drones, and human-technology interactions. Thanks to high-precision motion capture and low latency, real-life scenarios can also be recorded in the test center and further developed in simulation.
Our services
In the PACE Lab test hall, companies can test their software and hardware solutions and use the test area in collaboration with researchers as a development environment for autonomous systems. The interdisciplinary team provides support in measurement and visualization as well as in the development of industrial solutions.
The PACE Lab offers:
- Reference system in which different aspects of autonomous systems can be tested
- Agile development of autonomous systems
- Testing and validating localization technology and systems
- Development and testing of mobile robots and drones
- Real-time data acquisition for autonomous systems and testing human-technology interaction
- Performance optimization of navigation algorithms
- Testing and validation of sensor technologies and sensors
The PACE Lab has a high-precision motion capture system that enables object detection in the submillimeter range and covers the entire area of two research halls. In addition, a laser projection system is used to visualize the measurement data and enable interaction with employees (AR). For communication, there is also 2.4 GHz, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, Zigbee-enabled access points, and a 5G base station. Software-defined radio (SDR) can be used to determine the transmission and reception power in the radio range.
The laser projection system supports the visualization of measurement data and movement patterns.
The unique infrastructure of the PACE Lab enables agile development of autonomous systems.
Interactions between humans and robots are constantly increasing due to the advancing degree of automation in logistics processes and can be tested in the PACE Lab.
The PACE Lab is geared towards...
- Companies that develop sensors
- Companies that develop and/or use localization solutions
- Companies that develop and/or use autonomous systems such as mobile robots or drones
- Companies and institutes that conduct research into cognitive/physical ergonomics (motion analysis)
- Companies and institutes that develop and/or use solutions for human-technology interaction
- Manufacturers of technical systems
- AGV manufacturers
- Providers of path control algorithms
The real-time data acquisition laboratory enables the perfect digital representation of reality and live visualization of measurement data.
The lab gives you access to cutting-edge infrastructure for testing and validating innovative concepts under real-world conditions.
The high-precision motion capturing system enables object detection in the submillimeter range.
Contact us
Are you interested in using PACE Lab to test or validate your autonomous systems, or or would you like to develop innovative automation solutions for logistics? Get in touch!