Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
Efficient VR and AR logistics solutions for modern workflows
Use mixed reality to learn and virtually train logistics workflows
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) for more efficient logistics processes: In the industrial sector, more and more companies are struggling with long training periods, a lack of awareness of hazards and rules, and the inefficiency of rarely performed or highly complex work steps. New mixed reality (XR) technologies offer enormous potential for solving these problems. The team at the XR Lab offers future-oriented solutions for overcoming logistical challenges, such as solving the shortage of specialists in warehouses and increasing employee motivation in logistics.
The XR Lab pursues the vision of merging reality and the virtual world in production control, workplace design and training. In addition to increasing effectiveness, the motivational properties of serious games and gamification can be harnessed with the help of XR technologies. Thus, XR applications support the learning of workflows, overcome language barriers and help to make work more intuitive, immersive, varied and less prone to error.
Our services
In the XR Lab, we develop both educational games that cover standard logistics processes, such as picking or goods receiving, and individual solutions for company-specific processes. In addition, the XR Lab team investigates and analyzes the user acceptance and user-friendliness of virtual and augmented reality solutions and conducts studies in this field of research.
The XR Lab offers:
- Training new employees in picking, goods receiving or packaging using ready-to-use virtual reality trainings
- Forklift training with a simulator, process and safety training
- Customized XR training
- Development of individual AR support systems
- Development of individual VR environments
- Survey and analysis of user acceptance, user-friendliness and other key figures for new or existing systems
- Expert lectures and “tech deep dives” on the topic of XR & gamification
- Technology consulting in the mixed reality section
The team's in-depth XR expertise enables the development of new applications and the optimization of existing processes. A scientific analysis of the interaction between humans and technology ensures that the training is not only effective but also sustainable.
Mixed Reality in practice
AR glasses augment the physical world with virtual elements. Among other things, they can assist in goods receiving, general packing processes, or interaction with a WMS.
With the help of AR applications, picking activities can be digitally supported and made more efficient through pick-by-vision.
In the XR Lab, virtual reality and augmented reality applications are evaluated in terms of user acceptance and user-friendliness. One of the issues being examined here is the extent to which motion sickness affects the use of VR glasses.
The VR application for forklift truck drivers was created to train internal company processes and locations, as well as to raise awareness of hazards.
The XR Lab is geared towards…
- Companies in the (intra)logistics sector with warehousing operations, possibly also with internal trainings
- Training and further education institutions with a logistics training program
- Providers of external training programs for warehouse specialists
- Warehouse operators for the optimization of warehouse management and logistics
- Freight forwarders and carriers for training employees in realistic scenarios
- Production companies with picking activities for production orders
