In Belgium, a self-driving logistics robot called Automaatje recently started running between the Tomeco sorting and the Coöperatie Hoogstraten warehouse. It is a fully autonomous vehicle developed by AVT Europe for the 235-meter distance between the two sites. "It took some time for the staff to get used to it, but it's another significant step towards automation," says Tom Verdonck from Tomeco, which markets its tomatoes exclusively through Coöperatie Hoogstraten.
Jeroen Swolfs (Cooperatie Hoogstraten) and Stijn Matthé (Tomeco) with the Automaatje
"We're always looking for ways to reduce our ecological footprint. The cooperative and we are on the same site, so using a truck between the warehouses is inefficient. We used to use an electric forklift to pull an assigned cart. However, those weren't designed for this purpose."
"It also demanded plenty of time and energy, prompting us to look for alternatives. We'd seen comparable forms of autonomous transport in harbors for a while and wanted to do something similar. We teamed up with Coöperatie Hoogstraten to find partners to tackle this. That quickly led us to AVT Europe," explains Tom.
Outdoor self-driving vehicle
"They asked if we had a solution for their tomato transport," Jens Decker from AVT Europe explained to Siemens, where the project is nominated for the Best Application Contest 2023. "Forklift drivers are hard to find and could be doing more useful things than constantly covering the same route. Our answer was the Automaatje: an AGV that transports eight pallets of tomatoes at once. Loading and unloading is done completely automatically with the help of roller conveyors in adapted loading docks."
"There were, however, plenty of factors that had to be considered first," Tom continues. "It sounds easy, right? A vehicle that must drive from point A to B and back about 30 times a day. But there were some inevitable teething problems. Safety is a crucial aspect."
Jens adds: "It's quite challenging to develop an AGV that can operate outdoors. Since it's exposed to the weather, it must be much more robust. Rain doesn't only damage the AGV and its contents, but also makes the road slippery. Selecting the right components was crucial."
"For instance, a rain sensor measures the amount of precipitation and adjusts the driving style to prevent skidding. We had to consider the ground, too, which is much less smooth than a polished concrete floor inside. The Automaatje can operate on all paved terrains, and the tomatoes are safely covered."
"Besides a sturdy vehicle, we also had to look at the safety of the surrounding area. The AGV only operates on a single route. But what if something or someone is lying on the ground? What if a vehicle is on the road, and its door suddenly swings open? Cameras and sensors register all that," Jens explains.
Birds
Tom: "We had to pay close attention to these factors initially. We began using the robot in the summer and encountered plenty of unexpected issues, especially in the first few weeks. For example, a bird flying by could stop the vehicle. We had to reduce that sensitivity. We faced a similar problem with the beep it makes for the safety of people on site. It was initially very loud, but AVT adjusted that to our satisfaction."
"The Automaatje is also quite heavy, which affects the road surface. To prevent too much damage, we decided to make it drive three cm to the left on the way there and three cm to the right on the way back. Over time, we made small adjustments, and it now operates exactly how we want it to," Tom continues.
Jump in automation
And that has paid off, he adds. "We love it. It doesn't necessarily drive faster than a forklift, but we can now use those forklift drivers elsewhere. Plus, the operators can continue with other tasks during the automatic loading and unloading. So, it considerably improves efficiency."
"It also saves time and labor. Also, the solar panels on our buildings' roofs ensure it automatically charge while docked during loading. It can, thus, keep going all day. Our staff had to get used to its rushing past, but the Automaatje has become a valued co-worker," Tom concludes with a laugh.
For more information:
Tom Verdonck 
Tomeco
Tel.: +32 (0) 328 41 684
tom.verdonck@tomeco.be
www.feelgoodtomatoes.com
AVT Europe
Tel.: +32 (0) 354 63 900
info@a-vt.be
www.a-vt.be