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Mecalux SA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology today announced a five-year project to expedite the integration of artificial intelligence in logistics. The partners said they will use the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab to explore new applications of AI models “with significant potential for business and society.”
“The objective of our collaboration with Mecalux is to foster disruptive innovation and achieve two highly impactful use cases where AI transforms industry decision-making,” stated Dr. Matthias Winkenbach, director of research at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) and the new laboratory. “We will train complex self-learning machine learning models to ultimately reduce costs, lower carbon footprints, and improve service quality for customers.”
Founded in 1973, the MIT CTL provides an environment for industry leaders, professors, and students to advance supply chain education and research. The Cambridge, Mass.-based center said it has more than 80 researchers and faculty members from multiple disciplines seeking to help organizations and societies to thrive.
MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab plans two projects
In the first year of their collaboration, the teams at the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab and Mecalux plan to research two ways to accelerate innovation.
The first will focus on increasing the productivity of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Using advanced simulation, optimization, and machine learning techniques, researchers will develop a “swarm intelligence” system enabling multiple robots to operate as a single entity, making collective decisions.
“We aim to create a new generation of autonomous robots that learn from human behavior to foster greater collaboration and efficiency in warehouses,” said Winkenbach.
The second research area will center on training self-learning AI models. The Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab intends to design systems capable of learning from demand patterns and anticipating new customer purchasing habits.
“Current distribution systems fail to account for the full complexity of logistics networks and often make strong simplifying assumptions,” Winkenbach said. “This project seeks to help companies operating large networks of warehouses, distribution centers, and stores automatically determine the most efficient way to fulfill each order, taking into account the real-time status of the distribution network.”
Mecalux brings warehouse expertise
MIT CTL and Mecalux said their joint research will help logistics experts, warehouse staffers, and carriers perform their jobs with maximum precision.
“Having contributed to founding MIT’s Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, Mecalux has leveraged its practical expertise in warehousing and its software and automation experts to support MIT’s research,” said Javier Carrillo, CEO of Mecalux. “The goal is to transform companies’ logistics operations to achieve greater efficiency.”
Chicago-based Interlake Mecalux Inc. is a warehouse technology and intralogistics software provider. With more than 55 years of experience, the company develops automated storage, warehouse management systems (WMS), and metal racking for all sectors.
The Mecalux Group has global headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. It said it has an extensive worldwide distribution network, 12 manufacturing plants, seven research and development centers, and a workforce of more than 5,500 employees. PepsiCo recently deployed Mecalux technology at an automated warehouse in Poland.