Tricked-out Toyota lift truck performs robotic pallet manipulation

Unmanned robotic lift trucks are showing increased potential for handling high-risk materials handling tasks in both military and civilian environments.  In fact, routine use of robotic lift trucks is not far off, according to Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. (TMHU). 

In June, the U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA) hosted two days of demonstrations at Fort Lee in Virginia of a prototype unmanned robotic Toyota lift truck capable of locating, lifting, moving and placing palletized supplies within an existing outdoor supply depot. The demonstration included review of the robot’s safety features, sensor capabilities and human-robot interface based on voice and gesture commands.

The robotics technology was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), BAE Systems and Lincoln Laboratory in collaboration with the LIA, the Combined Arms Support Command Sustainment Battle Lab, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Defense Research and Engineering.

The 3,000-pound capacity, internal combustion Toyota 8-Series lift truck was modified by researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory to perform embodied speech and gesture understanding; shape estimation (from laser range scanner data); machine vision (from camera data); motion estimation (from GPS, inertial data and wheel odometry encoders); and autonomous mobility and pallet manipulation. Proprietary Controller Area Network (CAN-bus) protocols, provided by Toyota’s 8-Series product engineering team, enabled the MIT team to connect its algorithms directly to the lift truck’s manual and electrical controls. The demonstration illustrated capabilities realized during the first two years of research and development on the project.

“We are excited to work with the innovative researchers at MIT on this promising application of lift trucks,” said Brett Wood, president of TMHU.  “Robotic forklifts have the potential to protect both military and civilian personnel working in high-risk environments, such as hazardous material storage facilities.”

Taking this technology inside the four walls of a manufacturing facility or distribution center is also promising.  In an interview with Modern, Martin Boyd, TMHU vice president of product planning and marketing, said, “The MIT accomplishments are important as it gives manufacturers and customers a glimpse into the potential future of material handling technology.  Automation is currently a growing trend found in today’s warehousing, distribution and manufacturing market segments, and although the MIT project was developed for military purposes, its successes may represent of mirror of exciting things to come for higher level automation in the everyday industrial workplace.”

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