Autonomous Forklifts Speed Equipment Yards

Burney Simpson

Large-equipment rental firm United Rentals is using technology from 5D Robotics to automate forklifts, scissor lifts and other equipment in its 900 storage yards so the gear can move without running into other objects or people, according to Transport Topics.

Stamford, Conn.-based United Rentals rents construction and other equipment to businesses and government entities in the U.S. and Canada. It estimated 2015 revenues could reach $5.9 billion.

The program was developed by Carlsbad, Calif.-based 5D Robotics, which says its “system can allow multiple vehicles to follow a person or lead vehicle, operate in any weather conditions and even load equipment onto trucks for delivery to job sites.” Check out the video from 5D.

Privately-held 5D Robotics is a software services provider that supports navigation, mapping and localization, search and detection, and dexterous mobile manipulation and various other robot behaviors for unmanned ground and air vehicles.

While there has been considerable media coverage of autonomous cars, there is considerable activity in autonomous technology for public transit (“Successful Driverless Bus Tests Could Pave the Way for Driverless Cars”) and in service-oriented robotics like that provided by 5D.

Photo: Scissor Lift, VIA Rail Station, Belleville, Ontario, Robert Taylor, 2011.