Material Handling for Industry 4.0

The Logistics and Distribution Institute was pleased to learn about the latest developments in material handling in Germany. Our speaker was Prof. Dr. Kai Furmans, Director of the Institute for Material Flow and Logistics at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe Germany.

Time and Place: Wednesday, April 6, 1:00 PM in Vogt 311.

Speaker: Kai Furmans, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Title: Cyber-Physical Systems for Material Handling to Support Industry 4.0

Abstract: Recent advances in computing hardware and software allow the design of material handling devices much better able to fulfill customers’ needs for flexibility, adaptability and robustness. In Germany, research and innovation for smarter devices and processes in industry are referred to as “Industry 4.0.” We present new developments in cyber-physical, material handling and new control algorithms for decentralized control. We also consider new ways to interact with these devices and show some projects currently being piloted.