Robotics

FORMIC system uses a swarm of robots to transport heavy loads

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Each FORMIC robotic module can lift up to 2.5 tons (2.3 tonnes)
Markus Breig, KIT
Each FORMIC robotic module can lift up to 2.5 tons (2.3 tonnes)
Markus Breig, KIT
An official commercial launch of the FORMIC system should take place later this year
Markus Breig, KIT
If all 15 modules are used, they can manage a total load weight of 37.5 tons (34 tonnes)
Markus Breig, KIT
According to the designers, three modules should be sufficient for transporting a typical production machine in most industries
Markus Breig, KIT
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While forklifts do work well for lifting and moving heavy loads indoors, they're bulky (in close quarters), expensive, and can't lift loads over a certain footprint size. That's where the FORMIC modular robotic transportation system is designed to come in.

The technology is being developed by German startup FORMIC Transportsysteme, which is affiliated with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It incorporates multiple six-wheeled robotic transport modules, each one of which is equipped with cameras, a radio communications chip, and a jack that is capable of lifting up to 2.5 tons (2.3 tonnes).

As many as 15 of the modules can be placed under a single load, as long as there's a sufficient vertical gap beneath it for them to squeeze in. If all 15 are used, they can manage a total load weight of 37.5 tons (34 tonnes).

According to the designers, three modules should be sufficient for transporting a typical production machine in most industries
Markus Breig, KIT

A human operator steers the swarm of robotic modules in real time via an included joystick remote. Because the modules' cameras and radios allow them to track one another's positions at all times, they autonomously coordinate their movements – so in other words, the user just controls them as a group, not as individual units.

An official commercial launch of the FORMIC system should take place later this year. The modules can be seen in action, in the video below.

Sources: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, FORMIC Transportsysteme

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3 comments
Ric
Using weights instead of giant real world objects makes for a pretty uninspiring video. But this tech is, in fact, amazing and should easily supplant a huge sector of the market. Next would be a version that could handle considerably more uneven and unstable ground, perhaps with some kind of hydraulic configuration allowing these little babies to expand to a height of a foot or two.
reader
KUKA omniMove mobile platforms have been doing this for a long time with omnidirectional tires and up to 90 tonne payload. Interesting to see FORMIC using a center pivot point for manoeuvrability, probably makes it a less expensive solution.
notarichman
i want a few of these to move solar batteries around, my truck out of tight parking spaces, buckets of heavy stuff - oh, would need separate frequencies to direct individual buckets, moving pallets.
i doubt they would move effectively on gravel roads.