Siemens's new navigation system allows forklifts to move on their own.

Siemens's new navigation system will allow forklifts to move on their own in factories or warehouses without the aid of orientation tools.

Before this, autonomous navigational systems for vehicles required external navigational aids like reflectors, magnets or inductive guide wires.

The autonomous navigation system (ANS), developed by Siemens Corporate Technology and Siemens Industry, surveys the operating environment with a laser scanner mounted on a swivel motor and prepares a 3D map.

To determine a forklift's position during autonomous operation, the ANS requires a map of the area where it will be used. It relies on the swiveling laser scanner to measure the distances in three spatial directions to objects in the surroundings.

Special analysis algorithms then generate a map from the measurements. The algorithms apply predefined criteria to extract landmarks from the structure of the roof and walls. The system then uses these reference points to orient itself and accurately position the vehicle.

The laser scanner also reacts to obstacles and thus ensures greater safety. The system also recognizes objects like pallets.

The system learns new routes by driving them once. A person drives the vehicle while it is learning the routes. The navigation system surveys the surroundings during the entire trip with the driver entering the start and end points of each trip segment into the system.

Once this is completed, personnel can use a control system to assign the vehicle to routes comprising the route segments.

Siemens says the system can be put into operation or reprogrammed "very quickly".

Forklifts from Fendt Fördertechnik are among the vehicles now using Siemens's new system, which received the "Best Product 2009" award at LogiMAT.