ZF Innovation Forklift

German car parts maker ZF has entered the AGV market, with a prototype recently shown at the Hannover Messe trade fair.

The ZF Innovation Forklift, adapted from a standard production forklift, has been equipped with radar and camera systems, ZF's eSTEER EPS 3 electromechanical power steering and the ZF ProAI processor which allows vehicles to 'understand' their environment by processing and interpreting it using sensor data with deep learning technology.

The company says its technology is currently undergoing an extensive program of tests with the aim of taking it into volume production.

"The test vehicle demonstrates how materials handling can also benefit from megatrends such as connectivity and artificial intelligence," says Dr Mark Mohr, head of the automated operations project team at ZF.

Automated driving requires an exceptional level of safety, according to Mohr. "The vehicle is capable of surround view and pedestrian and object recognition, thanks to its built-in ZF cameras. Wherever possible, it brings the vehicle to an immediate stop if pedestrians suddenly appear and also enables it to go around static objects."

A ZF spokesman tells Forkliftaction News that the prototype elicited "very good feedback from our established as well as some new customers, and also new possible applications".